Warmer Nights Could Push Wave Of Big Females To The Banks For Cbc On Lake Wateree
So far, Lake Wateree has not been producing the same big bags as it did this time last year, but that could change just in time for the Carolinas Bass Challenge tournament Saturday, according to veteran tournament angler Andy Wicker of Pomaria.
The reason the bigger fish have not been caught in numbers so far, Wicker said, is because of the prolonged cold weather that has prevailed this winter and is not extending into March, typically the time for warmer weather.
“However with two to three nights this week of a low temperature that is higher than the water temperature, that will probably change Saturday,” Wicker said. “The temperature of the lows at night, I believe, is more important than the highs in the springtime. If you have a low that is at the existing water temperature of the lake, or higher, that means the lake is warming really fast. It’s warming during the day and at night, which is super important.”
The quick warmup should push a wave of big females to the banks by Saturday, Wicker said.
“I think the results will show it. That, being said, not all fish move up at once, so I think there will be fish caught a lot of different ways. Some will be caught on typical winter patterns on Alabama Rigs, crankbaits, and finesse worms, and there will also be some caught in some shallow water with spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and jigs.”
Wicker, who is fishing the Bass Weekend AFT and ABA Series ad various CATT tournament in addition to the CBCs, said he and his partner reedy McGinn will be looking for the shallower routes, targeting docks, grass beds and shallow wood cover.
Noting that the Wateree tournament last year drew 147 teams, tournament director Brett Collins said he anticipates at least that many teams for Saturday’s tournament, and probably more.
“We will have a lot of North Carolina teams and they love Lake Wateree,” Collins said. The tournament Saturday is the second S.C. Division CBC tournament held this year. Teams must fish three tournaments together to be eligible for the championship on Santee Cooper following the regular season.
Following Saturday’s tournament on Lake Wateree, the S.C. Division moves on to Santee Cooper, Lake Hartwell and Clarks Hill before the championship.
Carolinas Bass Challenge – South Carolina Division
Sat, Mar 7, 2015
Lake Wateree
Clearwater Cove Marina
Call Brett Collins 803-413-7521
www.carolinasbasschallenge.com
