Here's an interesting analysis. Luke Clausen feels the revised FLW Tour format, with its new 12-day off-limits, should create a more pattern-friendly environment during events.
He said: "The off-limits is something I've wanted for a long time, just to open the fisheries more so we're able to run patterns a little better. When the fish get extremely pressured (like in past years), there are a lot more fish caught on really obscure stuff that you wouldn't normally find in 3 or 4 days of practice."
In other words, it's his belief that with a limited practice next year, anglers who enter the tournament with a lakewide pattern should be able to at least match, or overcome, the spot-fishermen and local entrants. With less pressure on the fish, more bass will be caught off "obvious" stuff, and it won't often take an obscure, hidden honeyhole to win.
