Preview: BASS Tour Event #4 on Table Rock

Some of the best bass anglers in America take their act to one of the best bass lakes in the country March 4-7 for the upcoming Bassmaster Tour event presented by on Table Rock Lake.

At stake is a $100,000 top prize and valuable points toward qualifying for the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Classic and the new Bassmaster Elite 50 series.

Situated on the Arkansas-Missouri border, the 46-year-old impoundment of the White River provides 52,300 acres of haven for three bass species. Table Rock is home to quality populations of largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.

Tour pro Brian Snowden is currently 6th place in the BASS AOY standings. Watch him closely during this event - he may do very well. Snowden guides on Table Rock, and has certainly been on a roll this year.

Other local anglers like veteran Missouri pro Stacey King are anxious to show the fishing world that Table Rock has recovered nicely from a nasty bout with Largemouth Bass Virus.

"It's really coming back," King said. "We've had a couple years of pretty good
spawns here and high water during the spawn or right after the spawn so the
fish have gotten off a pretty good spawn and then had enough cover in the water
that the small fry have had a chance to recover and live, and get up to a size
they can maintain on their own.

"So really we're starting to see quite a few more quality fish than we did for
a couple of years. And numbers on largemouth are real good, too.

"I think it's the best spotted bass fishery in the world. I don't know of any
place that is a big lake like this that has more quality spotted bass from one
end to the other. I know there's lots of wonderful spotted bass fisheries in
the country, but a lake that's got so much water in it and it just has the spot
numbers in here are phenomenal."

Just how cooperative the big lake will be during the Bassmaster event depends
on Mother Nature.

"It all depends on the weather," King said. "If we can have a little warming
trend before, the fishing will be wonderful. You'll see fish caught on several
different patterns, and there will be a lot of good quality sacks of fish. Good
spots, smallmouth and largemouth.

"If it's real cold, it will be a dead winter-type deal. There will still be
some good sacks caught, but a lot of the field will have a real tough time if
it's cold weather."

Southwestern Missouri has been enjoying a mild winter. The extended forecast
calls for more of the same.

The tournament will be the eighth BASS stop on Table Rock. Reigning Angler of
the Year Jay Yelas was the victor the last time the Tour visited (2001) with 43
pounds, 13 ounces.

Daily weigh-ins take place at What's Up Dock Marina at 2:45 p.m. Anglers launch
beginning at 6:30 a.m.

THE CITGO BASSMASTERS ON ESPN2
Fans can catch the fourth event of the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail
on Table Rock Lake, Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2.