The winter weather – snow, freezing rain, freezing temperatures – doesn’t matter; the fish are still eating in Smith Mountain Lake as the Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail prepares to launch the 2013 season with and expanded schedule to include both a Virginia and North Carolina Division.

“The fish are still biting, no matter how cold it gets,” said Chris Lucas, Anglers Choice Marine Tournament Trail Tournament Director. “We’ve had our winter series since December and it has been taking 16 to 18 pounds ever week to win it.”

The Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail was so popular with Virginia and North Carolina anglers that the decision was made to split it into two separate Divisions this year.

“We are excited about the two divisions,” Lucas said. “We’re hoping having a North Carolina Division will help the Carolina guys. The Carolina side is kind of experimental this year just to see if we can get it up and running. But most of the guys I’ve talked to say the Virginia Division will be huge and the North Carolina Division will be bigger than expected.”

Lucas said the new schedule will include a five-qualifier format to make the classic. Anglers can do this by fishing five tournaments in either division. Also new for 2013 is that the top 5 teams in the points race for both divisions will receive a free entry to the Classic.

“I have had a really good response to this since fishermen can get two qualifiers in one weekend at some of our tournaments and cut down on some of their expenses,” he said. “I think things will go pretty good this year, if the price of gas doesn’t get over $4.25 a gallon.”

The Virginia Division, which begins Saturday at Smith Mountain Lake out of Parkway Marina, will include : March 23, Lake Gaston, Americamp; April 6, Smith Mountain Lake, Parkway Marina; April 27 Kerr Lake, Occoneechee State Park; May 25, Smith Mountain Lake, Parkway Marina; and June 29, Kerr Lake, Occoneechee State Park.

The North Carolina Division, which kicks off March 10 at High Rock Lake out of Tamarac Marina, also includes: March 24, Lake Gaston, Americamp; April 7, Smith Mountain Lake, Parkway Marina; April 28 Kerr Lake, Occoneechee State Park; June 22, High Rock Lake, Tamarac Marina; June 30, Kerr Lake, Occoneechee State Park.

The two-day Classic for both divisions will be held Oct. 12-13 on Kerr Lake out of Occoneechee State Park.

Lucas noted that anglers have been catching bass deep at Smith Mountain.

“We have not had enough consecutive days to get them up there, but if we get a blue sky, sunny day they will be up in the water column,” he said. “Some anglers will be throwing a spoon and that will be the top tactic on deep structure, along with a deep crankbait, and in the cold, clear water a jerkbait works good. But some will be throwing soft plastics and I think there will be some colored water so there will be some good fish caught on a jig.”

It probably will boil down to where an angler is fishing and what he likes to do, Lucas said.

“I think guys will be catching them on all those baits.”

The only problem on the horizon for a possible large entry, he noted, will be the weather.

“I think they will come if the weather is all right. We’ve got some more winter weather coming this week and the forecast calls for another winter storm sometime between March 1 and March 3, so I am keeping a close eye on the weather.”

Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail – Virginia Division

Sat Mar 2, 2013

Smith Mountain Lake

Parkway Marina

Call Chris Lucas 276-358-0844

www.anglerschoicemarine.com