‘BASSfest More Like a Bass Test’ Says Cabela’s/GEICO Angler David Walker

PARIS, Tenn. (June 2) — On the eve of this year’s Zippo BASSfest at Kentucky Lake, Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat Elite Series angler David Walker says the lead-in to the tournament hasn’t been much fun for many of the 124 fishermen hoping to take the biggest slice of the $850,000 prize purse.

“I don’t know about this being a BASSfest,” Walker said. “It’s been a lot more of a Bass test for us so far. The weather during practice has just been terrible. It’s been cloudy, it’s been windy, and it’s been raining. It has been very tough to find any fish.

“Mr. Weatherman says tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a lot better with sunshine and temperatures up in the 80s, so I hope he’s right, although he hasn’t been playing nice with us so far this year. We need these fish to wake up.”

Kentucky Lake is a favorite spot for Walker, who hails from Sevierville, Tenn. He remembers coming to the fishery early in his career, and it has remained one of the top spots he likes to visit.

“I’ve had a star by this tournament since the schedule came out,” Walker said. “It’s always been a great place for me, and I remember coming here just after I turned pro and thinking I had really hit the big time.

“Usually there are a ton of fish in this lake, and I know they’re still out there. I just have no idea where they’re hiding with the weather the way it’s been. I think most of us will be starting with very little data stored up. We’re going to have to figure it out as we go along.”

BASSfest has a unique format that calls for an initial top-50 cut to take place after Thursday’s action. The anglers who finished below the cut will then have a chance to re-enter the tournament by fishing their way back into the fray with a top-10 finish in a one-day scramble Friday on nearby Lake Barkley.

“That’s kind of a neat deal; you get that second chance,” said Walker, who is currently ranked 19th in Angler of the Year points. “Of course, you don’t want to put yourself in that position, but it’s nice to know you have a shot if you don’t get in the first time.

“I’ve practiced a bit over on Barkley and didn’t do much over there either. I’ll have to pray for good weather and rely on some old notes I have on these waterways to have a chance.”

Launches will take place each day at 6:15 a.m. on the Paris Landing Marina with weigh-ins beginning at the same place at 3:15 p.m.

Cabela’s/GEICO For Your Boat Elite Series angler David Walker will use old notes to help him succeed during this weekend’s Zippo BASSfest at Kentucky Lake.