So, Benedetti, who lives near the lake, decided to check out the fishing for himself Wednesday.

“A month ago I was catching fish relatively deep, 45 to 55 feet on jigging spoons and drop-shots, but with the temperatures warming up some of the fish have started moving up, while some are still out deep,” he said.

Wednesday Benedetti was catching a few bass on a jigging spoon in 22 feet of water in the mouths of creeks. But a fishing buddy was trying the fish that have moved shallower with some success, he noted.

“He’s about 100 yards from me back in the creek in three feet of water and he’s catching his fish on a Carolina rig. He said he caught tree back to back in the back of a creek.”

Benedetti said some anglers also reported catching fish on a Pig ‘n Jig around docks and on crankbaits in stained water.

“The water temperature was 51 degrees this morning and it’s 54 degrees now (2 o’clock),” he noted. “Right now we have bluebird skies, but this weekend is supposed to be cloudy. I think that will make the fish bite a little better.”

A few weeks ago, he said, the fish were biting better out towards the mouths of the creeks, but with water temperatures beginning to warm, the bite seems to be getting better towards the backs of the creeks in shallower water.

“Some of the guys are struggling, but someone will get on them and catch them pretty good in the tournament,” he said.

The anglers are fishing both for money and for the opportunity to advance to higher levels of competition, said Benedetti, who noted that the payback is based on the number of boats entered.

“If we get 100 boats, first place will pay $5,000 on the boater side and $2,500 on the co-angler side. We are close to 100 boats now. We just need a few more boaters and co-anglers to reach that 100-boat mark.”

If a BWS tournament reaches 200 boats, he said, the winner could take home $6,000 plus contingencies and the co-angler could win $3,000 and contingencies.

“The goal for these anglers is to make it all the way to the National Championship and on to the 2014 Bassmaster Classic. A win in the BWS National Championship would bring the pro angler $100,000 and a win for a co-angler would mean $50,000, Benedetti said.

“Registration will be held from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday at Walter B. Williams Park, with the meeting to follow at 7 p.m. The tournament will launch at Little River Park at safe light Saturday morning”

Bassmaster Weekend Series – Georgia Central Division

Sat Feb 9, 2013

Lake Sinclair

Little River Park

Call Billy Benedetti 256-230-5632

www.abaproam.com