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.

Rayovac pro discusses recent FLW Tour victory on Beaver Lake, his busy schedule and his dominating performance on both tours
- MODERATOR COMMENT -
Welcome to FLW Live Reel Chat. Today we're joined by Rayovac pro Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., who recently took home the top prize of $125,000 after winning the 2013 FLW Tour event on Beaver Lake.

- MODERATOR COMMENT -
With over $800,000 in career FLW earnings to his credit, Christie recently netted his second FLW Tour title with an impressive win on Beaver Lake. Christie now boasts nine tournament titles since he began his FLW career back in 1996. Christie has also recorded 35 top-10 finishes, including 11 on the FLW Tour alone since the 2008 season. The Oklahoma native has qualified for the Forrest Wood Cup four years in a row, beginning with the 2009 season, and currently sits in ninth place overall in the 2013 FLW Tour Angler of the Year standings.

- MODERATOR COMMENT -
Today, Christie is here to take questions from you, the fans. So, without further delay, let's get started.

Chevy team pro Larry Nixon discusses his season, the A-rig and the evolution of the sport
While the phrase “true legend of the sport” can seem a bit trite and overused at times, when it comes to FLW Tour pro Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark., that label couldn’t be more appropriate or accurate.

Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes team pro Dave Lefebre provides an inside look at the latest FLW Tour event in Rogers, Ark.
Remember way, way back two years ago, before we were allowed to throw 13 or 25 baits at a time …

Lefebre talks former music career, 2013 FLW Tour season
Believe it or not, Walmart FLW Tour pros actually do have some hobbies outside of fishing. While the season-long grind of a professional bass-fishing career obviously takes its toll on angler’s ability to participate in an extensive list of extracurricular activities, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes pro Dave Lefebre has at least managed to find a little time to fit in one of his main passions into his busy schedule – playing drums whenever he gets the chance.

Rayovac pro cashes $126,500 check on Ozark impoundment
ROGERS, Ark. – This week, the FLW Tour stop on Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas proved that the fishery has come a long way over the past decade or so. Healthy stringers featured all three bass species present in Beaver throughout the event. Prespawn bass and the Alabama rig ultimately became the ticket for many anglers this week, including Rayovac pro Jason Christie who sealed the deal today to capture his second FLW Tour win.

Rayovac pro Jason Christie claims the win at Beaver Lake.

Rayovac pro Jason Christie continues his climb up the leader board taking the top spot on Day 3 at Beaver Lake.

Rayovac pro catches 20-4 to overtake top spot
ROGERS, Ark. – This year’s Walamrt FLW Tour on Beaver Lake has proved to be a roller-coaster ride for many of the anglers. Many of the top leaders seem to have a good catch one day, but stumble the next. Jason Christie on the other hand has been drastically improving his weights all week and now holds a 2-pound, 8-ounce lead over Brandon Coulter with 47-7 overall.

Arkansas native earns first title in backyard
ROGERS, Ark. – It’s never easy to get a win on the Walmart FLW Tour, let alone a win on your home lake in front of your family. For Steven Meador it was essentially a dream come true. Meador racked up 13 pounds, 8 ounces on day one, 10-9 on day two and finally 8-9 today. He won by a mere 10 ounces and took home the top prize of $25,000.

Day 2 at Beaver Lake saw the A-rig continue to produce.

Johnson leads co-anglers by 3 pounds
ROGERS, Ark. – With this being the second day after a front, most people figured the bite would slip on Beaver. To degree that was the case with several of the top pros from day one failing to match their early success. But day two of the Walmart FLW Tour on Beaver Lake was highlighted with consistent catches, some big stringers and the Alabama rig.

Rookie pro Drew Benton rides umbrella rigs, stained water and big largemouths to Beaver Lake lead.

Florida pro Benton lands 18-1 to take lead on Beaver
ROGERS, Ark. – Most of the dock talk this morning hinted at the fact the fish would be chomping today. Most of the guys knew that as long as the wind and clouds hung around from the recent cold front that hit the area the fishing would be good. The lead changed hands throughout the weigh-in until a young rookie from Florida came out strong to lead the Walmart FLW Tour event on Beaver Lake.

