Murky Floodwaters To Challenge Bassmaster Pros On Grand Lake

Historic flooding churned up the water at Grand Lake just weeks ahead of an international fishing tournament.

Lots of professional anglers will launch their boats from Grove in March for the Bassmaster Classic.

Experts say the murky floodwaters could present a challenge to some of the fishermen.

Professional anglers are six weeks away from hitting Grand Lake. The lake conditions might be a little different this time around.

1/21/2016 Related Story: Bassmaster Classic Making Second Stop At Grand Lake

Fishing in muddy water like this is not ideal, but B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland says the pro anglers know how to handle it.

“They've dealt with situations like this in the past,” he said. “That's what makes them pros. They work with those situations. They understand how those conditions are changing and how that changes with what the fish do, and that's why these guys are the best in the world. You don't make it to the Bassmaster Classic just on luck."

Gilliland says if rain continues and more flooding from the Neosho River comes in, the water could remain murky.

Bass are sight feeders, so low visibility under water might change the fish behavior according to Gilliliand.

He anticipates the silt settling in time for the big tournament.  

“When you've got kind of tough conditions like that, really throws a challenge at them,” he said. “But these guys are good and they'll figure it out and they'll catch fish."

Owners of the Bluewater Bait and Tackle agree.

“Mix it up,” Michael Blackwater said. “There's not going to be one thing that catches all the fish. It's going to be a mixture… the whole lake is active, there's not a bad spot on it."

The tournament starts on March 4.

Bassmaster Classic website