Month of May Provides Pattern Benchmark on Murray
When eight proven professional bass anglers descend on a lake they have never seen before for a day of competitive fishing, they have to begin their fishing search with some kind of baseline pattern or benchmark criteria.
On day three of the Elimination Round for the MLF Summit Select on Oklahoma’s Lake Murray, that touchstone is the month of May. Though the anglers know nothing about the 5700-acre Lake Murray, what they do know is how bass should act in the southern tier of the Midwest in May.
For MLF Select pro Marty Robinson, the month of May could be summed up in three words:
“Topwater, topwater, topwater,” Robinson said. “May is the topwater month. Bass are post-spawn; they are done guarding the beds on the bottom. Now they’re looking up to feed on baitfish like shad and bream and that means topwater.”
The other thing Robinson relies on for a starting point in the MLF format is the weatherman.
“He may not be right all the time, but it at least gives me some kind of current conditions to go on,” Robinson explained. “We’re supposed to have some weather coming through later today, which means clouds, breeze and rain and that usually pairs well with a topwater bite.
“So even though I have no idea where I am, I’ll use those two factors – the month of May and incoming weather – as my starting points.”
However, the thick vegetation growing in the north end of Murray, which has thrown anglers for a loop all week, is causing Robinson some concern as well.
“I don’t know about all those reeds and lily pads right there,” Robinson pointed out. “That stuff is not supposed to be in Oklahoma. I was thinking rocks and wood for my topwater – not that stuff – that could throw a little wrinkle in the plan.”
Former MLF Cup winner Scott Suggs finds topwater to his liking in May, too.
“May means post-spawn when the bass move out and feed up again,” he said while studying his map. “They move out to places where they can eat well and eat often. If the water is clear, like I think it is, I’ll start my search throwing topwaters over main lake points, probably down on the lower end on some of these deeper contours. That will give me some idea if they’re schooled up on those points.
“The window to find an offshore spot in these MLF deals is first thing in the morning before the bank beaters make the SCORETRACKER go off. Topwater is a good tool to use to find groups of fish fast – to get them to show themselves when they’re feeding. Once I know where they are, then I can start experimenting with swimbaits or dragging bottom to catch them after the sun comes up. But you’ve got the find them first.
“But if that SCORETRACKER starts lighting up right off the bat, I’m coming straight back here,” he added, nodding to the shallow reeds within sight of the ramp. “I’m not going to let those bank beaters bury me behind the eight
For MLF Select newcomer Jason Lambert of Michie, Tenn., May means offshore fishing, which is right in his wheelhouse. In fact, Lambert arrives
“This lake might not have river ledges like the Tennessee River, but I’m sure it has some kind of breaks or drops in it somewhere and that’s where bass go this time of year. Offshore structure is a gathering point for bass in May and that’s what I’m going to look for.”
Another new face at the MLF Selects this year is Jordon Lee, the back-to-back winner of two recent Bassmaster Classics.
Lee was drawn to MLF’s format because of its fish-the-moment spirit, something the young Lee relishes in his own fishing.
“This is going to be fun,” Lee said. “It’s something different. I don’t really know what to expect. This is my first day on the job at MLF and I might have already messed up: I’m looking at all these reeds right here and starting to wonder just how extensive they are. I’ve never seen such a thing in Oklahoma and I’m already wondering if I brought enough tackle to adapt to reeds if they’re all over the lake. Hopefully, the rest of the lake doesn’t look like this.”
When asked about the month of May, Lee chimed in on topwaters as well.
“May to me means the water temps will probably be in the high 70’s to low 80’s,” Lee guessed. “And that’s post-spawn territory: fish are moving out, so you need something to cover water fast to locate activity, which makes topwater a good choice.”
The presence of a public boat ramp also makes Lee a little uncomfortable in May.
“I’m probably going to run to the other end or the other side of this lake right off the bat, just to get away from this ramp,” he explained. “This looks like a major ramp for this lake and so this area right around the ramp here probably gets hammered. Springtime fishing pressure has usually taken its toll on a fishery by May, so that’s when I try to avoid the most popular spots because they’ve been beat to death.
“I want to find something that’s not as obvious as lush reed patches right next to a major boat ramp,” Lee added with a chuckle.