Third Walmart FLW Tour stop hits prespawn window on Beaver
ROGERS, Ark. – When planning for this event after the last Walmart FLW Tour stop on Smith Lake about a month ago, many pros were thinking a sight-fishing tournament could prevail this week. However, Mother Nature quickly changed that thought with cooler temperatures and plenty of rain. Considering Beaver was nearly 12 feet low a month ago, the lake now sits just a few feet below normal pool and, as such, the third event of the tour season should feature a solid prespawn bite.

FLW Tour rookie Drew Benton talks about fishing Beaver Lake for the first time.

Chevy pro Jay Yelas says this year will be more of a pre-spawn event this year rather than last year's post-spawn event.

Folgers pro Scott Suggs gets his first look at the Best of Beaver A-rig.

Bryan Thrift sees the good and the bad with the start of his 2013 Walmart FLW Tour campaign. On one hand, he’s cashed two good checks and is sitting 10th in the Angler of the Year race – in solid position for making his seventh consecutive Forrest Wood Cup. On the other, he’s 47 points behind AOY leader Brent Ehrler with only four qualifiers left on the schedule.

FLW Tour pro Randy Blaukat discusses how the weather affects Beaver Lake.

Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler currently leads the AOY points. Here is what is thinking about Beaver Lake.

Clark "Mr. Beaver Lake" Wendlandt discusses his relationship with the Arkansas impoundment and how it has changed. Plus he gets an umbrella rig surprise.

Two-time FLW Angler of the Year (2002 and 2007), BASS Angler of the Year (2003) and a Bassmaster Classic crown (2002); these are the titles that one of the greatest anglers in the sport holds. What more could someone like that ask for? Well, if you are Jay Yelas you might want to win a Walmart FLW Tour event – or maybe a Forrest Wood Cup, but that is another story.

Series chronicles Casey Martin’s rookie season on 2013 Walmart FLW Tour
After spending two years fishing in the back of the boat as a co-angler, Casey Martin has decided to finally make the transition to the front of the boat in an effort to compete against some of the best bass fishing pros in the nation.

Fish ‘harvester’ from Florida talks jobs, fishing and shopping at ‘God’s Grocery Store’
Make no mistake about it, FLW Tour pro JT Kenney did not become a professional bass fisherman for fame and fortune. He did not become a professional bass fisherman to have a flashy jacked-up truck with 22s and a boat trailer with custom rims. He did not become a professional bass fisherman to be the grinning host of a fishing show.

Well, I can say I have been dreading writing the second blog of the year for Lewis Smith Lake, during the three days of official practice the weather was cold and in the upper 40’s. I had just got done fishing the EverStart on my home lake of Guntersville and managed a decent finish but wasn’t what I was looking for.

Keystone Light pro discusses his most recent FLW Tour win on Lewis Smith Lake, tips for getting started in tournament fishing and his favorite rod and reel combos
Welcome to FLW Live Reel Chat. Today we're joined by Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., who recently took home the top prize of $125,000 after winning the 2013 FLW Tour event on Lewis Smith Lake.

Castrol team pro David Dudley discusses his early season struggles, the 2013 FLW Tour schedule and much, much more
For the better part of a decade, it seemed as though David Dudley could do no wrong – turning in one stellar performance after another en route to earning a sea of accolades, accomplishments and tournament-fishing hardware virtually unmatched in the industry. However, this season, things have not gone quite according to plan for the current resident of Lynchburg, Va.

The 2013 Walmart FLW Tour qualifying season is one third complete and thus far the spotlight is squarely on Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler, and rightfully so after finishing second and first at Okeechobee and Smith. In the process, the “Meter Man” has racked up a 14-point lead in the Angler of the Year race. But don’t hand Ehrler his first AOY trophy just yet, as another well-known pro is hunting his first AOY title. And this pro has the season-ending tournament take place right in his backyard.

Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes team pro Dave Lefebre provides an inside look at the latest FLW Tour event in Jasper, Ala.
Our second FLW Tour event was on Lewis Smith Lake near Jasper, Ala., and I must say it was a tough one.

Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler won his fifth tour event and takes the AOY lead.

