| What's at stake: $324,650 in cash to the top 60 pro anglers and valuable points towards qualifying in the CITGO Bassmaster Classic and CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series. The top 50 co-anglers will compete for $68,800 in prizes. This is the final event of the Northern Tour, on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, and the top three anglers in points will qualify for the 2007 Bassmaster Classic. The top five in the points standings will qualify for the 2007 Elite Series. The pros said it "If I find two or three keeper fish in a spot, I consider that a sweet spot here because the fish are so scattered. I have been primarily junk-fishing random docks and brush piles. I am hoping to catch three to four keepers a day." — Derek Remitz, Hemphill, Texas, current leader of the Northern Tour points race. "It's extremely windy and the conditions aren't great right now, but I understand the weather will get better. There are quite a few docks on this lake, but you can't prepare yourself for the sheer number. I'm trying to remain calm fishing this tournament, even though I know a trip to the Classic is a possibility if I do well." — Sam Lashlee, 45, Camden, Tenn., in second place in the Northern Tour points race. "There are certainly some fish to be caught, but they are all scattered. I have found them anywhere from 4 to 14 feet deep. I imagine there will be a lot of anglers concentrating on docks, but most of my success has come on a football jig." — Jami Fralick, 31, Martin, S.D., 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series angler. "It's been really tough during practice. I'm planning on targeting docks, wood and rocks. I feel like I have a good chance to weigh a limit, but I could just as easily zero." — Lucy Mize, Ben Lomond, Ark., third-place finisher in the 2006 Toyota Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year race. The strategy Remitz: He is in first place with a 21-point lead in the Northern Tour points standings. With a berth in the 2007 Bassmaster Classic and Elite Series within reach, the Texas angler will target smaller keeper fish in hopes of scoring a limit and finishing safely in the top 50. He has yet to develop a solid pattern, but feels that junk fishing might be the best — and the safest — strategy. Lashlee: Lashlee needs warming weather to improve the fishing late in the tournament. He feels that rain — which is in the forecast for Friday and Saturday — will urge the fish to bite. The Tennessee angler will use a variety of Strike King lures — a finesse worm, a jig and a spinnerbait — to catch a limit each day. Fralick: Fralick reported catching a bass weighing more than 3 pounds during practice and feels other similar-sized fish will be anchors for daily limits. The 2006 Elite Series angler predicts a total weight of 32 pounds will be enough to win the tournament. Mize: The Women's Bassmaster Tour angler also believes a total weight in the low 30s will take the tournament. Mize did not share details on her pattern, but did say the lake would fish very tough. Location and field CITGO Bassmaster Northern Tour Field Launch and Weigh-in Background Previous BASS events Previous winners on lake Weather Lake level Sponsors of the Bassmaster Northern and Southern Tours include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Toyota, Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics and Motorguide. |
