Consistency A Challenge So Far At Eufaula

By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

The second half of the FLW Tour schedule gets going this week along the Alabama-Georgia border at famed Lake Eufaula. Those who competed in the 2013 Tour event at Eufaula (also in early May) have probably been struck this week by how much further along the fish are in their post-spawn transition.

Back in ’13, some anglers were able to target bedding fish during the tournament as water temperatures were in the low to mid 70s. Ultimately, Randy Haynes won the derby working over some offshore fish in a major creek on the northern end of the lake. This year, the water is simmering with temps consistently in the mid to upper 80s and some places where it’s crept past 90.

A string of hot, blue-sky days made for a challenging practice by some accounts, but with rain in the forecast for the first couple days of the tournament, the bite might improve under some cloud cover. Still, consistency will be one of the main challenges on tap this week.

The timing and conditions will have some in the field focused solely on offshore structure. While there have been a few schools located on the main lake, multiple anglers undoubtedly found those so the key might be finding an area where recent post-spawners are moving to. Another key element this week could be brush piles, of which there are hundreds littering the bottom of the lake, either on points, ledges or off docks.

Hydrilla has established itself at Eufaula, but it hasn’t quite grown up to the point this year where it could hold tournament-winning fish. In recent weeks, the water level has fluctuated by a couple feet and is holding at full-pool level currently. There wasn’t much current generation to speak of during practice, but the hope is the looming rain will get the Corps of Engineers to open up the gates, which could help position the offshore fish in easy-to-find areas.

Before getting into more about the bite, here's the lowdown on the lake itself.

BassFan Lake Profile

> Lake Name: Lake Eufaula
> Type of Water: Chattahoochee River impoundment
> Surface Acres (full pool): 46,000 acres
> Primary structure/cover: Humps, ledges, rock piles, timber, milfoil, pads
> Primary forage: Threadfin shad, gizzard shad, bream
> Average depth: 15 to 18 feet
> Species: Largemouths, spotted bass
> Minimum length: 14 inches for largemouths, none for spots
> Reputation: Once hailed as the "Bass Fishing Capital of the World," it's gone through some up-and-down cycles recently. Still plenty of big-fish potential.
> Weather: Warm with chance of rain and thunderstorms until Saturday with clearing expected
> Water temp: Low 80s to low 90s depending on area
> Water visibility/color: Clearer toward lower end by the dam, typical Eufaula stain up north
> Water level: Just below normal pool
> Fish in: 0 to 25 feet
> Fish phase: Post-spawn, few late spawners
> Primary patterns: Jigs (swim and bladed), Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, worms, frogs, topwater, flipping
> Winning weight (4 days): 66 pounds
> Cut weight (Top 20 after 2 days): 27 pounds
> Fishing quality (1=poor, 5=great): 3 for Eufaula
> Biggest factors: Current and impact of coming rain
> Biggest decision: Stay shallow for shad spawn or commit to offshore fish
> Wild card: Catching a 7-pounder or bigger will be a big bonus

For a closer look at Eufaula, check out the contour map below provided by the folks at Navionics:

Pick Your Poison

Shallow or deep will be the big question anglers tussle with this week. There are fish to be caught shallow, but with the spawning season virtually over with, the prevailing wisdom is that the better fish will be caught away from the bank.

“I really think it’ll be one of those tournaments that will set up for a guy who wants to fish a certain way,” said Scott Montgomery, vice president of Eufaula-based Big Bite Baits and a frequent tournament competitor at Eufaula. “There are winning weights up shallow, but a guy who wants to fish deep might find them out there, too. It’s going to set up a lot like it did 2 years ago from what I’ve seen.”

Ledges are part of Eufaula’s offshore makeup, but the lake differs from how other ledge fisheries set up. Where someone could find a sweet spot and catch dozens of fish at Kentucky Lake or another TVA lake, the huge schools don’t orient to the channel edges at Eufaula, at least not now.

“I think the pro that mixes it up the most is going to do well,” Montgomery added. “If he’s a good ledge fisherman and finds two or three schools and then runs the bank and flips, he’ll do fine. You can’t rely on one thing or the other.”

