The FLW Tour is making its seventh visit to Arkansas' Beaver Lake this week. As a result, everyone knows what to expect, except maybe those pros fishing it for the first time. The only major difference – if it can be called major – is that the Tour is here 2 weeks earlier than last year, and last year it was here 2 weeks earlier than it had been before. So once again the pros are looking at a cold-water pre-spawn tournament, and using a variety of lures will be ticket.

It usually takes a combination of largemouths and spotted bass to do well at Beaver – caught on crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs and worms – and things are again shaping up to be a versatility contest.

A limit of spots should be sackable come competition time, but it won't carry an angler into the Top 10 cut. A kicker of 3-4 pounds or better each day will be needed to do that, and that usually means a largemouth.

Note that the length limit at Beaver is 12 inches for spots and 15 inches for largemouths and smallmouths, which makes the fishing tougher than it might sound.

BassFan Lake Profile

Before getting into more detail, here's a look at the lake:

> Lake Name: Beaver Lake
> Type of Water: Highland reservoir
> Surface Acres (full pool): 28,000+
> Primary structure/cover: River channel, creeks, rocks, points, some standing timber and laydowns
> Average depth: Around 50 feet, especially on the lower end
> Species: Largemouths, smallmouths and spotted bass
> Reputation: Lots of small fish, often tough
> Weather: Cool but stable
> Water temp: 52-55 degrees
> Water visibility/color: Fairly clear (4-6 ft. visibility), even in the rivers
> Water level: A little low
> Fish in: 2-25 feet (deeper for the spots)
> Fish phase: Pre-spawn
> Primary patterns: Jerkbaits, Carolina rigs, jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, drop-shot, finesse worms
> Winning weight: 25-35 pounds
> Cut weight (Top 10): 18-22 pounds
> Check weight (75th): 9-12 pounds
> Fishing quality (1=poor, 5=great): 3 for Beaver Lake
> Biggest factors: Getting a few good largemouth bites
> Biggest decision: Fishing for spots or largemouths – or both
> Wildcard: Finding a reliable largemouth pattern

Pre-Spawn Tournament

Mike Wurm said that with the low, cool, ultra-clear water and the next two nights in the 30s, there won't be much to catch up shallow. "I don't think there will be much of a flipping bite with the low water," he said. "There's no spawning activity. The weights will be low, and guys will catch them on jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, finesse worms, Carolina rigs – anything but a topwater. The tournament will probably be won fishing away from the bank."

John Murray agrees. "Crankbaits and jerkbaits – especially if it gets cloudy – will be good," he said. "Finesse techniques will be good too, like shaking a worm on the bottom. The crawdads seem to be coming out, so you'll need to keep it near the bottom. The dropshot hasn't worked well for me so far."

This is his first trip to Beaver Lake, and his impression is that "this place seems real unstable. I don't know if it's the mountains or what, but it can be real calm and then get real windy real fast, and then get calm again. It's hard to know what to do, when."

FLW points leader Dean Rojas said that it's hard to tell yet what will be strong in the tournament, but he knows it won't be sight fishing. "We're here 2-3 weeks ahead of when they'll get on the beds. I've only had one day to practice so far, but I checked a bunch of areas, and found one patch of fish I'll check out (more thoroughly) tomorrow. The two big bites I had today were on a crankbait."

Largemouths or Spots?

Wurm plans to "concentrate on getting a quick limit of 12-inch spots first, then go after a largemouth of about 3-5 pounds. The spots will get you about 6-8 pounds (a day), but you'll need 20 pounds to make the Top 10 cut weight. You can't get behind, either, or you'll never catch up."

Murray also thinks 19-20 pounds will make the cut, but so far he hasn't found it. "I've caught a lot of fish but they've all been short," he said. "Most of what I caught are largemouths, and a few spots. I saw one guy catch a smallmouth too. I just can't get one over 15 inches, or even a spot over 12." He also agrees with Wurm about getting a strong start, noting that "it's hard to put together two really good days in a row here."

Notable

> Click here to see how the BassFan Army reps are doing in practice.

> BassFan's Top 10 to Watch at this event will be up tomorrow.

Launch/Weigh-In Info

Pros launch at 7 a.m. CST from Prairie Creek Marina on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday takeoff is at 8:00, and Saturday it's at 6:30.

The weigh-ins on days 1 and 2 are also at Prairie Creek, at 3 p.m. Days 3 and 4 weigh-ins will be at the Wal-Mart at 2110 W. Walnut in Rogers, Ark., 5 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The Family Fun Zone will be open in Rogers at the Wal-Mart on Friday starting at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.

Weather Forecast

Here's the Weather Channel's forecast, which calls for mostly sunny and slowly warming conditions:

Wed, Mar 31 – Sunny – 55°/37°
> Wind: From the N-NW at 9 mph

Thurs, Apr 1 – Partly Cloudy – 60°/42°
> Wind: From the East at 8 mph

Fri, Apr 2 – Partly Cloudy – 58°/42°
> Wind: From the E-NE at 12 mph

Sat, Apr 3 - Partly Cloudy – 68°/45°
> Wind: From the North at 7 mph