If the Elite Series anglers competing in the Douglas Lake Challenge, the fourth tournament in the 8-tournament series for 2012, have not already figured it out in practice this week, they probably should heed the advice of a knowledgeable local fishing guide.

In short, Capt. David Berry of Mascot, Tenn., says it’s time to break out the deep water tackle and get offshore.

“There are still some fish trying to spawn,” said Berry who grew up fishing Douglas Lake, “but a lot of the bigger fish have already spawned and have pulled back out in the post spawn. They are not quite in the summer pattern, but they are headed that way. Some are suspended and some are out on offshore structure like breaks and drops, stuff like that.”

Berry, who operates his East Tennessee Angling Adventures guide service on Douglas and nearby Cherokee and Norris lakes, said the tournament probably will be won on swim baits, deep-diving crankbaits, maybe a Carolina rig or football jig.

“The lake has not come all the way up so it is not up in the bushes yet. There is not a lot of flipping and pitching going on, so I don’t think the tournament will be in the favor of those who fish that way.”

Although Berry no longer fishes tournaments full time, he joined his local BASS Federation club at a young age and fished a dozen or more federation tournaments a year, along with competing in large local tournaments and was active in the old Red Man Tournament Series for a while, earning numerous wins in tournaments across the South.

“I’ve been guiding here locally for 25 years, doing customized guiding trips,” he said. Berry and his U.S. Coast Guard Certified guides specialize in largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing, crappie fishing and trout fishing and also offer family trips on the lakes and local rivers for bluegills.

While Douglas is not as well known as some of the other lakes in East Tennessee, Berry said, it produces good weights to win tournaments.

“Douglas is known more for producing numbers of fish in the 1- to 2-pound range,” he said. “In the last three weeks it was taking 21 to 23 pounds to win a tournament on Douglas Lake, but the weights have fallen off some lately. I think there will be a lot of tournament fish caught this week, 1- to 3-pounders, and it will probably take 17 pounds or so a day to win.”

But those good fish more than likely will come offshore, he said.

“Actually, there are a lot of good fish to be caught if you know the techniques and how to fish for them. Mainly that is offshore after the spawn. This tournament will line up good with guys who are good with swim baits and crankbaits, and possibly vertical jigs. This will fall right into their laps.”

Berry is sponsored primarily by Johnson Outdoor Products, Skeeter Boats and Lowrance. You can check out his guide service at: www.smokiesangling.com. To contact him, call 865-933-3140 or 865-661-5107, or e-mail: [email protected].

The Elite Series has never stopped at Douglas, a 30,400-acre impoundment formed from the French Broad River and its tributaries of the Nolichucky and Pigeon Rivers, so the fishery will be new for many of the Elite pros. With just three tournaments in the books this year, a number of top pros are stuck far down in the standings, so they will need to win one of the final five tournaments to qualify for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic.

Fans are invited to come out and see how the pros fare in their quest to win $100,000 and an instant-in for the Bassmaster Classic. The daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will be held at The Point Marina, 122 Boatdock Drive, Dandridge, Tenn.

Bush Hawg, a band that performed at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, will perform after the May 5 weigh-in as part of the free Evan Williams Bourbon Concert Series. All fan activities are free and open to the public.

ESPN2 will present the Douglas Challenge, 8-9 a.m. ET, May 13 on The Bassmasters. The show will air again the same day on ESPN Classic, 10-11 a.m. ET.

 

Bassmaster Elite Series Douglas Lake Challenge

May 3-6, 2012

Douglas Lake

The Point Marina

www.bassmaster.com