SEARCHLIGHT, Nev. – Following the 2017 season-opener on Lake Shasta, the Wild West Bass Trail (WWBT) moves on to Lake Mohave for the second stop of this year's Pro/Am circuit, Feb. 24-26.
Taking place on the reservoir that borders Nevada and Arizona, the three-day tournament will greet the Wild West anglers with mostly sunny days, air temps in the low to mid-60’s and nighttime lows in the 40’s.
The 2016 WWBT Roosevelt Pro/Am champ and Mohave Team’s runner-up, Justin Kerr of Simi Valley, Calif. weighed in on the event at this week’s desert fishery.
Read Related: Gibbs and Eggers win Wild West Bass Trail at Mohave
“The water doesn’t fluctuate much at Mohave – maybe five or six feet at the most; but the last time I was there (a few weeks ago), the water was way up,” he began. “The water flushes through Lake Havasu to Mohave; so the water level depends on if it iwill be winter pool or summer pool when we get there for the tournament.”
Kerr didn’t anticipate a lot of difference in the fishing with a high water level.
“The only real differnce could be the largemouth,” he began. “This time of year, most of them are going to be deep. The only time they go up shallow is when the water is high; so if it is high, someone may be able to find one or two.”
He anticipated finding pre spawn conditions.
“They could be on beds; but I think it has been a little cold for them to be ready to spawn,” added Kerr. “They don’t really spawn there until March/April – April for sure. If it was the first part of April, it would be a full-blown spawning tournament. The bass here are about a month behind Lake Havasu, so I think it will be another month or so.”
Read Related: Kerr Conquers WWBT Rivalry on Roosevelt
Kerr noted there were a few different patterns that could be used to win the event.
“It could be either reaction or finesse,” he said and added a few words of advice. ‘It can really blow there; so be prepared for the wind – it can be your friend. Also, because of the wind, your equipment needs to be in good shape. Mohave is really one of those places where the more prepared you are, the better.”
With conditions that he described as “still wintertime”, Kerr predicted the leader to come in with 15-pounds or more a day and the event champion to be in the range of 45- to 50-pounds by event’s end.
The first two days of competition will see the full field battle for the largest five-fish limits – pros vs. pros and co-anglers vs. co-anglers. Following a field cut, a third day of fishing will initiate with the top-10 pros and cos, each running their own boat.
Anglers will vie for an expected purse totaling a 100 percent payback as well as Angler of the Year points to earn a coveted berth in the Lucas Oil Championship at Lake Mead this fall.
Anglers will blast off and weigh-in daily at 10000 Cottonwood Cove, Searchlight, Nev. Blast off will commence at safelight and weigh-ins will begin at 3 p.m. each afternoon. 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.
A special thanks to all of the 2017 WWBT sponsors – A & M Graphics, Costa, Dobyns Rods, Evinrude, Gator Guards, General Tire, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Hydro Force, Lowrance Electronics, Lucas Oil, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats and Super Clean.
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Offering professional-level competition throughout the west, the Wild West Bass Trail provides its anglers the opportunity to further develop and advance their fishing careers. Additionally, the WWBT offers its corporate partners the opportunity to expand sales through comprehensive national and regional television coverage, exclusive on-the-water demonstrations and various tournament incentive programs.
For 2017, the WWBT will conduct 16 events that include one Pro/Am circuit and two Teams circuits – one based in California and the other in Arizona. The Pro/Am circuit consists of five tournaments throughout California and Arizona and a year-end, qualifying championship event. Each Teams circuit includes four tournaments and a year-end, qualifying championship. For more information visit WildWestBassTrail.com and follow WWBT at Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.
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