Nov. 3, at the YETI FLW College Fishing on Toledo Bend Lake, Nov. 3, is the third and final regular-season event for college anglers in the Southern Conference and will award a top prize of a $2,000 club scholarship and an invitation to compete in the 2019 College Fishing National Championship to the winners.
“The fishing on Toledo Bend Lake has been a bit tough the past couple of months,” said 2018 BFL All-American Champion Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana. “We had a BFL Super Tournament there a few weeks ago and it only took a two-day total of 27 pounds to win. Normally, it takes about that much at a one-day event to win. I’m hoping the cooler weather we’ve been getting will help out the bite. This cold snap could be just what the lake needs.
“I think it’s going to be more of a shallow deal [for the collegiate anglers]. Right now, guys up shallow are getting 10 to 12 pounds in a day, but in a couple of weeks that could be more in the 15- to 17-pound range,” continued LeBrun. “Anglers in those areas will be focused on the grass and lily pads. There’s not much of that stuff this year, but it will be a player. Topwater baits will be a good bet, as well as swim jigs and spinnerbaits. Basically any kind of shad-imitating bait will be good.”
LeBrun said that on the north end of the lake, there’s also potential for some offshore bites.
“It’s a deal where you’re sitting in around 20 feet of water and you’re casting into 10 to 12 feet, and usually to shallower ridges,” said LeBrun. “Competitors in those areas will probably throw a big worm, a soft-plastic on a Carolina rig or a jig.”
LeBrun went on to say that the top duo will likely need to bring in five bass weighing around 19 pounds to win the event.
“Fishing for the right five bites will be crucial. Lately, it seems like the angler catching 20 fish a day only has 10 or 12 pounds, but the angler who has only five bites or so is catching heavier fish, so getting dialed in on what the big ones are doing will be the key.”
Competitors will take off from Cypress Bend Park, located at 3462 Cypress Bend Drive, in Many, at 7:30 a.m. CDT Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the takeoff location beginning at 3 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.