Pros practicing for the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame's (HOF) World Championship, which starts today, report that the fishing on Arkansas' Lake Ouachita is tough.

When the FLW Tour arrived at Ouachita in March, the fishing also was tough. Some of it was due to the weather, which oscillated from harsh winter to warm spring. But some of it also was because of the Largemouth Bass Virus (LBV).

Now, two months later, it looks like the lake is still fishing tougher than in years past, and the culprit would seem to be the virus.

"When the virus hit a few years ago, the lake probably lost a lot of fish over that 16-inch limit," Chad Brauer said. "That's the size of fish that the virus really hurts." (The LBV hurts big bass more so than smaller ones.)

"The lake is still recovering from that," he said. "Back in March you could catch a lot of 12-13 inch fish so a year from now there should be a lot more keeper fish in the lake."

20 To Make the Top 10

"I think it's fishing about like last year (at the first HOF tournament)," Ken Cook said. "In the light-line tournament today, 11 pounds won that and after that were a few 8-pound bags and a 7-something. So I think 20 pounds or maybe a little better will be needed to make the Top 10. So it's not fishing great, but it's fair."

Fish Shallow and Deep

"Some fish are being caught shallow and some are semi-deep," Cook said. "I haven't been able to catch them deep, but I'm sure some guys have."

"The lake is a little high and it's very clear," Brauer said. "I think the fish are scattered. Normally at this time they're getting in their summertime holes. But from what I've seen, it doesn't look like all of them are out there yet. A few are shallow."

Topwater and Grass

Because of the tough conditions, Gerald Swindle said: "there's an early-morning bite for 2-3 hours on top and you better make it count. When it's gone, you have a long day.

"A few guys are catching them deep," he added. "Some dropshot fish are being caught and some guys are fishing 1-ounce jigs on 15-16 foot grass breaks. But the early-morning bite is where this tournament will be won. It won't solely be won there, but it will have a big impact."

Cook noted that the grass in Ouachita is "quite a bit" different than it was a year ago. "Last year it was more clumpy and scattered so you could rip a crankbait through it and let a jig flutter down through it. Now it's a lot more dense -- solid, like a tabletop. There aren't really any scattered edges. But I'll sure fish around it or in it some."

Tournament Format

The first two days (today and Thursday) of the pro-am tournament will be held on Ouachita. After day 2 the field will be cut to 10 boats, but the final day of competition won't be until Saturday, and will be on adjacent Lake Hamilton.

The reason for the switch to Hamilton, the HOF said, is to "equalize the field for the finals. If the 1st place angler is on a good pattern on Lake Ouachita, he may need to scramble on Lake Hamilton to stay in 1st."

Friday is not a competition day. That's when the Top 10 will practice on Hamilton.

Handicapping Info

Because several of the field (listed below) are "unknown quantities," it isn't possible to provide accurate handicapping info (i.e., a Top 10 Watch List) for this tournament.

One note: Ever since he missed the FLW tournament on Ouachita in March, Aaron Martens has been salivating about fishing this deep, clear lake.

Miscellany

> The tournament has a 16-inch minimum size for largemouths.

> Day 1-2 launches and weigh-ins will be at Mountain Harbor Resort in Mt. Ida, Ark.

> Ray Scott will emcee the final weigh-in on Saturday at the Hot Springs Convention Center at 2:30 p.m. CST.

> The Outdoor Channel will be filming and televising the World Championship.

Weather Forecast

Here's the Weather Channel forecast. Note the high winds forecast for tomorrow.

> Wed, May 22 -- Partly Cloudy -- high 79°F, low 56°F
- Wind: varying from the S, SE and E to 7 mph

> Thu, May 23 -- Partly Cloudy/Wind -- high 78°F, low 56°F
- Wind: varying from the S, S/SW SW to 24 mph

