Rayovac FLW Series on Amistad will test anglers

Water levels are still way down and so is the catch rate on Lake Amistad. Once considered the darling of the tournament fishing world, Amistad has been a tough nut to crack in recent years, especially this one so far.

Rayovac FLW Series anglers planning to fish the lake in a couple of weeks have their shoulders set for a heavy task – and some light bags.

With much of the lake’s productive structure high and dry, big schools of bass are suspended. Anglers who dial-in the suspended bite have a shot at catching some big female bass.

The wild card is hydrilla. Word is, the Rat-L-Trap bite is strong in the grass. If an angler can catch bigger-than-average fish from hydrilla, he may exceed 40 pounds in total weight over 3 days – an aggregate that expert say will likely win this grind fest.

Here’s the official press release from FLW:

The Rayovac FLW Series is headed to Lake Amistad Feb. 12-14 for a tournament presented by Frabill when as many as 300 pros and co-anglers will take to the water for the first stop of 2015 in the Texas Division.
“The fishing on Lake Amistad is going to be tougher than the other stops in the division,” said Walmart FLW Tour pro Clark Reehm of Huntington, Texas, runner up in the 2014 Rayovac FLW Series Texas Division Angler of the Year.  “The natural cover that has fished well in the past is almost gone due to the low water levels.
“You’re going to see a lot of anglers targeting suspended fish,” continued Reehm. “Jerkbaits and natural-colored football-head jigs will definitely come into play. Also, with Lake Amistad being a clear, open body of water, umbrella rigs will be a heavy favorite among the competitors.”
Aside from targeting the suspending fish on the main lake, Reehm said exploring rocks and finding the Rat-L-Trap bite in the grass could be dominant patterns as well.
“The last I heard, there was a decent amount of hydrilla which means the prespawn Rat-L-Trap bite could be really good,” added Reehm.
Reehm concluded that a three-day weight nearing 40 pounds will win the tournament.
“It’s going to come down to finding those suspended fish,” Reehm said. “This lake is capable of producing a big bite.”
Anglers will take off from the Diablo East boat ramp located at Highway 90 West HCR 3 in Del Rio, at 7:30 a.m. CST each day. Weigh-in will be held at the launch ramp on Thursday and Friday beginning at 3:30 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will take place at 4 p.m. at Walmart, located at 2410 Dodson Ave., in Del Rio. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. The event is being hosted by the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce.
Pros will fish for a top award of $40,000 plus a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger Z117 with 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
The Rayovac FLW Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Rayovac FLW Series Championship. The 2015 Rayovac FLW Series Championship is being held Oct. 29-31 on the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Rayovac FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.