Are you ready to fish in the first Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Event of the 2015 season? As one of the most diverse college tournaments in the industry with over $20,000 in prizes the Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash Presented by Berkley is excited for a weekend of big payouts and big bass!
When anglers do their research on a lake, they look at maps, fishing reports, and previous tournament weights, but not many anglers can say that they get their tips and pointers from two Pros in the industry. Berkley Pros Justin Lucas and Ott Defoe shared some of their secrets on how Kentucky Lake would set up in mid-March.
"Fish will be set up near a steep break," Defoe stated. "This could be on an underwater ledge or a visible bluff. Use your electronics to find these steeper breaks and bait as well. Once you find that, you’ll have to fish around to find the depth they are holding in. If the river is running real strong, I would stay in the bays and creeks. If it’s just a decent flow then the main lake will play more too."
The two Berkley Pros also discussed what bait selection they would choose to target big bass in this section of Tennessee Chain of lakes.
"If it stays cold, I would throw the Schooling Rig with the 5" Berkley Havoc Grass Pigs in Gizzard Shad on 1/4oz jig heads," said Lucas. "I would be fishing it on shallower secondary points in 3-8 feet of water or around any rip rap as well."
"If it warmed up some I would say the 5.5" Sick Fish. I would fish it on a belly weighted screw in hook. 1/4oz or 3/8oz. I would throw it around the first shallow docks moving back in some spawning pockets as well as any laydowns or other pieces of wood. Light hitch or chartreuse shad are my favorites," Lucas added.
"I would definitely throw the Schooling Rigs for sure. I prefer the hollow belly swimbaits when I fish that rig. I’ll run four of the 4" baits and one 5" bait in the center position. Gizzard Shad or Tennessee Shad colors have worked well for me in the past," said Defoe. "You could do a similar set up with small grass pigs and one larger one."
Defoe stated that the Berkley Gulp 3" minnow on a 1/8oz jig head would also be key if the temperatures were still low.
"Swimming this setup was good for me in the Bassmaster Classic around rocks in 5′-10′ of water. Six pound Trilene Fluorocarbon XL works really well for this rig," Defoe said.
Prepare your tackle, organize your boats, and pack your cold weather gear as the final week comes to an end before the 2015 Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash Presented by Berkley kicks off this Friday at Paris Landing Marina! We look forward to seeing you there!
About the ACA
The Association of Collegiate Anglers, a division of CarecoTV and in association with the The Bass Federation, is a sanctioning body developed to facilitate growth, development, and structure within competitive collegiate bass fishing. The ACA provides support to dozens of school operated regional events nationwide and owns and operates the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, the largest participatory collegiate tournament circuit in the country. With dedicated collegiate fishing programming on several television networks, three nationally televised collegiate bass fishing events, and thousands of members, the ACA is the leader in competitive collegiate bass fishing. For more information on the ACA, or the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, visit www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com.
By: Wade Middleton
