The Rayovac FLW Series is headed to Sam Rayburn Reservoir April 9-11 for a tournament presented by Mercury when as many as 300 pros and co-anglers will take to the water for the second stop of 2015 in the Texas Division.
“There’s going to be a lot of different places to catch fish in this tournament,” said nine-year Walmart FLW Tour veteran Jason Reyes of Huffman, Texas. “The water level is higher than normal so there will be plenty of targets, but the bass will be more spread out.
“I predict many of the anglers will fish shallow at the upper-end of the lake in the murkier water, as well as down south by the dams where the water is clearer. We may even see some anglers sight-fishing down there as well.
“There will be a lot of bushes and pine trees that anglers are going to have to navigate,” Reyes continued. “It might be difficult to get back in the spawning pockets.”
Reyes said that the north end of the lake has produced a lot of quality fish lately due to an increase in hydrilla and he expects anglers to catch more there than in recent years.
“I think umbrella rigs, football jigs and deep-diving crankbaits will play a big role in those northern waters,” said Reyes. “If anglers prefer to stay in seven feet or less of water, they’ll definitely be flipping jigs, throwing Senko worms, ChatterBaits or flipping creature baits in the bushes.
Considering winning weights, Reyes said that stringers will be impressive.
“I could see a three-day total of 63 pounds winning this tournament. It’s going to be fun.”
Anglers will take off from the Umphrey Family Pavilion located at 5438 Rural Route 255 W. in Brookeland at 7 a.m. CDT each day. Weigh-in on days one and two will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. On day three, weigh-in will be held at Walmart, located at 800 W. Gibson St. in Jasper, Texas, beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. The event is being hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area 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.
