LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – The Wild West Bass Trail (WWBT) heads south for its second Arizona Pro/Am circuit stop, the Add-A-Wrap Industrial Decals “Hold Up on Havasu” Pro/Am on Feb. 27–28. Two hundred pro and co anglers will compete for cash awards that will top $100,000.
Touted as the “best desert lake in the country” and twentieth on the “100 Best Bass Lakes” list by B.A.S.S. in 2014, Havasu is ready to serve up both largemouth and smallies to the WWBT bass catchers competing for cash awards that will top $100,000.
Known for its manmade structure and warm water temps, (ranging from 75 to 100-plus degrees, nine months of the year), Havasu is expected to have a wide-open bite and bass in multiple phases of the spawn.
“There will be pre spawn and spawning fish and that is going to make it really fun, because anyone will be able to fish the style they like,” said lake local and reigning U.S. Open champion Roy Hawk. “If you are a finesse type person, you can do really well with that, you can power fish and do really well with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits or A-rigs or if you want to flip, you can go flip the river. At this time of year, it is going to be open to fishing your strength; so you can do really well with whatever it is you like to do.”
Discussing current conditions, Hawk noted that the water was low, saying “that means it is 3-4 ft down; but it’s not a drastic situation like Shasta or Oroville is when you think of low.”
Hawk anticipates multiple limits will break 20 lbs each day and the winning weight for the two-day event will climb to 45 lbs.
He expressed his excitement and appreciation for the WWBT stop in his area.
“This is a great opportunity to have in our town,” he said. “It is great for our community and great for the fishermen. Havasu is a great venue. The fishing is really good and the town is setup perfect for tournaments. There are tons of places to stay and eat, there is plenty of boat parking and launching and everything you could want is close to the lake. If you’re coming to town and need tackle, or groceries or the hardware store, it doesn’t matter – everything is within five miles. It is just the perfect place for tournament fishermen.”
WWBT anglers will blast off and weigh-in daily at the Lake Havasu State Park located at 699 London Bridge Rd., Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Blast off time is safelight and weigh-ins will kick off at 3 p.m. MST daily. Both are free of charge and open to the public.
Spectators can observe the anglers each day at the weigh-in scales to cheer on their favorite fishermen and hometown heroes as part of the WWBT fully-televised event to air on Fox Sports and the Pursuit Channel.
The public is invited to the event from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. daily for a meet-and-greet with the West’s all-time leading money winner – bass pro Gary Dobyns and free on the water Ranger Boats/Evinrude motor demo rides.
The WWBT debuted in 2016 with 17 events that include two Pro/Am and two Teams circuits – one based in California and the other in Arizona. Each Pro/Am circuit consists of three tournaments and a combined, year-end qualifying championship event. The Teams circuit includes four tournaments and a year-end championship. The third and final stop for the WWBT Arizona Pro/Am’s will be at Roosevelt on March 19-20.
The WWBT Add-A-Wrap Industrial Decals “Hold Up on Havasu” Pro/Am is being hosted by the Lake Havasu City Convention and Visitors Bureau. Host lodging can be booked at Quality Inn and Suites, 271 Lake Havasu Ave South and Days Inn, 1700 McCulloch Blvd North. Registration and banquet services will be held at Lake Havasu City Aquatic Center, 100 Park Avenue, Lake Havasu City.
More info on the Havasu event can be found in the Hold Up on Havasu digital guide.
For complete details and updated information, visit www.WildWestBassTrail.com
For tournament news, event updates and more, follow the WWBT on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Wildwestbasstrail/
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