Yesterday the anglers reported the bass feeding on a smorgasbord of food. Mayflies by the thousands dropped into the water at some places. Elsewhere, the smallmouth, their bellies fat from feeding on goby, were retrieved from deep water. Perch regurgitated by largemouth floated in the livewells of some anglers.
All of the above defines the reason why Oneida Lake produced such impressive catches on Day 1. There is an abundance of food of all kinds to fill the dietary needs of smallmouth and largemouth. The habitat is flourishing. The bass are healthy. And all looks good for another repeat of Day 1.
The Day 1 numbers are impressive. A five-bass limit caught by 150 of the 190 pros. Only 2.5 pounds between 40th and 1st place. Eighteen pros weighing 17-pound or better limits. Another two dozen pros crossing the scales with bags weighing 16 pounds.
As the numbers indicate this tournament is wide open for anyone. The key will be catching a kicker largemouth or smallmouth. For the smallmouth that might be a challenge. The overabundance of 3.25-pound smallmouth makes finding an area with bigger bites nearly impossible. The bigger fish are there, however you must go through so many average sized smallmouth to get a bigger bite. And then the day is over.
For the average angler that’s a good problem to have. But at this tournament the ounces separating the Top 40 make that one kicker fish a game changer. And maybe even a tournament winner.
What else has happened is the most popular areas are now receiving high pressure, as more anglers hone in on spots fished by the leaders.Those places have become community holes by virtue of success and popularity.
Heavy rain is on the way by mid-morning. The system is approaching from the West, and most of the best fishing areas are on the far eastern side of the lake. That will make for a rough, time consuming commute back to the weigh-in.