06 MAR 30 ArmyBassAnglers Pro Dave Behm checks in from Lake Mead at the season opener for Anglers Choice. This was the 1st Angler's Choice Event for the year and the weather was text book with sunny skies and a light wind with temps in the mid 50's.
Starting the day in the 8th position ArmyBassAnglers Pro Dave Behm was sure to make good time in his Skeeter 20i, wrapped in the customary Returning Heroes Home wrap, to his first spot. Water temps were still cool starting at 49 degrees and by the end of the day was just tinkering with the 53 degree mark.
Behm reached his first spot; a 10 foot flat that was protected from northern winds that had access to deep water nearby and started throwing a lipless crank bait in water that was 6 feet deep and gradually sloped to 20 feet then dropping off in 50 feet. The area was the size of about a football field and very clear with mixed chunk rock and scattered boulders. The morning bite ended unsuccessful with Behm switching from a lipless crankbait to a spinnerbait and then a phoenix jig with a LFT baby hyper freak. At around 1130 Behm finally got his first fish casting a scrounger in the back of a cove with a Lake Fork Tackle Albino live magic shad in the 3.5" size. The scrounger was being slow rolled in about 15-20 feet of water. The largemouth was just over a pound and a half and went right into the live well. Behm fished the area for another hour with no results. The water temperature in the backs of the coves was around 53 degrees and Behm decided to cover as many coves with the remaining 3 hours. Behms decision was a smart one. Behm caught 3 more fish to include 2 � pound smallmouth that attacked a watermelon gold/fleck tube.
Behm finished the tournament with just over 8 pounds. The winning weight of the tournament was 19.77 pounds which is a great weight for any event but to get 20 lbs at Lake Mead is truly an achievement. "It wasn't a bad day, but it was a tough day. None the less, I was successful in starting the season off with some points and sharing the Mission to raise awareness for the RHH and the LSPVA, which is always a good start to any season and trail," stated Behm.