Numerous area tournament anglers will be fishing the first event of the 2009 Skeeter Bass Champs Team Circuit on Sam Rayburn Saturday with headquarters at Rayburn's Umphrey Pavilion. Over 300 teams (600 anglers) are expected to compete for over $70,000 in cash prizes. If weather is decent, it could take 25 pounds/5-bass limit to win.
It could take 20 pounds to get in top 10 with some of the areas toughest competitors expected to show up with their game face on. $20,000 is first place prize and Skeeter incentives could push that to $28,000. Most of the anglers will fish 12 feet depths or less with TX and Carolina rigs, spinnerbaits, jigs and lipless crankbaits.
Crappie are also being caught in deep brush as well as under bridges around the lake. Highway 147 Bridge located on the northwest part of the lake is a local favorite. Both jigs and live shiners are successful.