Hit Rewind At G-Ville: It's A Lot Like Last Year

The water may be cooler than last year at Alabama's Lake Guntersville, but the fishing's about the same. The fish are in all three phases of the spawn, tons of 2 1/2- to 3-pound fish are biting, but the big 6-, 7- and 8-pounders are so far pretty scarce.

One big difference is an expected front,

which is due to hit Guntersville by dawn on day 1. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the area that warms of the possibility of hail, damaging winds, and the small chance of a tornado.

The storms are expected to exit the area by early afternoon, but there's a very good possibility that day 1 of competition will be canceled.

After the storm, temperatures will dip to the low 70s during the day (low 50s overnight), before climbing back up into the 80s possibly by day 4 (Sunday).

That would mark the second severe front to pass over Guntersville in the past month. The first came 3 weeks ago on the eve of the BassFan Army's Skeeter Weekend Warrior Championship. It too was accompanied by strong winds, but was especially notable for its cold air mass that dropped daytime temperatures by as much as 40 degrees.

In all, it's been a crazy month and a half of weather. The biggest question is who's more confused – the fish, or the fishermen?

BassFan Lake Profile

> Lake name: Guntersville
> Type of water: Lowland impoundment of the Tennessee River
> Surface acres: Approximately 70,000
> Primary structure/cover: Grass (hydrilla and milfoil), ledges
> Primary forage: shad, other baitfish
> Average depth: Roughly 10 feet
> Species: Largemouths and some smallmouths and spots
> Minimum length: 15 inches for largemouths and smallmouths
> Reputation: Big-bass factory, but there's good areas, then great areas, and the good areas usually aren't good enough
> Weather: Practice was warm with good wind, but a severe front will come through the morning of day 1, the full strength of which is unknown. Partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures should set up by the evening of day 1.
> Water temp: 65 to 70 degrees
> Water visibility/color: 1 to 2 feet in some spots, less in others. Water is green-stained.
> Water level: 1 foot below full pool
> Fish in: 1 to 10 feet and deeper
> Fish phase: mostly spawn/post-spawn with some pre-spawn
> Primary patterns: Everything's working – spinnerbaits, topwaters, jigs, frogs, worms, cranks, Senkos and a lot more
> Winning weight: 72 pounds
> Cut weight (Top 50): 27 pounds
> Check weight: 27 pounds (50th place)
> Fishing quality (1=poor, 5=great): 3 for Guntersville
> Biggest factors: The weather – will day 1 be cancelled, and how will the field adjust to post-frontal conditions? Also the big bite, which always plays huge here.
> Biggest decision: Deep or shallow? Spawners or post-spawners?
> Wildcard: Large bedding females. They might still be there after the front, or they might show up again on day 3 or 4.

Lots of Uncertainty

With stable conditions during practice, a few key bits of information emerged. One is the water temperature, which on average is about 5 degrees colder than it was at last year's April event (which was a week earlier than this one, by the calendar).

It's impossible to tell how many fish have already spawned, but it's safe to say quite a few. That means there's already a post-spawn bite out on the ridges, humps and deep grass-edges. It also means there are male fry-guarders along the shore.

Remember that Mike Iaconelli won last year on a combo bite. He fished deep fish one day, shallow the next, and basically fished what the day gave him.

This year's winner will likely have to follow a similar path. There's literally so much going on that it's a longshot to think one particular area or pattern could hold up for 4 days.

It didn't last year, and conditions were a lot more stable than they are now.

How They're Catching Them

Ridge-fish and hump-fish are often the way to go this time of year at Guntersville, because they're typically the post-spawn females beginning to feed. They relate to shad that spawn along grass edges, and the early morning ridge bite can by dynamite with spinnerbaits or other moving baits.

A jig can also whack them on the ridges. It usually catches less fish overall, but better quality.

Then there's the shallow bite. Some fish are spawning right now, as mentioned, while some are preparing to spawn, some are leaving the spawning coves, and some are guarding the fry.

The shallow bite's typically a good bet for 12 to 14 pounds, but sometimes, that's not even enough for a check here. Anybody's who's shallow had better catch one good fish each day, somehow, in order too boost their sack.

The subplot in the shallow bite is the grass – hydrilla and milfoil. It's what makes Guntersville famous, but since it's spring, the green is still subsurface in all but a few places. Doesn't matter though – fish still relate to it. And it's heavy enough that it's a pitching deal with anything heavy, or a moving-bait deal (think lipless cranks) over the tops.

