This is actually the second time we’ll be breaking down Grand Lake, since the Bassmaster Classic was there back in February.
Of course, it’s not February anymore, and this weekend’s event features FLW Tour pros instead of Elite Series guys. So there are some things to look at when it comes to predicting success and failure.
Are you ready? Then let’s start crunching.
Did you know there have only been four Major and Minor events combined on Grand Lake in the last 11 years? Three Elite Series events (2006, 2007 and 2013 Classic) and an FLW EverStart (2002). And only two of the FLW Tour anglers this weekend has even fished two of those events. One just so happens to be Tommy Biffle, a local who has never finished worse than 34th at Grand Lake. Plus, with the water being high, everyone knows few are better with a flipping stick than Biffle.
The other is Steve Kennedy, who has had a down year on the FLW Tour, but he does have a solid 639.133 average.
Let’s expand the criteria to the state of Oklahoma, just to see where that gets us.
That gets us to Jason Christie, who has a 929.018 average in his home state in the last five years. Grand Lake happens to be Christie’s home lake, and he is a great flipper, which should come in handy with the water being high. He just has to beat the local curse.
Meanwhile, Fred Roumbanis is an Oklahoma boy who has struggled on Grand to the tune of a 261.728 average.