LEWISVILLE, Texas — Call what’s going on at Lewisville Lake a tale of two winds. You either love it or hate it. Either way, the wind is going to be a factor for sure for the anglers on Thursday and Friday at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open, the season finale for the division.
Here’s the current setup. Lewisville’s low lake level has exposed the red clay shorelines. As of this writing the winds are howling from the south at 21 mph with gusts to 28 mph. When that happens, the waves kick up and stir up the turbidity of the exposed shorelines. The bottom line is much of the lake is eliminated due to the muddy water. The forecast also calls for more wind on Friday.
“There are some fish up shallow, but with the south wind it’ll eliminate about half the lake for a shoreline bite,” said Scott Martin. “That’s also because the lake is really down, too, so it’s going to fish really small.”
Darold Gleason, eyeing a ticket to the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series, spent two weeks scouting the lake prior to the tournament. During that time the wind blew around the compass dial, and with it, a wide range of cool and warm temperatures.
“I’m not a fan of the wind because it will muddy up the banks and put everyone doing the same thing,” he said. “It’s also shrunk the lake from the shorelines that have been eliminated.”
I’m also trying to fish slow and methodical, so it might just be me,” he added.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Lee Livesay, making a last-ditch effort to qualify for the sport’s world championship, is a fan of the wind.
“The wind will help me, because it will put baitfish up shallow and stimulate a feeding period,” he said. “I heard about some really big fish that were caught when the wind switched to the south.”
Livesay said the lack of wind, then the passage of a cold front with brisk northerly winds, and now the tropical warmer gusty winds out of the south have all combined to scatter the fish.
“It’s pushed the fish around the dinner table, and this should concentrate them more against the windblown points as they feed on bait.”
As well, Livesay wants the wind so he can use moving baits to cover more water, and catch more and bigger fish known to be in Lewisville.
The muddy water has eliminated much of the shoreline strike zone, and so has the lower water.
“I’ve been searching for isolated rocks offshore, and when I say that, I don’t necessarily mean deep water,” said Martin. “I’m searching for rock that is visible on a graph and that you can find by cranking and feeling it.”
Martin was optimistic about the fishing overall, saying that he’s caught fish from 20 feet, up to 2 feet and less. On the shallow side he’s caught fish around isolated wood in clearer water.
“There are options to suit anybody, so it’s just a matter of fishing your strengths, looking for clearer water,” he said.
Brandon Palaniuk predicted 20-pound bags will cross the scales, with the weights dropping from there.
“Catch 11 pounds on Thursday and Friday and you’ll be looking good for Championship Saturday,” he said.
Palaniuk observed the fish moving shallower, and although they might be tough to catch from the muddy water, at least they are moving in the same direction.
“They want to be in 10 feet or less, so it’s a matter of being on top of where they reposition based on the wind and water clarity,” he said.
Up for grabs this week are three coveted prizes at Lewisville. Those are the overall winner titles for the top boater and co-angler; an invitation for the boater to the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by HUK; and four invitations to the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series.
So, no matter how hard the wind blows or muddies up the water, the show must go on.