Cowboys and ingenuity on Sam Rayburn
Big Texas bites will require craftiness in FLW Tour Open on Rayburn
Tommy Robinson plans to throw a Zara Spook for the morning topwater bite at the FLW Tour Open on Sam Rayburn 2012-10-11. Photo by David A. Brown.
LUFKIN, TX, Oct 11, 2012 by David A. Brown – There’s not much concern over catching fish on Sam Rayburn Reservoir – it’s catching big fish that’s going to take some extra effort in the FLW Tour Open on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Some reported catching quality bass of the day-changing variety during practice, but doing so with consistency has been the challenge. With the fall transition underway, the bank is predictably loaded with small to mid-size fish and the occasional kicker. Most of the big-fish potential still remains on deeper structure, so a lot of anglers started shallow before moving offshore.
Rayburn remains about three feet below full pool (164.40), but the lingering Texas drought had it much lower in recent months. Shoreline grass that sprouted during the lower stages now stands flooded. This, along with healthy beds of hydrilla provides plenty of shallow bass cover. Nevertheless, it’s likely that the majority of bigger fish weighed during this event will come from deeper water.
Anglers will enjoy a warm, partly cloudy day with just enough wind to benefit the fishing without impeding runs or boat handling. Days are growing shorter; nights cooler and bass know it’s time to keep their mouths open.
“Earlier in the week, it was extremely cold and we had a lot of small fish biting,” said Michigan pro Tommy Robinson. “The last day of practice, it warmed up good and the big ones started coming up and feeding. Hopefully, over the next few days, the big ones will stay in a feeding mode.” Robinson scheduled some morning time with topwaters, followed by crankbaits and Carolina rigs out deep.
During FLW Tour competition, pros supply the boats, fish from the front deck against other pros and control boat movement. Co-anglers fish from the back deck and compete against other co-anglers. Anglers are permitted to weigh in their best five bass each day. Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points that determine angler standings. The full field competes on days one and two. After Friday’s day-two weigh-in, both the co-angler and pro fields will be cut to the top 20. On day three, the co-angler champion will be crowned based on the field’s three-day accumulated weight. Also on Saturday, the pro field will be cut down to the top 10 pros. The remaining pro field will then compete during Sunday’s final round of tournament action. The pro winner ultimately will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.
The tournament will feature a full field with top awards of up to $125,000 in the Pro Division and up to $25,000 in the Co-angler Division. Tommy Robinson finishing 79th in this event with a two-day weight of 7 bass weighing 14-11.
Courtesy of FLW Outdoors, FLW Tour Opens, Sam Rayburn Reservoir (Oct. 11-14, 2012).
Category: Tommy's News
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