02.Nov.2012 by Rob Newell
MONROE, La. – After day two of the EverStart Championship on the Ouachita River a clearer picture is starting to develop of just how this expansive waterway is fishing right now.
For starters, the stumpy backwater plan has pretty much fizzled. Those hoping to ride “tin-cans” to victory lane have beat the area known as “aluminum alley” to death.
The two main arteries, the Ouachita River itself and the D’Arbonne Creek that flows through the D’Arbonne NWR have become the primary fish producers for the top contenders on the leader board.
Though there is negligible current flow in these tributaries, the top pros are finding ways to make the fish bite in places where current normally is present.
Another interesting development was a 14-pound, 7-ounce limit – by far the biggest of the tournament – weighed in by pro Brandon Medlock who caught just one bass yesterday and rocketed into 14th place today.
Koby Kreiger of Okeechobee, Fla., who was in second yesterday, jumped into the lead thanks to a 9-pound, 2-ounce limit today which puts him at 21 pounds, 7 ounces total.
Kreiger is no stranger to EverStart competition. He has four EverStart wins to his credit, including a previous EverStart Championship.
“For some reason I tend to do better in these tough tournaments where 7 or 8 pounds a day is something to write home about,” Kreiger said. “I had a feeling this tournament would end up that way, despite all the stories I heard about big limits, so I just planned on fishing for 9 or 10 pounds a day.”
Kreiger has tapped the main Ouachita River for his catch. And while he has a specific type of cover he is looking for, his bait selection changes by the hour.
“I’m fishing about 50 spots a day, but that includes the places I am revisiting during the day,” the RMC Boatworks pro said. “It’s not really junk fishing. I have specific places I’m fishing, but my bait selection is all over the place. It seems like each time I tie on something new, I get a bite or two on it immediately, then it fades away and I have to go to something else. I think these fish need to see something different each time I revisit a spot so I’m rotating through a lot of lure.”
