Tournament Introduction

Now that we are approaching the halfway point of the tournament season, the third event of the 2023 Ark-La Team Tournament trail sponsored by Goldman Marine of Farmerville, Louisiana will be testing the waters of Shreveport’s Cross Lake on April 29th. American Legion Post 14 Public Launching Ramp will be the site for take-off, beginning at safe light and the weigh-in beginning at 3:00 p.m.

If the two opening events, Claiborne and Chicot, are any indication, this one has the potential to be the best one yet and could be the turning point in the Angler of the Year race. The AOY race is starting to take shape, and while there is no clear-cut favorite on which team will win the overall points race, the young team of Hayden Savage and Cage Struben are currently in first place, sitting in the catbird seat. When the boats are launched, the young duo looks to stay ahead of the pack when they lead the other forty-eight teams out to compete for the top prize of $5000.

Most of the teams, a high percentage, if not all of them, will be competing in their first event on Cross, located off I-220 in the heart of Shreveport. Competitive anglers are always looking for a level playing field and this tournament might be as level as it gets! Cross Lake, with an average depth of 8 feet, is an 8,500-acre lake that has an abundance of cypress trees and boat docks with some aquatic vegetation. The fish, both numbers and size, are abundant as well as evident as local tournaments are consistently won with 18-20 lb. stringers. While it was later in the year, it must be noted, Nick LeBrun had over 25lbs in one of his tournament days last year when he won the All-American on Cross Lake.

Those anglers who have been on Cross for practice have noted the fishery itself is impressive but like all shallow, cypress tree-based fisheries, when boat pressure is added, it could make the fish more finicky and the fishing more difficult. Weather isn’t expected to be a factor but the one variable that might make a difference is the cooler than normal spring might delay some spawners, making for a slugfest.

After the conclusion of the Cross Lake tournament, the 2023 Ark-La Team trail will have two remaining events, the Ouachita River and the trail finale at Felsenthal-Ouachita River, with the championship qualifiers battling it out on Lake Darbonne in mid-October. The mid-way point is just around the corner, so stay tuned. The fishing is about to get interesting!!!

You can follow the Ark-La team trail on our website at www.arklateamtrail.com or on Facebook. See you on the water!!!!