Grass is also where the frog comes into play – a bait that can turn dreams into reality at Guntersville. Word is the frog's going in limited areas, so it's a not a 4-day pattern. But it could be the route to the right kicker.

Throw in finesse worms, Carolina- and Texas-rigs, maybe some crankbaits, and the bite is literally all over the map.

What follows are some brief notes from select anglers fishing the event, followed by BassFan's recommendation on the Top 10 anglers to watch.

Field Notes

Brent Chapman

"It's not like it's been for me in the past, but I'm hoping that's a good thing. In the past, I've had excellent practices, but in the tournament, I didn't catch them. I wasn't too optimistic about last week (at Clarks Hill) either, so I might be on to something good. (He finished 29th at Clarks.–Ed.)

"I've done well in a couple events here, and not so well in a couple. But this is also where I qualified for my first (Bassmaster) Classic, at an Eastern Invitational. So I have some history here.

"I can't catch any deep fish at all. It seems like I can catch a shallow limit, but the big fish are very spooky, or non-existent right now. That's what makes it so frustrating.

"I think they're spawning a lot more than we think they are. The water's a little dirtier than I've seen it, so I think you have to drop it right on their bed or you won't get bit.

"The whole goal for me is to get out with another Top 50 finish."

Greg Hackney

"The fishing overall is pretty good. I think it's going to be one of those tournaments where the Top 10 guys are going to be doing five different things. The fish are in all kinds of stages.

"I guess it's possible that a bite could last (all 4 days), but I feel it'll be more like how Ike won last year. He had two major things going.

"We've had great weather, and pretty ideal conditions, all practice, but the big curve is if we have that major storm. You can't fish when it's severe weather.

"I think the deal is going to be lots of 14- to 15-pound stringers, but getting one 5- or 6-pounder a day will push you over the hump."

Mike McClelland

"To be honest, Guntersville has always been a struggle for me. I think I've drawn one check in all the years I've fished this lake.

"I'm really focused on trying to find one area, or two areas, to try to assure myself that I can catch a few good bags.

"I'm fishing mid-depths. I'm catching some as deep as 10 feet, and I'm catching some shallow as well. But I'm not at the bank, running around and looking for some sight-fish. I'm catching post-spawners. They've already fed up, and they're looking pretty healthy."

Tim Horton

"I think the fishing's going to be pretty good. I'm a little nervous about the front we've got coming in, but the fishing's typical of Guntersville. I think anywhere from 15 to 16 pounds is going to be real strong, but it's really hard to judge here. They're biting so many different ways, it's really hard to get a grasp on it.

"I do know that a lot more of them are on beds than I'd like for them to be. I wish more of them were done, because I think it takes away my advantage of knowing the lake. I think you'll have to fish deep and shallow to make the cut, just like last year.

"I believe what happened was the fish came up really good (to spawn), then we set some record lows here 2 weeks ago, which knocked a lot of them back. I think they came back up. They bed here through May – there's not enough room for them all to come up at one time."

Top 10 To Watch

With the above factors in mind and more, here's BassFan's recommendation on the Top 10 to watch at this event.

1. Kevin VanDam – He tops every watch list because he's the most dominant angler of the modern era. But he bears particular attention at this event for a few reasons. One, he was in contention to win here last year, but came up 5 pounds short. He'll remember that. Two, he's locked in a tight battle to retain the No. 1 spot in the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten. He's lost serious ground in the past month, and both Steve Kennedy and Skeet Reese are hovering in his wake.

2. Steve Kennedy – He finished 3rd here last year – a little more than 2 pounds short – and is ranked 2nd in the world. He's got a legitimate shot at overtaking VanDam in the Rankings. He's coming off a disappointing 83rd at Clarks Hill, so there's a brewing problem with inconsistency (remember that he finished 61st at the Delta), but this lake suits him big-time.

3. Skeet Reese – Among red-hot anglers, he's the hottest, and he also has a shot at overtaking VanDam in the Rankings. He's finished in the Top 12 in his previous six events. In his last eight events, he's finished 2nd three times. Guntersville is a sore spot for him though – his best finish the last 5 years was 34th.

4. Mike Iaconelli – He's last year's Guntersville winner, and he did it by "fishing the moment." He hasn't made a Top 50 cut in his last three events though, which is very uncharacteristic. Does the mini-slump continue, or does he get it together?

5. Tim Horton – He's a local, and he's about the best there is in the field on G-Ville. He's finished in the Top 12 in three of his last four events here, and is an easy pick for one to watch.

6. Gerald Swindle – His previous two finishes here were 5th and 9th. Pretty stout. And nothing suits him better than the current all-over-the-map bite. Shined once so far this year, at Clear Lake, but seems a strong pick this week.

