Rising, Muddy, Cold Water Awaits Anglers In Paa Opener On Douglas Lake
Todd Auten was content to spool new line on about 20 rods and tie on a variety of baits rather than worry about how he was going to fish the Professional Anglers Association’s first tournament of 2013 on Douglas Lake this Friday-Saturday.
“I really don’t know what to expect. I’ve heard the lake is muddy, the water is cold and it’s coming up – as much as half a foot a day,” Auten said. “I was going to go out there and practice, but if it’s going to come up 10 feet before we get there it’s no use – unless you could predict where the water is going to be and what kind of stuff it would cover on the bank.”
Auten said rain and snow were predicted for the first part of the week, then a gradual warming trend is expected to follow. But it won’t warm quickly enough for him.
“I like for the water to be at least 60 degrees, but I think it will still be in the high 40s to low 50s for the tournament,” said Auten who has fished one other tournament on Douglas Lake, finishing 32nd in the 2001 Bassmaster Megabucks event there.
Under those conditions, with the muddy water, Auten said he is thinking slow moving baits might be the key for the tournament. Auten said he was hoping the water would clear up enough to provide a good jerkbait bite, but he is not optimistic.
“If it’s as muddy as they say it is, there might still be a shallow bite. Being muddy is going to make it harder on the deep bite. If you can find some clear water you can catch some fish deep, but I think they are holding the water so it is backed up and the mud is not pulling through. The only clear water is in the backs of the creeks, but with only three or four big creeks, there will be a boat in each one,” he said
“At this point I don’t really have a good strategy. I’m just going to get there, see what the water temperature is, and go from there.”
Besides fishing the PAA schedule, Auten said his plans this year are to fish one B.A.S.S. Open and the FLW Tour.
“Without any more sponsorships, that is about all I could swing,” he said.
After this week’s tournament on Douglas Lake, the PAA will move to Ft. Louodon/Tellico Lakes in Tennessee May 20-25 for the second tournament of the year, then to Table Rock Lake in Missouri for the third tournament. A fourth tournament is being planned for November, with details on the location and dates expected to be released soon.
The top 15 in points will be the PAA qualifiers to the prestigious Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) . The world Championship event pits the top 15 anglers from the Angler of the Year races in the B.A.S.S. Elite Series, FLW Tour and the PAA Tournament Series in head to head competition.
Professional Anglers Association (PAA )
Mar 28-30, 2013
Douglas Lake
The Point Marina
270-527-2030
