On Saturday, July 14, 2012, the Walmart Bass Fishing League is expected to hold a bass fishing tournament in Golconda, Illinois. There are three prize purses available. The first one is for boaters and the second one is for co-anglers. The third prize purse is associated with the Ranger Cup and Ranger Cup rules will apply. All total, $11,000 is up for grabs. In addition, anglers that do exceptionally well in the fishing tournament will have the opportunity to participate in future, higher level tournaments. Here are a few more details:
Bass Fishing Tournament Basics
The Walmart Bass Fishing League's tournament event is slated to take place on Saturday, July 14, 2012, from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m., at the Golconda Marina located on Highway 146 North in Golconda. During the fishing tournament, anglers must adhere to a five fish catch limit and a 12 inch size limit on all species of bass. Recreational anglers are welcome to participate in the tournament providing that they register, remit the necessary fees and have valid fishing licenses.
Registration may be completed online or during a scheduled sign-up session. The sign-up session is slated to occur on Friday, July 13, 2012, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., at the Golconda Marina. Registration fees start at $100 and multiple fishing licenses are needed. Anglers will need fishing licenses from the states of Illinois and Kentucky. A one-day, non-resident, Kentucky fishing license may be purchased online for $10.
Participating anglers must also attend an obligatory, 6:30 p.m., pre-tournament meeting that is scheduled to take place on Friday, July 13, 2012 at the Golconda Marina. During the meeting, the contest organizers will go over all applicable rules and regulations.
About the Venue
The Golconda Marina offers visiting boaters access to boat slips, boat fuel and a marina store. It located on the Ohio River at mile marker 902 in an area known as Smithland Pool. Camping is available on the north side of the marina at the Rauchfuss Hill Recreation Area (aka Steamboat Hill). Navigational charts for the Smithland Pool area and the Ohio River in general are available through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District's website.
Smithland Pool Fishing Forecast
Since Monday, June 18, 2012, daytime air temperatures around Golconda have been in the 90 degree Fahrenheit range. That temperature trend is expected to continue through Saturday, July 14, 2012. As of Thursday, June 28, 2012, the Ohio River's water level at Golconda was at 29.9 feet and the surface water temperatures were reputedly in the high 70s (Fahrenheit).
All things considered, anglers may want to consider targeting the submerged and emergent brush in the cool hours of the morning. Jigs, soft plastics and night crawlers may prove to be productive.
Killeen Gonzalez enjoys fishing with her family. She has also traveled extensively.
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