DAYTON, Tenn. — If you were going to pick a favorite prior to the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake, it would have to be John Cox. In addition to leading the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings coming into this tournament, Cox has won two Bassmaster Opens and an FLW event at Chickamauga in the past.
However, the noted shallow-water angler has a problem, saying, “Everywhere I’ve caught bass in the past is out of the water.”
The lake level is three-and-a-half feet lower than full pool, and predicted to rise only about three-tenths of a foot each day over the course of the four-day tournament that begins Thursday.
“The only spot I’ve got where I’ve caught them in the past is a shell bar, which was about seven- or eight-feet deep. It’s in three-and-a-half feet of water now,” Cox said, with a laugh.
However, the lower lake level has some Elite Series anglers encouraged. David Mullins, who is second in the AOY standings, 20 points behind Cox, has fished Chickamauga when it was this low, but not in a tournament.
“I prefer to fish lakes when they’re low,” he said. “I think it groups the fish up.”
Although some cool temperatures are forecast this week, Mullins believes bass are ready to spawn. Water surface temperatures are generally in the 60s.
“I don’t think it will affect them,” he said. “They know it’s time. They’re not going anywhere.”
While Chickamauga has been rated among the top bass fishing lakes in the U.S. for several years and has produced quite a few five-bass/40-pounds-plus limits, Mullins doesn’t foresee anyone approaching the 100-pound mark after four days this week.
“I would be surprised if it takes 20 pounds a day to win,” Mullins said.
Brandon Palaniuk, who is fourth in the AOY standings, agreed, saying, “I don’t know that it will take 20 pounds a day to win. I could be completely wrong, but I think the winning weight will be somewhere between 78 and 83 pounds.”
Palaniuk thinks the fish are in all three phases of the spawn now, but mostly pre-spawn. He’s seen water temperatures ranging from 56 to 67 degrees. He likes the fact that the weather could be cooler and cloudier after Thursday’s predicted 63-degree high and sunshine. The highs Friday and Saturday are forecast in the low 50s with overnight lows in the 30s. There’s a 40 percent chance of rain Friday and double-digit winds are expected the next three days.
“I think it will make the weights higher,” Palaniuk said. “The nastier weather means there will be less local boat traffic. The water is a lot clearer than normal, and I think the fish will bite better when the skies are darker.”
Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins are at 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. EDT at the Dayton Boat Docks, 175 Lakeshore St.