In 2013, Haynes won with an 18-pound daily average and beat Bryan Thrift by 11 pounds and that was with a 22-pound catch on day 3. There is likely to be some 20-pound stringers caught this week, but those will be the outliers.

Up and Down

Montgomery said the Corps of Engineers has let the water level come up 2 feet this spring before drawing it back down over the last month.

“The fish went to the grass when it was up and then back out when they dropped it and then back to the bank when it came back up,” he said. “I think they’re a little confused to be honest.”

With the water where it’s at currently, there’s not a whole lot of bank grass with enough water in it to be considered a player in the tournament. A few weeks ago, it would’ve been a different story.

“A lot of people are trying to make it a ledge fishing tournament because of how it was won before,” Montgomery noted. “The key will be what the Corps does during tournament hours.

“We’re right at the end of the shad spawn and there’s been some bluegill spawning activity, too. If a guy stumbles on the right place, he could catch a monster bag or it could turn into a grinder’s tournament.”

Notes from the Field

Following are practice notes from a few of the anglers who'll be competing this week.

Dion Hibdon
“The water is in the 80s everywhere. They’re not pulling any water at all so the deeper stuff stinks right now. In the last few weeks, the water has been pulled down a bit so I think that’s what got the shallow fish messed up, too.

“We’ve messed around and got a few bites each day, but after Sunday, we realized how tough it was going to be, and we stopped jerking on stuff. If they turned on the water, the deeper stuff would get better. It’s just kind of off right now.

“I’m sure there will be somebody that will on the right bend of a creek and bust them good. I only got a few bites and that’s it. Unless something happens, guys have adjusted how they’re going to fish. The outside stuff is not playing the part most thought it would. Normally at this time of year, everybody would be out there.”

Dave Lefebre
“It’s going to be a slow one, but I feel confident about it. I had three productive days of practice, which doesn’t happen very often. I just don’t know how these fish change. I don’t have much experience here so I’m not real sure. I’ve got some things going in the salad and out deep.

“I had a huge day Tuesday, maybe the best day I’ve ever had in a practice, but I don’t know why I got bit where I did. It’s not random, but it’s all over the map. I caught a couple shallow and a couple deep.”

Scott Suggs
“This place is something else. It’s like pulling teeth. If they turn some current on, somebody could get on the right deal. It’s just real hit and miss right now.

“They’d been ripping current and dropped the water and now it’s doing nothing. We had 90 degrees and sun in practice and it’s going to rain the first 2 days of the tournament, so who knows what will happen. It’s going to break and get rainy and who knows what it’ll be like after that. I don’t know what it’ll do to those fish offshore. That’s what I’m trying to target. I’ve never fished for them under clouds.

“There’s been guys catching them on topwaters shallow in the mornings and this could fall right into their hands. Instead of getting maybe 2 hours in the morning, they might get all day to do it. Between what I’ve seen caught out and caught in, there’s a big bag to be caught on the bank. The thing is consistency – can it be done every day? I think someone who can be consistent offshore with 15 to 16 (pounds) each day is going to win it. I think there will be some bigger bags caught shallow, but it won’t be consistent.”

Wesley Strader
“It’s not fishing as good as it did last time. Things are a lot further ahead. There are no really big, giant wads of fish out there. You can catch one or two here or there, but it’s really hard to catch a quality fish.

“The water’s been moving, but I don’t know if they’re in that funk. I’m thinking a bunch of them have run off the bank and been off the bank for a while and they’ve been schooled up, but now they’re busted up and they’re doing whatever they do now.

“I’ve done a lot of idling and I haven’t come across a school of them yet. I don’t know if guys are going to be running the bank. I don’t think you’ll see a lot on the bank period. I think most will be out offshore.”

Jason Lambert
“It may be hard to catch five, that’s how tough it is. Honestly, I think I can catch five, but I don’t know what they’ll weigh. I had eight or 10 bites Tuesday, but there was no way to know what they were. I had one OK day in practice. I caught one between 7 and 8 pounds and had a 3-pounder and a couple 1 3/4-pound spots to go with it. It’s not easy. It should be better than it is, but I think a couple guys will smash them.

