Great job Bass Champs!!! I haven't fished the lake in 15-20 years but looking forward to it.

ivie fishes big and there will be fish spread out all over the lake that time of year. but 3 days of practice and 2 tournament days is a little excessive and will affect the bite.

Truer words, never spoken...

Besides having to stay about an hour from the lake it’s gonna be a fun week!

This lake has been getting POUNDED daily since the Miliken video four months ago and its still taking 30lb stringers to win every weekend. Media was there in March during peak of the hype and pumped out ridiculous weights with 60 boats in the tourney (the lots at both boat ramps were completely full that day meaning easy 150+ boats out). It will be crowded in some areas but there are so many offshore/ deep water fishing spots it will fish great!

Fished it around that time last year and Ivie was going through some kind of weird turnover with plenty of 4-5lb floating carp.

It’s about 20’ higher than 2011. Much better shape now.

True. I was there during that event and one two weeks earlier. The lake had tons of boats but it never felt crowded at all. You would see the other boats but with so much fish able water nobody really crowded anyone else.

Very well could have been 35ft low, I was living here full time then and don’t recall that.

The lake will fish small. Make no mistake. Sure there is plenty of stuff to fish but there’s not plenty of places you’re going to win. Also back when champs went to Ivie there were less teams then there will be this go around. It’ll be rub rail to rub rail because champs won’t be the only one there. You’ll still have your recreational guys and other clubs that have already scheduled tournaments for then. I do applaud champs for going somewhere different, however many of you will leave disappointed. Just make sure running the rivers you don’t cut any corners or you’ll also leave poorer.

Am I gambling with rock or wood ?

I cant believe the best amateur tournament trail in the United States is going to the best lake in the United States for their championship and people are complaining.

Wood mostly. Both sides of the creek channels have standing timber. The tops of these trees are at 10 feet but there are some starting to pop up and in some areas these trees are 5 feet from the surface. As long as you stay in the main channel your good to go all out.

Wood. After turkey bend stay in the channel. The trees aren’t too far under the surface, and in October they will really be close enough to cause damage. Guys who don’t know the lake really well should take caution. Just use common sense and don’t cut corners.

I’m just hoping the local guys that claim regularly catch 64# Bags with 14# kickers three days a week and don’t say anything to anyone lay off before champs shows up.