Hometown Advantage Should Help Walker at Northern Open

DANDRIDGE, Tenn. (May 27) — Sevierville, Tenn., native and pro angler David Walker is excited to be fishing on his home turf this weekend during the Northern Open No. 1 on Douglas Lake.

Even though the Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat Elite angler will be in familiar waters for the first Northern Open of the season, Walker knows that the past season of weather in the area is going to play a huge factor.

“We have had such a rough winter that everyone is glad that summer is finally here,” Walker said. “Weeks ago we still had cold weather, so the fishing is a little behind where it should be. Normally this time of year we would be fishing summer patterns, but the weather has had the fish mixed up a little bit as well.

“There’s good news and bad news about the fishing patterns being off. There is going to be multiple ways of fishing instead of just one way, which can make your day go either way. I do think that will help spread the field out a little bit more though.”

Walker will try to find what works best for him each day when he launches from Point Marina at 6 a.m. ET. The first two days will conclude with weigh-in at 2 p.m. at the marina and at 3 p.m. on Day 3 from the Bass Pro Shops in Kodak, Tenn.

“Douglas Lake is a really good lake to fish in,” Walker said. “It may not be on the top of people’s bucket list as a place to go visit, but as far as fishing in this area it’s probably the most popular one within a day’s driving distance.

“There are some good fish out there waiting to be caught. I would suspect that it’s going to take somewhere around the upper teens every day in order to move up in the tournament.”

 

Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat angler David Walker hopes to enjoy some home-turf advantage during this weekend’s Northern Open No. 1.