But the weather this year has been anything but normal. Persistent rains will force changes in game plans in more ways than one, according to veteran pro Pete Ponds who lives just five miles from the Madison Launch site at Ridgeland, Miss.

“The problem is we are getting rain every day so we have increasing water coming down the river. With the really high water up north everything is pushing mud down into the main lake and that’s going to make the bite a lot tougher than what we were expecting,” Ponds said. “The water temperature is in the low 50s and it’s just muddy and high.”

And not expected to change for the tournament, he added.

“It’s supposed to rain every day of the tournament – through Saturday at least. Friday thunderstorms are predicted, with highs in the upper 60s and lows in the 50s.”

But that’s just half of the problem, he said.

“Ross Barnett doesn’t fluctuate a whole lot. With all the rain coming in it’s going to force them to open the gates below the spillway and that is going to create current. That’s going to change a lot of things for the tournament.”

Ponds said that while he thinks the Open will still be a pre-spawn tournament, a typical pre-spawn strategy might not be the best way to go in the tournament.

“Normally the locals here do the same thing every year, year after year, and they don’t win these tournaments. The guy who is doing something completely different, somebody doing something unusual will win it – and it could be current-related.”

Plus, he added, because of the rainy weather preparation should go beyond just fishing strategy.

“Preparing for the weather is going to be as key as anything you are going to do. It will be very important to have the proper clothes and rain gear. That way you are not beat before you get on the water.”

 

Bassmaster Open – Central Division

Mar 12-14, 2015

Ross Barnett Reservoir

Madison Landing

www.bassmaster.com