Warm February Could Make For ‘interesting’ Oakley Big Bass Tournament On Harris Chain
Fishing in the Oakley Big Bass Tournament Trail season opener March 1-2 on the Harris Chain of Lakes could be “kind of interesting,” according to bass guide Steven Boyd of Clermont, Fla.
“This has been one of the warmest Februaries we have had. There was winter north of Florida, but south of Georgia we’ve been having a big high pressure system over the state of Florida, blowing warm air across the region and keeping the cold front from coming down,” said Boyd, who operates Florida Bass Adventures.
“February is normally our coldest month, but it has been very, very warm. Water temperatures have been running 63 to 71 degrees, which is 10 to 15 degrees higher than normal for this time of year. The fish are still spawning, but they are not spawning where they typically would be.”
Boyd said the bass tried to spawn in the grass several weeks ago, but they have moved out.
“There is a chance of people catching fish in one part of the chain sight fishing and somebody in the other part catching fish on a spinnerbait, a Rat-l-Trap or flipping the grass,” Boyd said. “If the weather cooperates where you can fish some open water you can catch a big fish out there, but it gets pretty windy and treacherous out there,” he said.
The Oakley Big Bass series is open to amateur anglers only. Professional anglers and guides on the tournament waters who have guided professionally for a fee in the last 12 months are not eligible.
Entry fees are $100 for a one-day entry, $150 for both days. The winner with the overall big bass of the tournament will take home a 2014 Nitro Z7 with Mercury 150HP Pro XS, valued at $30,000.
Hourly payouts have been increased this year with a total two-day hourly purse of $35,000. Hourly payouts will go to seven places each hour: 1st $1000, 2nd $500, 3rd $300, 4th $250, 5th $200, 6th $150, 7th $100 (based on 400 total entries). Weigh in Times: 8-9 a.m., 9-10am, 10-11 a.m., 11-12 a.m., 12-1 p.m., 1-2 p.m., and 2-3 p.m.
The schedule for the Oakley Big Bass Tournament series this year includes: March 1-2, Harris Chain of Lakes, Fla.; March 8-9, Lake Conroe, Texas; March 29-20, Clarks Hill, Ga.; April 26-27, Smith Mountain Lake, Va.; May 3-4, Lake Norman, N.C.; May 17-18, Table Rock Lake, Mo.; June 14-15, Grand Lake, Okla.; Sept. 27-28, Lake Murray, S.C.; Oct. 4-5, Lake Douglas, Tenn.; Oct. 18-19, Lake Guntersville, Ala.; and Oct. 25-26, St. John’s River, Fla.
Check out Steven Boyd’s Florida Bass Adventures at: www.floridabassadventures.com. To book a bass fishing trip, call him at 352-603-5467.
Oakley Big Bass Tournament Trail
Mar 1-2, 2014
Harris Chain of Lakes
Hickory Point Rec Facility
Call Mark Jones 214-605-4600
