SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – The MLF Toyota Series returns to Scottsboro, Alabama this week for the 2024 Central Division season opener at Lake Guntersville.
“Lake Guntersville has been phenomenal lately, fishing absolutely lights out,” said local competitor Cal Lane, who finished 15th in last year's tournament. “We’re going to see a lot of big bass in this Toyota Series event. They’re still prespawn, they’re fat and they’re chewing right now.”
Lane said that he expects that plenty of guys will still be catching them in traditional late-winter, early-spring Guntersville patterns, but that forward-facing sonar is changing the entire sport and Guntersville is no exception.
“There will be a lot of guys catching them shallow on a (lipless bait) – that’s typical for this time of year, especially with the warmer weather,” Lane said. “But (Garmin) LiveScope has changed the game of fishing, and we’re going to see several really big bags weighed in from guys that are chasing the suspended bait balls near bridges.”
Traditionally lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits and Carolina rigs always are factors in early-season Guntersville tournaments, but baits designed for use with forward-facing sonar – jerkbaits and soft plastic minnows on various-sized jigheads – will also be strong.
“The key to doing well in this tournament will be being consistent – you’re going to need five of the 4 1/2-pound quality fish, not the 3-pound fish,” Lane said. “There are so many 3-pound fish in Guntersville and everyone is going to catch them. But whoever can find those 4 1/2-pounders is going to be there at the end.”
Lane went on to predict that the winner of the three-day event would weigh in 65 to 70 pounds.
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each day from the Goose Pond Colony Marina, located at 417 Ed Hembree Drive in Scottsboro. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3 p.m.
