2/22/06 Classic Waters:  Bass Are On Beds, However Change Is Coming It has been 5 days since Bassmaster Classic competitors have been allowed on the waters were they will contest the 36th Bassmaster Classic, and a whole lot has changed.  In those five days, air temperatures have warmed into the high 70's and low 80's which has caused water temperatures to rise 8 to 10 degrees.  The result:  Toho and the rest of Kissimmee Chain is in a full spawn right now with numerous pairs on nests.  There is also a significant amount of fry in the water with bass guarding them, in short, Spring is in the air.

Classic competitors have taken to the waters this morning for one last look at the water as well as to have a chance to get used to their official Triton tournament boats and are finding bass on beds in places where none were to be found during practice.  "The fish have moved up big time, there is a significant spawn taking place right now," notes Orandobassguide.com's Steve Boyd. 

However, before anyone makes this out to be a sight fishing free for all, be aware that a mild to strong cold front is making it's way South into Florida and should push through the area Thursday night and into Friday bringing at least cold air and overcast conditions with a strong possibility of rain and perhaps some thunder and lightening.  While temperatures figure to remain mild, dropping only into the high 60's and over night lows into the low 50's it figures that fishing will be affected, however it may be the fishermen who are affected more.  "With the overcast conditions, bed fishing will be a challenge, because it will be hard to see the fish.  Our water is stained to begin with and if you remove the bright sun, seeing will be for the most part, eliminated."

Scroggins: Classic Made To Order?  Into the category of "be careful what you ask for,"  Palatka Florida's Terry Scroggins is at the top of everyone's short list to win this week, and in reality, how can you not pick him?  Not only has he demonstrated that he can win on these lakes, having won a BASS open just last Fall, he has also consistently finished high in recent tour events on this system.  With the threat of a cold front and the heavy fog conditions that have blanketed much of Central Florida this week, being able to quickly adjust to the conditions might put this Classic right in Scroggins' "wheel house."

In reality however, being the one atop everyone's short list to win, automatically puts Scroggins in the unenviable position of being one of the pros that spectator boats will want to follow, add to that the fact that he is considered the local in this event means anyone who fishes for bass in this region will likely want to join the flotilla and see where and how he fishes.  Remembering the armada that followed Jason Quinn around Lake Wiley in South Carolina, one has to think that the fish could be bothered by the commotion.  Weather could help Scroggins immensely at this event.  With rain, spectator traffic figures to be light, as only the hard-core spectators will venture out in poor weather, and if fog is a factor, and it looks like it could be, Scroggins might be able to run away and hide.

In reality, Scroggins could take all of the attention away from the other Florida native in this event, fellow Palatka resident Preston Clark who is fishing his second Classic.  With all of the big names in this Classic, Clark may get a pass to get off to a good start as media attention as well as spectator attention may be aimed at Scroggins.  Clark is no slouch, he knows these waters as well as anyone, and his profile might just be low key enough to allow him a chance to jump out on the field.

Vacation Capital Of The United States-Something also to consider is that the Orlando Area with all of it's attractions is one of the top Winter get away spots in the country.  People come from all over the United States and the World to visit Disney and many of those people fish.....for Bass.  "One thing that is concerning is that there are a lot of people out fishing these spawning fish right now," noted Boyd.   "A lot of people who are here for the Classic as well as just here on vacation have been fishing, and don't forget the locals.  They like to get out and fish anytime there is a major spawn.  We had a guy come into the bait shop today, showing off a eight pound bass that he caught off a bed.  He released the fish, but that is one more eight pounder that won't bite during the Classic."

Boyd Says This Might Not Be The Event To Swing For The Fences.-Steve Boyd is the Orlando Area's top bass guide and has spent much of the last two months fishing the Kissimmee Chain and while he understands that nobody cares about second place in the Bassmaster Classic, he cautions about ignoring baits that are more consistent fish catchers.  "A guy has to make sure that he gets to Sunday," observed Boyd.  "Swinging for the fences could be the undoing for a lot of guys.  You have to get to Sunday before you can win.  I look for a senko or fluke bite to be solid during the tournament.  These are baits that will catch fish in all sizes, but you never know when that one pound and a half keeper in your live well will be the difference between being in contention or not being in contention."

Pre Spawners Might Be The More Consistent Bite Boyd cautioned that those anglers who are counting on sight fishing could be left on the outside looking in, noting that with the expected weather and the fishing pressure this week could really hurt that bite.  "Sight fishing will be the opportunistic bite, but what do you do if you find an eight pounder that takes you two hours to catch?  I think anglers like Tommy Biffle and Chad Brauer who won't sight fish might have the advantage in this event.  Anglers like these will  likely key on the pre spawn bite and end up catching good bags.  Fish that are feeding will still feed."

Boyd predicts that 17 pounds will be what an angler will need to average to win this Classic.  "Between 50 and 60 pounds over three days is what it will take, and if I had to guess, I would say that 17 pounds and change each day would be enough.  I do expect some massive bags to come in, maybe as much as 25 or 26 pounds, although I don't think anyone will be able to average that much each day.  Breaking Rick Clunn's Classic record of 75 pounds is a real possibility, and there are fish big enough in this system to break Dean Rojas's single day record of 45 pounds, however it would take a lot of running around to find those kind of fish, and of course, you still have to get them to bite."