Drawdown Of High Water On Fort Gibson Lake Should Put Fish Deep For Central Open
Fort Gibson Lake in Oklahoma is abnormally high, but it’s falling at an abnormal rate which should present a unique challenge to anglers fishing the Bassmaster Central Open Tournament Sept. 10-12, according to veteran B.A.S.S. pro Stephen Browning.
“I’ve not been on the lake, but I am going over there Saturday and do my scouting Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday,” said Browning who hails from Hot Springs, Ark., a 4 ½-hour drive from Wagoner, Okla., where the tournament will be held. “From the research I have done the lake is up, but it’s on a pretty steady fall.”
Browning said the lake is about 3 feet above normal pool, but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pulling the lake down at the rate of 6 to 8 inches a day.
“I expect them to try to get it down to normal pool before they quite pulling,” he said. “All indications are they will continue pulling water right through the tournament.”
That, he said, means the fish in deeper water will be more stable than those relating to shallow water areas.
“They are liable to suck the water right off the shallow water bite,” he noted. “I think if I can find some fish in deeper water, 8 to 12 feet maybe, that will be my best opportunity. The lake has a tremendous shad population so crankbaits will probably be a major key. Also, Carolina-rigging; if you can get around some brush, maybe a big worm will come into play.”
Browning said he will be “going for broke” at Fort Gibson Lake because it represents one of his last chances this year to qualify for the 2016 Bassmaster Classic which will be held on the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees at Tulsa, Okla., next March. A win in a Bassmaster Open is an automatic qualification to the Classic.
He placed 5th in the Central Open on Ross Barnett in March. Fort Gibson Lake next week and the division final on Table Rock Lake in October represent his last shots at making the 2016 Classic field.
“I was in pretty good standing in the Elite Series, but I messed around and fell out of contention the last couple of tournaments. So I am mighty hungry. I am going there with every intention of doing absolutely all I can do to win another Central Open,” Browning said.
“Fort Gibson Lake is going to fish a little tough because of the conditions, but it has a quality fish population so a guy can catch a really good stringer of bass. I am hoping to get a lead next week and never look back.”
Bassmaster Opens – Central Division
Sep 10-12, 2015
Fort Gibson Lake