The Keystone Light pro grabbed the day-one lead and never looked back en route to fifth FLW Tour victory
JASPER, Ala. - When it comes to career accomplishments, Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler boasts a highly decorated list. From a Forrest Wood Cup victory back in 2006 to four Walmart FLW Tour wins after today, Ehrler's resume couldn't be much more impressive. Yet still, the one thing that has eluded him in his nine years as a pro is the coveted FLW Tour Angler of the Year title - a goal which now rests firmly in his sights this season.

Can Ehrler be caught? The Keystone Light pro has a 6 lb lead going into day 4 at Lewis Smith Lake.

Keystone Light pro increase lead to 6-4 going into final day
JASPER, Ala. – Today brought the weather that many anglers – especially largemouth guys – had hoped for with warmer temperatures to start the day and wind. Those factors still couldn’t seem to help the bite on Lewis Smith Lake which is beginning to show signs of fishing pressure getting the best of it. One man, however, still remains perched atop the leaderboard for the third straight day in a row.

Tennessee co-angler lands first FLW Tour victory
JASPER, Ala. – After taking the lead yesterday, Hoyt Tidwell of West Point, Tenn., knew that he had a chance to pull out a victory if he could fish deep. Tidwell got his wish as pro leader Brent Ehrler maintained his lead allowing the two to be paired up. Tidwell hauled in a 12-pound, 8-ounce catch to make his total for the week 34-1 and providing him with his first ever win on the Walmart FLW Tour.

Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler builds an even bigger lead on Day 2 at Lewis Smith Lake.

'Meter Man' sacks biggest bag of day two to claim 6-1 lead
JASPER, Ala. – While Smith Lake has shown there are big largemouths that lurk in these waters, it is becoming apparent that spotted bass offer reliability and decent size. Keystone Light pro Brent Ehrler has capitalized on the spotted bass fishery to keep him in the top spot once again after weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces. That gives Ehrler a total weight of 33-15 and a lead of over 6 pounds.

Keystone pro Brent Ehrler takes the lead on Day 1 at Lewis Smith Lake.

Ehrler hauls in 17-8 to claim lead on Smith Lake after day one
JASPER, Ala. – As the field of 169 anglers took to the water to start the second Walmart FLW Tour stop of the season on Smith Lake, the question stood as to whether spotted bass or largemouths would take the spotlight. With the lake featuring an abundance of spotted bass, the other question was just how dominant could a Western angler be on Smith?

Warmer weather hopes to heal bite for both largemouth and spotted bass
JASPER, Ala. – When it comes to Alabama fisheries, nothing gets the attention quite like Lake Guntersville and Wheeler Lake. But in the shadows of those two big-fish factories lies the 21,000-acre impoundment known as Lewis Smith – the site of the second Walmart FLW Tour stop of the season.

FLW Tour pro Cody Meyer knows these fish from back west.

Castrol pro David Dudley offers his weight prediction of what it will take to do well at Lewis Smith Lake.

Straight Talk pro Scott Canterbury says he likes all the fishing room that Lewis Smith Lake offers.

Rookie FLW Tour pro Alex Davis discusses Alabama Rigs at Lewis Smith Lake.

Rayovac pro Jason Christie hopes the weather warms up for this week's tournament at Lewis Smith Lake.

Each year when the FLW Tour kicks off there is usually a fresh bloom of new names who fill the tournament roster with high hopes of breaking into bass fishing’s big leagues.

Second tour stop of season to be held March 7-10
JASPER, Ala. – The Walmart FLW Tour’s second event of the 2013 season, the Walmart FLW Tour on Lewis Smith Lake presented by Evinrude, will be March 7-10. Hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County, the tournament will feature a full field of the world’s best bass pros and co-anglers casting for top awards up to $125,000 cash in the Pro Division and up to $25,000 cash in the Co-angler Division.

Twenty-four-year-old discusses his first FLW Tour victory, his confidence level heading into the meat of the 2013 season as well as a host of tips and techniques
Welcome to FLW Live Reel Chat. Today we're joined by rookie FLW Tour pro Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., who recently took home the top prize of $100,000 after winning the 2013 FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee.

