When the Walmart Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division season opener was held on Lake Guntersville in February 2012, a cold winter wind was howling at 20 miles per hour with daytime temperatures only reaching 28 degrees – and it took more than 30 pounds to win.

Things are somewhat different for this year’s opener Saturday, said tournament director Leroy Hensley.

“Temperatures are expected to be in the 60s Saturday, which will be good for the fishermen, but I don’t know what that will do for the bite. It might not be as good as last year.”

However, Hensley noted that it took 27 pounds to win a tournament on Guntersville last weekend and he figures it might take that much or maybe a pound or so more to win the BFL Saturday. And he has a pretty solid record of estimating tournament winning weights. Before the BFL Gator Division season opener on Lake Okeechobee in January he predicted it would take at least 32 pounds to win and the top weight for that tournament was 32 pounds, 10 ounces.

Bass in Lake Guntersville are known to stay shallow all winter so anglers will be targeting banks, points and pockets.

“Right now it looks like the Alabama Rig will probably be the bait of choice and I also think they will be throwing a Rat-L-Trap some, too,” he said.

That bitter cold day in 2012 may have caused some anglers to hold off on entering the tournament Saturday, said Hensley who had 164 boats signed up by mid-week.

“But I think we will fish at least 185-190 boats. I expect to get a lot of late entries by Friday. We need 25 to 30 more boats. It is supposed to be really good weather, so that is a plus,” he said.

Hensley noted that with a full field of 200 boats first place would pay $8,000, plus contingencies. The top 40 at the end of the season qualify for the regional tournament on Lake Lanier.

“I think the anglers are really going to like that,” he said.

From the regional the top anglers qualify for the Walmart BFL All-American in 2014. The 2013 BFL All-American is being held June 27-29 on Nickajack Lake in Chattanooga, Tenn. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

“We are going out of Waterfront Tackle at Goose Pond Saturday,” Hensley said. “Scottsboro is just a great town. They love fishing in this area. For anyone who wants to catch good bass, I encourage them go to to Goose Pond and fish Lake Guntersville out of Waterfront Tackle.”

Following Saturday’s tournament on Lake Guntersville, the Choo Choo Division schedule includes: April 6, Lake Guntersville out of Waterfront Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond at Scottsboro; April 27, Lake Guntersville out of Civitan Park in Guntersville; June 8, Lake Guntersville out of Civitan Park in Guntersville; with the two-day final Sept. 28-29, Lake Guntersville out of Waterfront Tackle & Grill at Goose Pond at Scottsboro.

BFL – Walmart Bass Fishing League – Choo Choo Division

Sat Feb 9, 2013

Lake Guntersville

Waterfront Grocery and Tackle

www.flwoutdoors.com