Wintry Blast Holding Fish Back Before Southern Open No. 2 On Smith Lake
In late January Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C., led the first day of the Bassmaster Southern Open on Florida’s Lake Tohopekaliga, but he zeroed the second day and finished 28th. He had a winning pattern figured out on Toho until a cold wind blew out of the North and his fish acquired a sudden case of lockjaw.
“Everybody thought I was sight fishing, but I was actually fishing offshore grass beds. But when that wind blew the second day I never caught a bass,” said Auten. “I finished 28th on one day’s fish so I still had a payday.”
He had a winning pattern at Toho, but it’s a completely different story for the second Southren Open on Smith Lake at Jasper, Ala., this week. Frigid winter weather is making another late season push into the South and it has taken the bass out of their plans to move shallow for pre-spawn, Auten said.
“Before it got cold I thought fishing would be pretty good, but this cold front has set them back. I’m still getting a few bites, but it’s not nearly as good as it was when it was 70 degrees.”
There is a good possibility fishing could get better during the tournament, however, Auten said.
“The first day of the tournament it is supposed to be in the 50s with a chance of rain in the morning, but it is not supposed to get super cold like it did Monday night. Then it is supposed to warm up Friday and Saturday, so I think the fish will start biting again.”
However, there is another problem, he said.
“There are only so many fish here and everybody is here practicing so they are getting beat up. Somebody who finds something deep is probably going to be a lot better off – unless it warms up good. If we get 3 or 4 days of warm weather in a row the fish will start moving.”
As it stands, Auten said, there are probably five major patterns that will produce this week at some level.
“I am sure somebody is going to find them deep on Shakey Heads and drop-shotting There will be some throwing Alabama Rigs. There will be some crankbait fish caught and a jerkbait is always good this time of year.”
Auten is hoping one more day of practice will give him the edge he needs for the Smith Lake Open.
“I don’t know if what I have so far is enough to win, but with one more day you never know what you might find,” he said.
Auten is fishing the Bassmaster Southern Opens and Northern Opens, and the FLW Rayovac Southern Series tournaments.
“I am also thinking about doing the Northern Rayovac Series, but one of those tournaments conflicts some with the Texas Toyota Classic on Lake Fork in May. I’d have to leave the Potomac after the Rayovac tournament and drive all the way to Lake Fork to start practice for the Toyota Classic the next day – and I don’t know if I have that in me anymore. I’m not as young as I used to be.”
Bass Pro Shops Southern Open #2
Mar 6-8, 2014
Smith Lake
Lewis Smith Lake Dam