“I don’t think the shad spawn will be that much of a factor. We’re going out so late at 6:30 and it’s daylight here at 5:15. I really hadn't seen any of it, but in one spot and it was real short-lived. To be honest, I hadn’t been looking a whole lot for it either. One thing that might help is the change in weather. It’s been so hot and bluebird skies that maybe some clouds will get them going.

“It’ll be won out of brush. I’m pretty confident in making that prediction. I do know of some guys who are catching some fish out of the grass, but the hydrilla isn’t up high yet. It’s still only about a foot tall and how much of a player it’ll be, I don’t know. I fished it Monday for 4 hours and fished it like we do at home and didn’t do much good.”

Top 10 To Watch

With the above in mind and more, here, in no particular order, is BassFan's recommendation on the Top 10 to watch at this event:

1. Scott Canterbury – He’s fishing strong this year and finds himself in the thick of the Angler of the Year race halfway through the schedule. Possesses a good track record on the Chattahoochee River system.

2. Randy Haynes – Fresh off a runner-up finish at Kentucky Lake in the Rayovac Series, he’ll be in his element with fish moving to their offshore haunts. He could use a good finish after three stinkers to start the Tour season.

3. Bryan Thrift – On pace for his eighth straight Top-10 finish in points with three Top-25 showings so far. He was the runner-up at Eufaula in ’13 and word is he’s done more homework this time around.

4. Wesley Strader – Current AOY points leader has finished out of the money just twice since June 2011and while he says Eufaula fishes nothing like the Tennessee River, we’re betting that he keeps his hot streak alive.

5. JT Kenney – With Lake Chickamauga next up on the schedule, Kenney can refine his offshore game even more this week at a place where he challenged for the win 2 years ago. He’s 51st in points so he needs a money finish to stay within reach of a Cup berth.

6. Andy Morgan – The human fish magnet came this close to a win at Beaver Lake last month and will be looking to avenge a four-fish day at Eufaula in 2013 that cost him a spot in the Top 10.

7. Mark Rose – Rarely has two bad Tour events in a row so we’re expecting him to shrug off the 142nd at Beaver Lake. He’s coming off a Top-10 at the Kentucky Lake Rayovac, but Eufaula’s a different animal. He took 39th there in 2013.

8. David Dudley – Has posted two Top-30s since bombing at Toho so he’s settling into a groove. Hasn’t really gone on a tear since 2012, but he’s still plenty capable and Eufaula treated him well (4th) 2 years ago.

9. Scott Martin – Has fished well this season and had a 10th at Eufaula in 2013. Has made eight Top-20 cuts in his last 14 Tour events.

10. David Fritts – Figured out a Carolina-rig bite that earned him a Top-10 at Eufaula in 2013 and he’ll have the patience to fish for five good bites this week. Could use a good finish after missing the money at Smith and Beaver.

Launch/Weigh-In Info

> Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT all 4 days from Lakepoint Resort State Park Marina (104 Lakepoint Drive, Eufaula, AL 36027). Weigh-ins on days 1 and 2 will get under way at 3 p.m. CT at Lakepoint Resort State Park Marina (same address). Weigh-ins on days 3 and 4 will begin at 4 p.m. CT at Walmart (3176 S Eufaula Ave., Eufaula, AL 36027).

Weather Forecast

> Thurs., May 14 – Cloudy, Afternoon Thunderstorms - 88°/67°
- Wind: From the ESE at 5 to 10 mph

> Fri., May 15 – Scattered Thunderstorms, Then Cloudy - 87°/66°
- Wind: From the ESE at 5 to 10 mph

> Sat., May 16 – Mixed Clouds, Chance of Rain - 88°/68°
- Wind: From the SE at 5 to 10 mph

> Sun., May 17 – Partly Cloudy - 91°/68°
- Wind: From the SE at 0 to 5 mph

Notable

> Jay Yelas will probably spend most of his time fishing shallow water on the lower end of the lake, while Luke Clausen is still getting his bearings and will probably do the same after battling a stomach bug during practice. To read how their practice sessions finished up, click here to check out our Pro View Report.