Randy Haynes discusses his FLW Tour victory on Lake Eufaula, his recent EverStart win on Pickwick Lake and some tips for ledge fishing

Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes team pro Dave Lefebre provides an inside look at the latest FLW Tour event in Eufaula, Ala.
Despite a miserable finish at Lake Eufaula, I’m still moving on up in the AOY standings. I finished 55th – just a few ounces away from a $10,000 check – and I can tell you that is not fun at all. I now sit in 36th place with two events remaining. The goal is to sneak into that top 15, which will require a couple of very strong tournaments.

After a quick scan of the 2013 FLW Tour Angler of the Year standings race it’s readily apparent that the top of the leaderboard is currently dominated by plenty of the usual suspects – Brent Ehrler, Bryan Thrift, Andy Morgan, Jason Powroznik and Koby Kreiger. However, if you look closely, there is one name that seems to leap right off the page: Drew Benton, Panama City, Fla. – sixth place overall.

Randy Haynes wins Lake Eufaula with an 11 pound lead.

TVA stick adds Walmart FLW Tour win to impressive offshore résumé
EUFAULA, Ala. – When Randy Haynes won the EverStart Series event on Pickwick Lake two weeks ago, it was hardly a surprise. After all, Haynes has five FLW wins on the Tennessee River and he knows just about every nook and cranny on the entire chain. But Haynes had never visited Lake Eufaula, part of the Chattahoochee River system. Initially it took some getting used to, but Haynes acquainted just fine.

Haynes surges to forefront with 22-pound stringer
EUFAULA, Ala. – Randy Haynes may be soft spoken and unassuming, but when it comes to catching bass offshore, there are few better in the world. After two consecutive days of 17-pound stringers, Haynes busted open the fourth Walmart FLW Tour qualifier of the year with a 22-pound, 2-ounce bag.

Randy Haynes improved his limit every day to take the lead on day 3 at Lake Eufaula.

North Carolina co-angler wins fourth Walmart FLW Tour qualifier
EUFAULA, Ala. – Heading back to weigh-in Saturday afternoon, Bryan New never imagined he had just won the Walmart FLW Tour event on Lake Eufaula. After all, New had caught just one keeper bass and co-angler big sticks Jason Johnson and Richard Peek were accompanying him in the top 10.

The deep water anglers are gaining ground on the bank-beaters on day 2 at Lake Eufaula.

Chevy pro fishes fast offshore for opening-round lead
EUFAULA, Ala. – Leave it to Bryan Thrift to find a happy medium between fishing fast and fishing offshore. While the North Carolina native is known for running and gunning around shallow docks, he’s taken a similar approach, albeit offshore, on Alabama’s Lake Eufaula this week. As a result, he’s leading the fourth Walmart FLW Tour qualifier of the year at the tournament’s halfway point.

The bass were scattered from 20 inches to 20 feet and everywhere in between on Day 1 at Lake Eufaula.

Fourth-year Walmart FLW Tour pro whacks 22-6 from both shallow and deep
EUFAULA, Ala. – To say Lake Eufaula is currently in transition is a gross understatement. Bass are spawning, guarding fry, gobbling shad and hanging out on deep structure. The diversity offered is great, but none of the patterns are particularly reliable and strong right now. That’s why pro leader Justin Lucas sampled both shallow and deep water on day one.

Casey Martin attempts to rebound during FLW Tour stop No. 3
FLW is following Tour pro Casey Martin during his rookie season as he makes the transition from co-angler to pro in pursuit of his dream of becoming a professional angler. The third episode of 'Circuit Breaker' joins Martin on the road in Rogers, Ark., during the FLW Tour stop on Beaver Lake.

Fourth Walmart FLW Tour qualifier commences during spring-summer transition
EUFAULA, Ala. – Lake Eufaula officially marks the start of the second season, as the Walmart FLW Tour commenced its fourth of six qualifying events Thursday morning. The first half of the year featured mostly shallow-water angling with the second half promising to be dominated deep and offshore. But Mother Nature has had other plans during this cool and unpredictable spring. As a result, Eufaula is still fishing wide open with bass spawning, guarding fry and slowly making their way out to the Chattahoochee river ledges.

StraightTalk pro JT Kenney works hard at his job fishing.

FLW Tour pro Peter T has some experience with Lake Eufaula.

FLW Tour pro Dan Morehead talks about the ledges at Lake Eufaula.

FLW Tour pro Brent Long has won deep and has won shallow. Listen to what he thinks will win at Lake Eufaula.

Walmart pro Mark Rose explains why Lake Eufaula is different from TVA lakes.

Rayovac pro Jason Christie talks about the highs and lows of tournament bass fishing.

Mr. Everstart Koby Kreiger has won a lot of money on Lake Eufaula. Hear his take on current lake conditions after day 1 of practice.

James Watson isn’t a household name in professional bass fishing. At this point in his career, he’s OK with that. But if the fourth-year pro from Waynesville, Mo., continues his current track, that will soon change.

Yep, just what we need – yet another Alabama rig opinion piece. I promise mine will offer a different perspective, one coming from a writer with no vested interest. In a nutshell, I contend that one of the main arguments against the A-rig is completely unfounded. Let me start with a quick story.

The Walmart FLW Tour has seen a huge boost of young pros entering the scene this year. Guys like Drew Benton and Michael Neal have set the tone for many of the young guns, but there is another rookie pro quietly working his way up the ranks within the Angler of the Year standings – 21 year old Austin Terry.