2012 Season Gets Rolling On The River

(Editor's note: Former B.A.S.S. emcee Keith Alan lived and breathed the tour for a half-decade. Again this year, his Alan Report will break down each B.A.S.S. tour-level stop to help BassFans get the inside scoop.)

The world’s best bass anglers are in the starting blocks for the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series season. When the first two events of the season were scheduled, tournament officials were hoping to align them with the magical time of year when bass are thinking about the spawn. After all, that’s when there is the greatest potential for record-breaking weights to hit the scales.

Like forecasting the weather, pinpointing exactly when those fish will get in the mood is an inexact science. Typically, the spawn in Florida runs from January and can extend to April, but this year I witnessed my first fish of the season locked on a bed in a Central Florida lake in late October, 2011. Granted, it was a small buck and he looked awful lonely, but he was definitely ready to get it on.

Although Edwin Evers dominated last year’s event on the St. Johns by looking at them, it’s been a remarkably warm winter in Florida, so I expect that sight-fishing will be drastically reduced this year.

While it’s unlikely that sight-fishing will be the dominant pattern, it’s worth noting that we did have another wave of spawners move up with last week’s full moon. I would be willing to bet that someone will find them, but I would be surprised if those fish hold up for 4 days.

In addition to the warm weather, there is one more variable that will have a big impact on the tournament: Rodman Reservoir being off limits. That will concentrate some of the pressure back upriver, making the expansive St. Johns fish smaller than normal.

This should shape up as more of a post-spawn tournament, which opens up opportunities for everyone in the field to have a shot, but I have my eyes on the usual suspects.

A Few to Keep an Eye On

Kevin VanDam – Let’s just be forthcoming: I’m not going to hide, bury or sugarcoat this pick. VanDam had a disappointing Bassmaster Classic, and he wants redemption. His desire to win events is only eclipsed by his desire to win another Angler of the year title, and the time to set the pace in the points race is right now, at the season opener. Besides he's KVD! If you bet against him, he will prove you wrong more often than not. He is as hungry and motivated as ever, and that’s when he's the most dangerous.

Terry Scroggins – I still think Scroggins is underrated by most. Considered among the best in Florida, Scroggins has developed into an incredibly versatile powerhouse, and can go toe-to-toe with the best in the country. Long overdue for his first Elite win, he’s ready to get the bitter taste of last year’s 2nd-place finish out of his mouth and secure his first Elite victory in front of his hometown crowd.

The Lane Brothers – Talk about momentum! Brothers Chris and Bobby Lane have had an unbelievable start to the 2012 season. In January, Chris won the Bassmaster Southern Open on the Harris Chain, earning a berth into the 2013 Classic. A couple weeks later, Bobby took the top spot in a PAA team event on the Kissimmee Chain. Fast-forward to the Classic on the Red River when the two brothers made history by putting themselves in position to make a run at the Classic victory. On the final day, it was Chris Lane who earned the title, punctuating back-to-back wins with a double qualification for the 2013 Classic in Tulsa, Okla.

If momentum doesn’t help the Lanes, then perhaps a lifetime of fishing Florida waters will give them an edge. The St. Johns is unlike most Florida fisheries, but the techniques that will be successful work on all Florida lakes. And if there is a flipping or frog bite to be had, both Chris and Bobby are equally dangerous.

I would also keep an eye on guys like Kelly Jordon, Fred Roumbanis and Bill Lowen – not because I’m still banking on the “baby pattern,” but because of each of their individual strengths.

Kelly Jordon – Jordon had to sit back and watch the Classic unfold from the sidelines, so he's ready to come out swinging. If there are any bed-fish available, KJ will likely find them. If there is a shad spawn going on, he’ll key in on the early topwater bite in hopes of an early limit that he can improve on throughout the day. Jordon also understands tidal water and at a place like the St. Johns River that can be a critical factor, especially for those running upriver.

Fred Roumbanis – Fred is a lot of fun; he’s also more cerebral than most give him credit for. He’s a really versatile stick who often finds things that others don’t key in on. He will be equally comfortable sight-fishing, frogging, flipping or cranking, and any combination could prove successful on the St. Johns.

The River Rats – Bill Lowen, Kevin Short, Greg Hackney, Scott Rook and Stephen Browning. The St. Johns is a river and this bunch knows how to locate and catch fish in moving water, which isn’t something we have a great deal of in Florida. If the river is rolling, I won’t be surprised to see one of these guys in the hunt on Sunday.

Keith Alan spent the better part of the last decade traveling, working and fishing with the pros. His company, Ultimate Fishing Experience offers on-the-water fishing clinics and trip-of-a-lifetime experiences with the biggest names in fishing.