Many anglers view this weekend as the start of the tournament season, and with good reason. There are roughly thirty tournaments being held on bodies of water all across the state on Saturday and Sunday, the most publicized being tomorrow’s Walmart BFL Gator divisional event being held on Lake Okeechobee.
Over 400 anglers are expected to compete, boaters and co-anglers alike, each one hopeful of catching a monster bag that the Big O is known for producing this time of the year.
Benny Townend of Boynton Beach, FL won the 2015 season opener for the Gator division at Lake Okeechobee with a 27-pound, 9-ounce stringer, and many anglers believe it will take roughly the same weight to win this weekend’s event.
That is still to be seen though, Okeechobee will see added pressure on top of tomorrow’s BFL tournament. Anglers from across the country will also be filling up boat ramps as they practice for next weekend’s Costa FLW Series event, where upwards of 500 anglers, boaters and co-anglers alike, will be competing.
Steve ‘Boogie’ Brown is registered to compete in both tournaments, and is using the BFL event as another day to prepare for next weekend’s event.
“It’s crazy down here right now,” stated Brown. “It’s about to bust open at the seams. The BFL will take 25-27 pounds [to win]. They still have not moved all the way up yet.”
With recent cold fronts pushing high winds across the state, the lake is ‘pretty dirty’, according to Brown.
Another front is forecast to move through Saturday evening, bringing with it high winds throughout the day and showers in the evening.
Kyle Stafford has spent the past few days on the Big O, scouting for tomorrow’s event.
“It’s been tough. I’m thinking 24-26 pounds to win, maybe more if the water warms up,” stated Stafford, who noted water temps around 65 degrees during his practice this week.
Brown is in agreement.
“If it stays warm, you can guarantee 30+ pound bags being caught.”
Tomorrow’s event takes place at Scott Driver Park, with the weigh-in beginning at 3:00 pm.
