Chris Baumgardner readily admits that Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama just does not fit his style of fishing. The FLW pro from Gastonia, N.C., prefers to fish shallow water and Lewis Smith is a clear, deep lake created in 1961 by impounding the Black Warrior River.

“I’ve fished it several times, but have not really done well here,” said Baumgardner after three days of hard practice for the second FLW Tour Major tournament of the 2013 season. “I fished a couple of Jerry Rhyne tournaments and did pretty well and I fished a Bassmaster Top 100 and did decent, but I’ve never done really good out here. The lake just doesn’t suit me – it’s too deep and too clear.”

On top of that, Baumgardner said, the weather has been pretty nasty, too, this week.

“It’s been tough. The weather has changed and it’s been pretty cold. It rained and the wind blew today (Tuesday). It’s just been changing, nothing is stable.”

After three days, he has not settled on a strategy, but he has decided where he will fish.

“I haven’t figured much out, but I do have it narrowed down to an area – and that’s about it,” he said. “I’m just covering water. I get a bite here and there, but it’s really slow and I am not catching any big fish.”

Baumgardner said he believes the majority of the bass are still in a winter pattern.
“I’m fishing shallow but there is not a whole lot up there. I think the majority of the fish are out deep somewhere and I have not really tried for them. I imagine the guys finding big spots will probably do all right,” he said. “But I am fishing for largemouths and they are few and far between.”

His plan of action the first day of the tournament Thursday will be to continue fishing for largemouths with a jig and a crankbait, he said.

“I’ll just go shallow and try to beat me out five largemouths”

Although the FLW Tour schedule did not do him any favors this year, Baumgardner is optimistic for another good season on the circuit.

“Last year I finished 17^th in the points, but this year is going to be a little different. We are going to some places I’ve never been on, so I am looking forward to it,” he said, “if I can get past this one and Beaver Lake. Those are the two I worry about. Beaver always gets me.”

But he began the year on a high note, finishing 11^th on Okeechobee in February.

“I got off to a good start,” said Baumgardner, who has won more than $850,000 in FLW events over the past 18 years, including almost $80,000 in 2012, “better than I did last year. And I do win one every once in a while.”

FLW Tour Major

Mar 7-10, 2013

Lewis Smith Lake

Smith Lake Dam Access

www.flwoutdoors.com