ON TOUR
FLW TOUR
FLW TOUR | LEWIS SMITH LAKE
JASPER, ALA.
By Sean Ostruszka
PHOTOS BY ANDY HAGEDON
David Williams celebrates his win with his wife, Jennifer, and son, Burgin.
WINNING ANGLER
david Williams Maiden, N. C.
Winning Weight: 64-09( 20 fish)
details: April 26-29, 2018
Presented by T-H Marine
Hosted by Chamber of Commerce Walker County everyone knew the spawn would play a key role in winning Lewis Smith Lake. Only thing is, most anglers were keying on the wrong spawn. The time of year, water temperature and full moon had most pros’ attentions fixed on finding bass still on beds, but the water rose 4 feet during practice and reduced sight-fishing prospects even in Smith’ s clearest waters.
Admittedly, David Williams was focused on the same thing at first, but an astute observation the first morning of the tournament told him it was the shad spawn that would be pivotal.
Once he figured it out, the Maiden, N. C., pro put on a show. He had a day-one-leading 18- pound, 11-ounce bag by 10 a. m., and he never let up after that en route to his first FLW Tour victory.
“ It’ s been a long time coming,” says Williams of his first major win.
WINNING BAITS
Williams probably could’ ve tossed the majority of his tackle out of his boat once he realized the shad were spawning. His key lure for skipping docks was a white Queen Tackle Swim Jig with either a Bizz Baits Cutter Craw or Zoom UV Speed Craw trailer – also white. He chose white because it was easy for both the bass and him to see, allowing him to know if a fish got the whole jig when it bit. When he hit the flooded cover between the docks he flipped a TrueSouth Pro Shimmy Jig and threw a TrueSouth V-Twin buzzbait.
100 fLWfIshIng. com I juLy 2018