7. Derek Remitz – Wow is this kid hot. He's a rookie who's 3rd in the Elite Series points, and he's made three of the four Top 12 cuts so far. Oh, we won at Amistad too, and finished 2nd at the Delta. He's got big-time chops (we don't mean his sideburns), and he moved near Guntersville over the winter and learned a lot about the lake.

8. Alton Jones – He finished 2nd here last year, but didn't get a check in three previous Guntersville events before that. So was last year a fluke? Maybe, but he desperately needs a turnaround event this season, and this could be the one. Especially if there's a some sight-fish available after the front blows through.

9. Aaron Martens – His previous four finishes here are 17th, 14th, 14th and 31st. Nice. He's already won one event this year (the Delta), and is coming off an 11th at Clarks Hill. He's ranked 4th in the world.

10. Cliff Pace – Here's the dark-horse pick. Pace is capable of a lot. He's checked in the four events so far, which is a crucial benchmark for him during his third tour season (second with BASS). He'll have at least one opportunity to win this season. Could be here.

Launch/Weigh-In Info

Anglers launch at 5:50 a.m. daily from the Top of the River restaurant (7004 Val Monte Drive, Guntersville, Ala.). Weigh-ins begin at 3:00 p.m. Central at the Guntersville High School (14227 Hwy. 431, Guntersville, Ala.)

Weather Forecast

> Thurs., April 26 – Strong Storms – 75°/53°
- Wind: From the S/SW at 15 mph

> Fri., April 27 – Partly Cloudy – 74°/51°
- Wind: From the W/SW at 14 mph

> Sat., April 28 – Partly Cloudy – 76°/50°
- Wind: From the NW at 11 mph

> Sun., April 29 – Sunny – 79°/51°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 8 mph

Notable

> The final Top 12 standings (with weights) from last year appear below.

> John Murray thinks 14 to 15 pounds would be a good day for him. To read his practice report, click here to go On Tour With The BassFan Big Sticks.

> Zell Rowland won the 2005 Guntersville Bassmaster Tour, which was help in February.

> Rick LaPoint was the angler who won the recent WWC. He did it on a hump, where he worked a Yum Dinger on a dropshot and caught 17 pounds a day. To read about his winning pattern, click here.

2006 Guntersville Elite Series Final Standings

1. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, N.J. -- 20, 71-13 -- 310 -- $101,000
Day 1: 5, 16-12 -- Day 2: 5, 22-01 -- Day 3: 5, 17-13 -- Day 4: 5, 15-03

2. Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas -- 20, 71-11 -- 305 -- $30,000
Day 1: 5, 20-11 -- Day 2: 5, 20-12 -- Day 3: 5, 13-03 -- Day 4: 5, 17-01

3. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 20, 69-08 -- 290 -- $26,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06 -- Day 3: 5, 17-05 -- Day 4: 5, 17-09

4. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 20, 66-13 -- 285 -- $18,000
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 21-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-12 -- Day 4: 5, 14-08

5. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala. -- 20, 66-05 -- 280 -- $18,000
Day 1: 5, 16-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-11 -- Day 3: 5, 16-05 -- Day 4: 5, 15-15

6. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 19, 65-10 -- 276 -- $15,500
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02 -- Day 3: 5, 18-14 -- Day 4: 4, 12-00

7. Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla. -- 20, 62-01 -- 272 -- $15,000
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 20-05 -- Day 3: 5, 18-14 -- Day 4: 5, 11-12

8. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, Mo. -- 19, 60-00 -- 268 -- $14,500
Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04 -- Day 3: 5, 15-09 -- Day 4: 4, 10-03

9. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, Okla. -- 17, 57-02 -- 264 -- $15,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08 -- Day 3: 5, 20-01 -- Day 4: 2, 5-05

10. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 17, 56-13 -- 260 -- $13,500
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05 -- Day 3: 5, 14-01 -- Day 4: 2, 6-13

11. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu, Ariz. -- 17, 55-08 -- 257 -- $12,500
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 19-06 -- Day 3: 5, 15-07 -- Day 4: 2, 4-08

12. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, Texas -- 16, 52-05 -- 254 -- $12,300
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-09 -- Day 3: 5, 18-08 -- Day 4: 1, 1-15

Big Bass

> Day 4 -- Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala. -- 5-08 -- $1,000
> Day 3 -- Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 6-09 -- $1,000
> Day 2 -- William Smith, Jr -- Somerset, Ky. -- 6-12 -- $1,000
> Day 1 -- Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 7-01 -- $1,000