So far, so good.

He has not won a tournament yet, but he is in strong contention for the Elite AOY title, sitting in 6^th place, and, at almost the mid-point of the season he has a real shot at making his second Classic if he can stay in the top 28 to qualify.

“I definitely want to be a part of the Classic again. That is what every angler is hoping going into the season.”

And making the 2014 Classic would be especially sweet, said Williamson whose previous Classic appearance was in 2011 on the Louisiana Delta.

“It’s going to be on Lake Guntersville. It could be a cold Classic, but it also could be a record-breaking Classic weight-wise. I think the fishing will be absolutely phenomenal on Guntersville and it’s nice that it is not so far from home, only five or six hours.”

The only potential snag in his plans for making the Classic is the challenge presented by West Point Lake, site of the fourth Elite Tournament of 2013, this weekend.

“This place has always been a grind for me,” said Williamson during practice this week. “I have never really figured it out.”

His lack of love for West Point is reflected in the outcomes of at least two major tournaments he has fished on the lake – he finished 73^rd in the last Elite tournament held there in May 2011 and he finished 55^th in a Southeastern Division EverStart tournament there in 2006.

Williamson really likes to throw a jig, whether it’s fishing it out deep over structure, fishing up shallow or casting on points.

“That’s the way I like to catch them, especially this time of year, but this is one of those deals where it’s just not set up for that kind of fishing. You are going to have to run a bunch of different stuff here. It’s a junk fisherman’s paradise.”

That means, Williamson said, that instead of chunking that jig and doing what he is really comfortable with, to be successful an angler is probably going to have to catch a fish on one bait and if he throws it another 30 minutes without another bite he will have to change baits.

“I’ve come over here probably a dozen times in my career and it’s just one of those lakes where you pretty much have to junk fish. You can catch a few on the shad spawn early, maybe a few back in the pockets and then a few out on the points.”

He said the bass are in transition on West Point this week, with a few spawning, a few that have not spawned yet and a good many that have finished spawning.

“You might catch one or two off a boat dock, one or two in the pockets. There’s just a lot of different things going on,” he said.

“There used to be a ton of big fish in this lake and there are still a few big fish left, enough for some of the guys to catch a 7- or 8-pounder. And that’s gong to be the real key, catching one of the big ones each day to put you up where you need to be and separate you from the guys who have 8 to 10 pounds.”

Adding to the situation is the fact that with all the recent rains the lake has come up about three feet in the last week and put a lot of color in the water, he said.

“Now the fish are up shallow, but they are more scattered out. You will probably see a few big fish caught, but a lot of guys will struggle to get 9 or 10 pounds.”

The challenge of West Point notwithstanding, Williamson is very happy with his year so far and he feels his goals are well within reach.

“I’ve been blessed. I’ve made some really good decisions in the last couple of tournaments to put me in contention for Angler of the year and to make the Classic. That’s why is is even more important for me to catch them here. I can’t let up. If I want to continue pursuing Angler of the Year I’ve got to figure them out.”

Bassmaster Elite Series – West Point Lake Battle

May 2-5, 2013

West Point Lake

Pyne Road Park Mega Ramp

www.bassmaster.com