> Fri, May 24 -- Partly Cloudy -- high 81°F, low 57°F

> Sat, May 25 -- Scattered T-Storms -- high 81°F, low 56°F

World Championship Field

1. Harold Allen -- Shelbyville, TX -- B.A.S.S.
2. Basil Bacon -- Springfield, MO -- B.A.S.S. 20 yrs or 10 Classics
3. Joel Baker -- Talala, OK -- FLW
4. Penny Berryman -- Dardanelle, AR -- WBFA/Bassin' Gals
5. Dalton Bobo -- Northport, AL -- B.A.S.S.
6. Chad Brauer -- Osage Beach, MO -- B.A.S.S.
7. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- B.A.S.S. Anglers of the Year
8. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- B.A.S.S.
9. Tom Burns -- Carbondale, IL -- B.A.S.S.
10. Charlie Campbell -- Forsyth, MO -- B.A.S.S. 20 yrs or 10 Classics
11. Jim Carnell -- Muskogee, OK -- FLW
12. Greg Carpenter -- Royal, AR -- FLW
13. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
14. Jeff Coble -- Henderson, NC -- BFL All American
15. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, AR -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
16. Ken Cook -- Meers, OK -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
17. Mark Davis -- Mt. Ida, AR -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
18. Guy Eaker Jr. -- Cherryville, NC -- B.A.S.S.
19. Paul Elias -- Pachuta, MS -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
20. O.T. Fears III -- Sallisaw, OK -- B.A.S.S.
21. Doug Garrett -- Cabot, AR -- B.A.S.S.
22. Keith Green -- Arkadelphia, AR -- FLW
23. Shaw Grigsby -- Gainesville, FL -- B.A.S.S.
24. Greg Hackney -- Oak Ridge, LA -- FLW
25. Ricky Harp -- Cottondale, AZ -- 2000 B.A.S.S. Fed. Champ
26. Guido Hibdon -- Gravois Mills, MO -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
27. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, MO -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
28. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- B.A.S.S.
29. Davy Hite -- Prosperity Point, SC -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
30. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, OK -- B.A.S.S. AOY
31. Randy Howell -- Trussville, AL -- B.A.S.S.
32. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, TN -- B.A.S.S. 20 yrs or 10 Classics
33. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, AR -- B.A.S.S.
34. Stacey King -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 2001 HOF Tourney Winner
35. Kotaro Kiriyama -- New Milford, NJ -- West/B.A.S.S.
36. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- B.A.S.S. AOY
37. Jeff Magee -- Mendenhall, MS -- B.A.S.S.
38. Aaron Martens -- Castaic, CA -- B.A.S.S.
39. Roland Martin -- Clewiston -- FL -- B.A.S.S. AOY
40. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- FLW
41. Tommy Martin -- Hemphill, TX -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
42. Carl Maxfield -- Summerville, SC -- B.A.S.S.
43. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, FL -- FLW
44. Stan Mitchell -- Fitzgerald, GA -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
45. Lucy Mize -- Ben Lemond, AR -- WBFA/Bassin' Gals
46. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, KY -- B.A.S.S.
47. Jim Murray Jr. -- Arabi, GA -- B.A.S.S.
48. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, AR -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
49. Bud Pruitt -- Spring, TX -- B.A.S.S.
50. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- West/B.A.S.S.
51. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, OK -- Classic or FLW Champ. Winner
52. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- B.A.S.S.
53. John Sappington -- Wyandotte, OK -- B.A.S.S.
54. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, SC -- B.A.S.S.
55. Emily Shaffer -- Mt. Juliet, TN -- WBFA/Bassin' Gals
56. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, AR -- B.A.S.S.
57. Bill Smith -- Prestonsburg, KY -- FLW
58. David Smith -- Del City, OK -- FLW
59. Lonnie Stanley -- Huntington, TX -- B.A.S.S. 20 yrs or 10 Classics
60. Don Stevens -- Otsego, MI -- Fished HOF in 2001
61. Sean Stickler -- Fort Lauderdale, FL -- FLW
62. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, AL -- B.A.S.S.
63. Peter Thliveros -- Jacksonville, FL -- B.A.S.S.
64. Joe Thomas -- Milford, Ohio -- B.A.S.S.
65. Byron Velvick -- Boulder City, NV -- West/WON Bass
66. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- B.A.S.S.
67. Jimmy Walker -- Alpine, CA -- Fished HOF in 2001
68. Clark Wendlandt -- Cedar Park, TX -- B.A.S.S.
69. David Wharton -- Sam Rayburn, TX -- B.A.S.S. 20 yrs or 10 Classics
70. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- B.A.S.S.
71. Eddie Woody -- No. Little Rock, AR -- FLW
72. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, AR -- B.A.S.S.
73. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, TX -- B.A.S.S.