Forty six of the nation’s top pros set to battle it out on Lake Lanier for prestigious Forrest Wood Cup title, potential $500,000 payday
09.Aug.2012 by Gary Mortenson
DULUTH, Ga.– After seven long months of anticipation and a grueling qualification process, the quest for the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup title has finally begun in earnest. With overcast skies and extremely low water levels dominating the landscape, the full field of 46 pros and 46 co-anglers departed Laurel Park Marina shortly after 7 a.m. with one goal in mind – to make history on the storied Georgia waterway of Lake Lanier.
Savanna, Ill. — Contenders of the Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Northern Divisional took off this morning in the same conditions they encountered when they finished yesterday.
The weather this morning and yesterday afternoon featured clouds and drizzling rain, which suits tournament leader Brad Teel just fine.
SAVANNA, Ill. — Iowa angler Brad Teel was “totally” surprised by his catch today that put him in the lead at the Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Northern Divisional on the Mississippi River.
The 31-year-old machinist from the Cedar Rapids Bassmasters club noted he caught a lot of bass in practice, but he thought the action was sporadic.
Joey Dawson gives us this great tip of the month about taking care of your prop after you get off of the water as well as while you are out on the lake. Take a listen to what he had to say…
Greg Heindselman of Lewiston, Mo., won last year’s Cabela’s Federation Nation Northern Division Championship. He hopes to put together a winning pattern for this year.
SAVANNA, Ill. — Greg Heindselman of Lewiston, Mo., isn’t expecting a repeat in this year’s Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Northern Division Championship, but he didn’t anticipate winning last year’s event, either. After a relatively futile practice in Fort Madison, Iowa, Heindselman found a productive creek in competition and put together a last-minute pattern that led to success, capped by a 4-pounder that went a long way to ensuring victory.
Eating healthy is important to me because it gives me the sustained energy and mental sharpness I need to spend 10-14 hours on the water preparing for a tournament. That’s why I avoid fast food chain restaurants and processed foods as much as possible. It’s easy to stop at McDonalds after pulling off the water because it’s quick and convenient. But if you’re like me, you never feel good after inhaling a double cheeseburger, fries, and a coke. In fact, you feel lazy and sleepy.
One of the most important tools I carry with me on Tour is my Crockpot (aka—slow cooker), because it allows me to make convenient, healthy meals. I personally like the 4 quart-size Crockpot. It’s the perfect size for one or two people, easy to clean, and costs less than $15.
The first thing I do when I arrive to a tournament destination (make sure the hotel room has a fridge) is go grocery shopping and buy all my food at one time to prevent repeat trips to the store. I typically buy a few whole chickens, some vegetables and greens for my dinners.
It takes me less than five minutes to fill the Crockpot before heading to the ramp each morning. When I get back I’m greeted with an aroma that reminds me of my mom’s kitchen and a meal that tastes (almost) as good. And, I have leftovers to take with me for lunch the following day.
I’ve experimented with many different recipes over the years, but here’s one of my favorites:
3-4.5lb whole chicken
1 can El Pato Jalapeno sauce
½ small bag of peeled carrots
1 Tbsp. Cumin
Directions:
Load the Crockpot with the whole chicken and top with the carrots. Then pour in the El Pato sauce and cumin. Set the Crockpot on low and walk away. Whether you’re gone for 6 or 12 hours you’ll have a hot, delicious meal waiting for you when you get back. I like to throw some sliced avocado on top after I plate my meal and mix together a side salad for a complete dinner.
If you’re tired of feeling the fast food side effects start making your own meals in a Crockpot. I guarantee you’ll feel better, sleep better, and you might even fish better.
The bass are really starting to school up in the mornings down lake and are willing to take just about any top water you can throw at them. Look for them on shallow points close to deep water busting threadfin shad and blue back herring out of the water. This action usually starts at first light and can last as long as 2 hours after sun up. I like throwing the Repo man to them and I am now fishing another top water lure, The BOING LURE creates a sound like no other in the tackle industry. Fish Tales will have 9 colors in stock by mid August. The Burton Minnow is another great way to put schoolies in the boat, my favorite colors are CC SHAD, CC HERRING and CC SPECIAL. Rig these on a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook and start catching.
After the top water schooling action is over you can still catch these fish by locating them with your electronics and dropping a Tooth Ache Spoon down to them. Look for bass in other areas of the lake to be holding on deep boat docks, bridge pilings, brush piles and rock piles. Shaky Head rigged plastics work great. I like the Power Team Lures Finicky Tickler in Green Pumpkin, Watermelon and Green Pumpkin Blue Swirl.
Deep diving crankbaits like the Bill Norman DD 22, Strike King 6XD and the Bass Pro LEC 15. My favorite colors are Chart/Blue and Sexy Shad (XXX Shad in the LEC 15) Fish these baits in and around the brush, bridges and rock plies. Deflecting your bait off of the cover will get you a reaction strike
STRIPER- The line sides are actively feeding on herring and shad around the splits all the way down to the 208 bridge. You can find them swirling and breaking at sun up and catch them on a variety of top water baits. Cotton Cordell Broken Back Red Fins are a great way to see the strike, retrieve them just under the surface creating a wake with the bait and hold on. Pop R’s, Zara Spooks and the Repo Man are all great baits to get explosive strikes from the hearty and tasty fish.
After the morning fun is over, try trolling DD 22’s, LEC 15’s and Deep Diving Red Fins in 18-22 feet of water around the many humps at the splits. Live bait such as Gizzard Shad and Blue Back Herring will work for you but you must be on the lake well before the sun comes up and be good at throwing a cast net in order to get your bait.
CRAPPIE- The crappie fishing is in the summer time lull at the present time. If you are going to try and catch them, small minnows on a slip bobber or on a jig head will be your best bet. The bridge pilings in 18-26 feet of water has been the HOT ZONE!!!!!!!
Lake Level- FULL POOL
Water Temps
DIKE 3- 89-91
MID LAKE- 85-88
UP LAKE- 87-91
The 2012 Forrest Wood Cup is about to commence.