Kellogg’s team pro Dave Lefebre provides an inside look at the latest FLW Tour Major in Clewiston, Fla.
One hundred and second place – not a bad way to kick off the 2013 FLW Tour season … yeah right! This trip to Okeechobee is hard to swallow and it will be a long time before I quit thinking about it. I feel like a field goal kicker who just missed a game-winning boot in the last 3 seconds of a game; it’s a sick feeling. A bad performance is never good, but there is a good reason why this bomb hurts a lot more than those in the past.

Day 4 at Lake Okeechobee
Rookie pro Drew Benton wins his first tournament on Tour.

Twenty-four-year-old Benton claims 2013 Walmart FLW Tour opener on Lake Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. – The script couldn’t have been written any better. While rookie pro Drew Benton had a 1-pound lead heading into the final day of the Walmart FLW Tour opener, some of bass fishing’s biggest names, notably Brent Ehrler and Bryan Thrift, were breathing down his neck. Day four on Lake Okeechobee marked the second consecutive day of cooler, blustery weather and Benton was struggling and almost out of time. Then a 7-pound behemoth bit and the rest is history.

Florida rookie takes day-three lead at Walmart FLW Tour opener
CLEWISTON, Fla. – The uglier side of Lake Okeechobee reared its head on day three of the 2013 Walmart FLW Tour opener. It wasn’t a true Florida cold front, but persistent 20 mph winds made sight- and topwater fishing difficult, if not impossible. But a handful of big fish were caught as the leaderboard underwent some major shuffling. Rookie pro Drew Benton emerged as the new leader after adjusting to the changing conditions.

Day 3 at Lake Okeechobee
A small cold front shakes up the leader board.

North Carolina co-angler wins Okeechobee event wire to wire
CLEWISTON, Fla. – Last year at the EverStart Series Southeast Division event on Lake Okeechobee, co-angler Justin Jones led the field on day one only to zero on the second day and tumble down the leaderboard. While he had a solid 5-pound lead at this year’s Walmart FLW Tour opener, that same sick feeling returned today after several hours without a single keeper. This time, however, Jones would bear down and receive that pivotal bite.

Day 2 at Lake Okeechobee
Fishing gets better on day 2 at Lake Okeechobee.

Guntersville, Ala., pro sacks first 30-pound stringer, opens up 7-pound lead
CLEWISTON, Fla. – It’s a rarity in professional bass fishing when a lake produces better on the second day of competition than on the first. But that’s exactly what happened on day two of the Walmart FLW Tour opener on Lake Okeechobee.

Day 1 at Lake Okeechobee
Martin leads at the the Big O. But not the usual Martin and not the usual Big O.

Alabama rookie catches 26-12 to top opening day of 2013 Walmart FLW Tour season
CLEWISTON, Fla. – While many in the industry expected Casey Martin to thrive after moving to the front of the boat, few thought his success would come so quickly. Martin, the Canadian-born pro who now lives in New Market, Ala., whacked a 26-pound 12-ounce stringer Thursday to lead the 175-boat field at the 2013 Walmart FLW Tour opener on Lake Okeechobee.

Eighteenth Walmart FLW Tour season commences on Florida’s big-bass factory
CLEWISTON, Fla. – While Lake Okeechobee remains one of the premier black bass destinations in the world, the truth of the matter is that she can be a bit fickle. Under the right conditions, Okeechobee can deliver the 30-pound stringers anglers dream about. Under the wrong ones, the 450,000-acre lake can frustrate even the most talented of fishermen. Despite scattered reports of poor prefishing, the conditions are beginning to get “right,” which could translate into another season-opening slugfest.

from Lake Okeechobee with Larry Nixon
Chevy pro Larry Nixon is sticking with what he knows.

from Lake Okeechobee with Justin Lucas
FLW Tour pro Justin Lucas seeks Lake Okeechobee redemption.

from Lake Okeechobee with JT Kenney
StraightTalk pro JT Kenney says a warm winter has kept the big females from bunching up.

from Lake Okeechobee with Brett Hite
FLW Tour pro Brett Hite likes the moving baits on Lake Okeechobee.

from Lake Okeechobee with Randall Tharp
EverStart pro Randall Tharp talks Florida residency, redfishing and cobra hunting.

from Lake Okeechobee with Mike Surman
FLW Tour pro Mike Surman is doing his homework.

from Lake Okeechobee with Casey Martin
FLW Tour rookie Casey Martin is looking forward to fishing from the front deck.

