May 22, 2025
Heavy Hitters is here, as the Bass Pro Tour's best settle the score on Smith Mountain Lake. A champion will be decided today. Smith Mountain wasn’t on my radar as a “Hitters” venue, but has proven to be a strong choice.
Recently, the lake was stocked with F1 Florida bass and is now considered Virginia’s best fishery. Blueback herring help the cause, but there’s a diverse forage base, producing loads of bass. Smith Mountain fishes big, with miles and miles of shoreline thanks to endless creek arms.
As of this writing, the tournament big bass was just a bit over 6 pounds, perhaps not the size fish we correlate with this event. The real treat, though, lies in strategy involved in big bites vs. numbers, as the lunker awards in this event increase from round to round, settling on a $100,000 bonus on Championship day.
One bite, a hundred grand. I still shake my head at that one.
Initially, then, it was said an angler would have to choose their destiny. Attempt to win the tournament using methods geared toward numbers of fish, or exclusively target a single-fish payout. Both couldn’t be done simultaneously, we were told.
A slight modification of the format may prove otherwise.
Of note, minimum size for a scorable bass was set at 2 pounds for the initial rounds, then moved to 3 for the Championship Round on Thursday. Early fishing was dominated by forward-facing sonar but, as the event goes on, the movers and shakers are power-fishing shallow.
As I’ve said since the inception of the BPT, one of the most valuable tools in the MLF toolbox has been the ease of format adaptation. Minimum size bass, launch and load rules, shortened periods due to weather; all have come in handy when creating an entertaining, viewable product.
Now here we are with the FFS conundrum. I remain baffled how tournament organizations can’t seem to shake this thing, still intoxicated by potential sponsors dollars of three companies while their product slides off a cliff.
In the meantime, commentators, tournament officials and wanna-bes spend half of their day reminding us of times when forward-facing sonar is not being used, how competitors are doing well without it and how some tournaments are even being won shallow. What a monumental accomplishment!
The absurdity.
Regardless, earlier this year, MLF reached for its trusty adaptation tool and made an adjustment. Forward-facing sonar would be period-dependent, forcing anglers to go on-gain off-again, or off entirely, in their approach. It seems to be a reasonable solution.
Heavy Hitters, however, is a tournament with different rules. Why, I don’t know. Regardless, in this tournament, competitors can utilize FFS for the entire day. This looked bad on paper, now that everyone involved in the sport is wishing FFS would have never happened.
So into the toolbox again. This time, the minimum scorable bass was turned up for the final day. Interesting, indeed.
Three pounds is a fairly respectable bass. Especially if offshore schoolers are the target. Could be lots of 2-12s in schools.
The bigger bass on Smith Mountain Lake can frequently be found up near the bank. Loads of targets and 500 miles of shoreline make for a power-fisherman’s dream. Remember, the final day of Heavy Hitters will feature just 10 anglers. It’s reasonable to think none will cross paths as they move down the bank, providing a full day of virgin water.
Also remember, an additional hundred-grand is hanging from a tree in the form of a 6-pounder.
Sure, the event was dominated early by offshore tactics using FFS. But I’m going to go out on a limb here: I predict both $100,000 prizes awarded the final day of Heavy Hitters will go to an angler fishing on the bank.
I hope I’m right. Perhaps then, with continued recognition that fans want to watch their favorite pros engaged in this type of fishing, MLF will keep reaching for its toolbox.
It’s a great way to address the elephant in the room – without making him leave.
(Joe Balog is the often-outspoken owner of Millennium Promotions, Inc., an agency operating in the fishing and hunting industries. A former Bassmaster Open and EverStart Championship winner, he's best known for his big-water innovations and hardcore fishing style. He's a popular seminar speaker, product designer and author, and is considered one of the most influential smallmouth fishermen of modern times. )
