(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.)
Technically, the “Mystery Lake” tournament isn’t until next week, but the bass fishing Elite are going to have to have a master plan that includes an alternate plan if they want to solve the mystery on the Mississippi River.
While the Elite Series competed on the Mighty One a few years ago in Iowa, the anglers will be faced with very different conditions in La Crosse, Wis.. There is a an incredible amount of shallow backwater that should be productive, and there will be no shortage of grass, but if the water drops significantly the oxbows and deeper water could play a big role.
The playing field is absolutely huge, and the shallow-water guys have as good of a chance at catching them as the deep-water guys. But these aren’t MLF rules, so there is no reward for catching as many as you can.
To do well, you must figure out where the big fish are. To win, you need to know where they go when conditions change, and on this body of water, they will change.
After that first visit to Iowa, anglers learned two key things. They don’t call the Mississippi “Mighty” for nothing, and when her levels fluctuate, so does the bite. Because of that experience in Iowa, I think more anglers than usual spent some time pre-fishing in La Crosse prior to the off-limits. That’s valuable for anybody who took the time because there simply is too much water to dissect in 2 1/2 days of practice.
The Mississippi River is a huge, living and moving organism. When she is rolling, you can’t imagine just how much water is really moving by. That current generates more power and commerce than any body of water in North America, and it also tends to stack fish up in more predictable places. That gives the "river rats" an edge.
Of course, the rest of the field knows how to catch them in their own way, and this stretch of river will have plenty to offer the backwater froggers and swimjiggers, so keep your eyes on Rojas, the Lane Bros., Randy Howell and Russ Lane. We don’t usually lump Russ in with the river rats, but as an Alabama River resident, we should. Whatever you call him, I like his chances on the Mississippi.
When we speak of the river rats, you have to talk about guys like Kevin Short, Stephen Browning, Bill Lowen, Greg Hackney and Billy McCahgren. No one has spent more time on the Mississippi than Browning – he paddled and boated his way nearly the entire length of the river for a National Geographic special. Unfortunately for him, that trip didn’t include much fishing.
Short won on the Mississippi back in Iowa, and after some Department of Transportation issues on a scouting mission prior to off-limits, he has a personal vendetta with Wisconsin. A win would be poetic justice.
McCaghren, Short's fellow Arkansas River rat, was in contention for the lead in that tournament, but the water disappeared overnight and so did his fish. That incident illustrates the need to have an alternate plan in a place like this.
It will be difficult to rely one location or one pattern to hold up for 4 days on the Mississippi, so the smart play is to search for at least two separate patterns or productive locations in case your primary pattern fades.
Keith Alan spent 5 years 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.