After long hiatus, Crain getting back in the game in an attempt to make history
The last time Shirley Crain fished a tournament, there were no Alabama Rigs or rods with micro guides and nobody had won $1 million in a single tournament. Ranger’s Z-Comanche series was a year old, Jacob Wheeler was a high school kid and if you spotted a boat with a Power-Pole mounted at the stern, chances are it was floating in salt water.

Country music artist Dylan Scott embarks on bass-fishing road trip
One of the great aspects of professional fishing is the influx of new talent each year. The 2012 season saw anglers such as Jacob Wheeler and Clent Davis step to the forefront and many expect rookie pros Brandon McMillan and Casey Martin to follow suit. One certainty in the new talent department for 2013 is Dylan Scott.

With the Walmart FLW Tour season just a week away, FLWOutdoors.com takes a closer look at the venues that will play host to the top bass anglers in the world. The 2013 schedule features six qualifying events - including two in Alabama and one each in Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Part II of this two-part series features the last three events of the year.

The 2013 FLW Tour season is rapidly approaching and, for some reason, I’m more excited about competing than I’ve ever been. I can’t wait to get out there and get back into shape both mentally and physically as we’ve been “off” for way too long. I’ve also been preparing myself to get at least six hours of sleep – something I neglected last year and paid heavily for during the first practice days at Okeechobee.

Early-spring jig tactics
To me, the jig is the most versatile big-fish lure for late winter and early spring. In highland lakes, the bigger bass – largemouths, spots and smallmouths – are moving toward the shore and holding in groups in the places where the last deep water meets shallower water.

Eighteenth season to commence Feb. 7 on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee
With the Walmart FLW Tour season just weeks away, FLWOutdoors.com takes a closer look at the venues that will play host to the top bass anglers in the world. The 2013 schedule features six qualifying events - including two in Alabama and one in Florida, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Part I of this two-part series features the first three events of the season.

MINNEAPOLIS – FLW, the world’s premier tournament fishing organization, announced today that country music artist Dylan Scott will tour with and perform at multiple Walmart FLW Tour events in 2013.

MINNEAPOLIS – FLW, the world’s premier tournament fishing organization, has announced that professional angler Mark Rose of West Memphis, Ark., will join the Walmart Fishing Team for the upcoming 2013 Walmart FLW Tour season. Rose will replace pro George Cochran, who retired this year after 32 years on the water as a professional fisherman.

North Carolina pro seeks continued success after breakout season
All too often in professional fishing the limelight goes to those who make the top-10 cuts and hoist the six-figure checks above their heads. Matt Arey never made any of those cuts, nor did he win a tournament in 2012, yet he still had by any standard a “career year.”

New Jersey native Adrian Avena attempts to make a name for himself on the FLW Tour
Adrian Avena's no stranger to FLW competition. The FLW College Fishing standout has already laid significant groundwork on name-building. He's competed at the EverStart and Tour levels and he's felt the rush of a big win. Clearly driven by an all-in commitment to establishing a full-time professional fishing career, Avena's taking wise steps toward realizing that dream, while giving himself options that can serve as fall-back as his career needs dictate.

Sometimes it pays not to stick to the script
In my first year as a pro staffer with Rapala, I was down at Lake Amistad for the Walmart FLW Series East-West Fish-Off. Rapala wanted to get photos of its pro staffers with some new lures after the tournament was over. I had finished third in the tournament, and I knew that the school I had been fishing would still be there, so that’s where we started.

Spotted and largemouth bass abound in northwest Alabama fishery
With all the facets of media these days, we are constantly blasted with sales pitches for one “top-notch fishery.” Others claim, “You can catch a hundred fish a day here.” Or, “Trophy smallmouths roam these waters.” And my personal favorite is, “If you want to catch the fish of a lifetime, this is your place.” Unfortunately, few fisheries live up to the hype. It’s fair to say that with the exception of a few, typically all the hoopla turns out to be false advertising.