“The whole reason I fished the PAA series this year was because of the TTBC,” said the Shelby, N.C., pro angler. “I got the opportunity to fish the Classic last year and it was the most exciting, well run event I ever fished. Those people down in Texas live and breathe hunting and fishing and they treat the anglers likes kings.”

Arey qualified for the TTBC by being one of the top 15 anglers in the FLW Tour Majors last year, finishing 9th in the points. Only 45 pros are invited to the TTBC – the top15 from the FLW Tour, the top15 from the Bassmaster Elite Series and the top 15 from the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) Tour.

“Toyota sponsored the event and they dropped some big bucks on it. There was a concert every night, they take you to a big prime rib dinner. It is just an unbelievable experience so I would love to get back to it,” said Arey who is fishing both the FLW Tour and the PAA this year.

“That gives me a double chance to qualify,” he said.

He took a giant step towards another trip to Texas with a 9th place finish in the first PAA event of 2013 at Douglas Lake at the end of March, giving him a top 10 stake in the points with two tournaments to go – for the 2013 TTBC.

Because of a change in scheduling he could also qualify this year for the 2014 TTBC which is moving to an annual spring-time event next May. The top 15 anglers after the regularly scheduled three tournaments this year – Douglas Lake in March, Ft. Loudon/Tellico in May and Table Rock Lake in September – will go to the 2013 TTBC Oct. 4-6 on Lake Conroe.

However, those same three tournaments, plus a late add-on tournament – Grand Lake in Grove, Okla., Nov. 4-6, after the 2013 TTBC – will be used to qualify for the 2014 TTBC. Anglers can use points from all four tournaments to qualify for the 2014 TTBC, with the ability to drop their lowest finish of the four.

Adding the fourth tournament has caused some grumbling among the anglers, Arey said.

“A lot of the guys are upset. My problem with it is that when you start a season and it’s already underway, you can’t change or add tournaments, but that is what they have done.”

Meantime, Arey and the other anglers are hoping the tournament this week on Ft. Loudon/Tellico will cement their place in the standings for the 2013 TTBC.

“I am getting plenty of bites,” said Arey who is pretty confident of holding his own this week. “I am staying with Brandon Coulter, who does really well on this lake, and he has clued me in on a little deal. I’m getting plenty of good bites and one or two big bites each day, so if I can capitalize on those big bites I Should do well.”

Anglers have a number of fishing strategy options, Arey said, because the fish are in transition, with most in post-spawn. But there are still fish in pre-spawn and some still on the beds.

“There are also some fish on the shad spawn, but the problem is the shad are all over the lake, so it’s kind of a crap shoot, but when you do find the fish on the shad you can get well in a hurry.”

A wild card is the deep bite, he said.

“It’s hit or miss. The fish are really hard to find. There are no big schools ganged up out deep yet, but some guys have found deep fish and those are the guy you will have to look out for, especially with any kind of warm weather,” he said.

“Another wild card is the smallmouth population. They have to be at least 18 inches. There are a lot of 4- and 5-pound smallmouths in this lake, but after they spawn they become ghosts. But somebody will catch some of them and those fish will really push their bags.”

Arey said he plans to fish shallow on three different patterns – spawning fish, fry-guarders and bream fish. There are also some bass left over from the early morning shad spawn that are feeding on bream and crawfish,” he said.

“The majority of the fish I am catching are the bream eaters and the ones guarding their fry,” said Arey.

 

PAA Fort Loudon/Tellico Tournament

May 23-25, 2013

Fort Loudon/Tellico Lakes

www.fishpaa.com