Larry Nixon
Best To Put Memories Out Of Mind

Photo: FLW Outdoors/Jennifer Simmons Larry Nixon has always has traditionally fared well at Lake Norman, and his ledger there was topped by last year's FLW Tour victory.

"I've always liked coming to Norman and I've always done well here," the Arkansas legend said Monday following his initial day of practice for this year's FLW Tour event (he missed the first practice day while commuting from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic). "I've had some good finishes and I've usually at least made some money."

The lake itself is pretty much the same as it's always been, but he said the fishing has gotten better over the years. There are still great quantities of bass, and their average size is bigger than it was a couple of decades ago.

"Its trademark for many years was that it had lots of fish, but no size – a 3-pounder used to be a real hog. But since it's gotten the (spotted bass) and the blueback herring in recent years, there are still lots of fish, but now there's a lot more 3-pounders and even some 4s and 5s.

"The key is to get that fish or two that'll push your bag up to 14 or 15 pounds. If I could catch 15 pounds a day, I'd be tickled to death. That'd be a Top 10 almost for sure."

Won't Fish Memories

With just a single day of practice to draw upon, Nixon hadn't yet formulated his gameplan for this year's event. But he was pretty certain that it would differ from the strategies he employed en route to victory in '07.

"It went okay today," he said. "I'm not satisfied yet, but I think I've started to get a little something together."

This year's tournament comes just a week earlier on the calendar. But in terms of fish phase, the lake is considerably further behind.

"Last year most of the fish had already spawned, and I think this year the major wave is just fixing to happen. There's been a few cold spells and the water's been on the rise from the drought last year. Anytime you have rising water, that'll postpone things."

Even if conditions were more similar to last year, he'd still go in with an open mind.

"Every time you go to a lake you've got to play a little bit different tune. I always want to try to figure out what's happening right then and forget about what I found the time before. And there's always a lot of people who know where you fished last time, so you can't really rely on past experience."

Photo: Berkley The Berkley Gulp! Wacky Crawler was Nixon's primary bait in last year's Norman FLW Tour victory.

Nixon, one of the finest worm fishermen on the planet, used a Berkley Gulp! Wacky Crawler to catch the majority of his winning fish last year. It was too early for him to tell whether that would be his primary weapon this time around.

"I expect it be a strong bait again," he said. "I think the 5" Shaky Worm will be a big factor, and also the Hollow Belly Swimbait.
"Some guys are liable to get hardheaded and throw that swimbait all day, and they'll have a chance to catch some good fish."

No matter which bait he throws, it'll be attached to Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line.

"That's the best fluorocarbon that's ever been made. It's super strong, you can use any knot you want and you never have problems with breakage at the knot.

"And because it's so clear, it's invisible under the water. You get more bites with it."

He offered this tip for weekend anglers who've had bad experiences with fluorocarbon.

"The No. 1 thing people need to avoid is filling their reels all the way full with it. That creates overrun, and that's why they have problems casting. Look at where the spool meets the housing, and stop about an eighth of an inch short of that point. Fluorocarbon is skinny, and you don't need a lot of it to make a long cast.

"Same thing on a spinning reel – instead of going to the edge, leave about an eighth of an inch back under there. When it's plum full, that's when the line jumps off the spool and causes problems."

Notable

> One of the things Nixon likes best about Norman is its diversity. "It's got a lot of pier docks, areas with stumps, riprap – every kind of cover you could ask for. It's just beautiful."

> He was the last angler into the Top 10 cut last year with 24-13 over the first 2 days. He then caught 27-00 over the final 2 days to outdistance runner-up Jay Yelas by 3 1/2 pounds.