Today is the last practice day for the 22nd Annual J.R. Roberts Memorial. Despite the cold weather Lake Bruin was busy this weekend with contestants running here and there trying to establish a pattern that could win the $4,000 cash first-place prize money or at least place in the top 10.

The lake is off-limits beginning Monday through Friday Feb. 1.

We will turn the boats loose at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday Feb. 2.

It is quite a sight to see anywhere from 80 to 100 boats lined up for take-off on tournament morning.

I am proud to say over the past 21 years my dad’s memorial event has become very well known and it is the bass tournament that kicks off the 2008 season.

Many of our fishing friends have fished this event 21 straight years and we welcome all newcomers.

The water level on Lake Bruin is still well below normal. The rain this week helped but we still need at least three more feet water.

Oddly enough, the majority of bass are still coming from the shallow water brush piles and cypress trees.

With low water levels and surface water temperatures averaging about 50 cold degrees the fish should be deep and I’m sure the really big bass are deep.

Getting those big sows holding in heavy water to bite takes patience, an extremely precise slow presentation and, if the wind is blowing, good boat control.

In addition to those factors the age-old fishing rule applies as well. You have to be in the right place at the right time with the right lure.

Big bass holding deep may be feeding at the crack of dawn or they do the mid-day thing.

You never know so it’s best to check on good deep-water cover several times throughout the day.

If you mail your fee it must be postmarked no later than Monday.

Tomorrow through Friday you can enter in person at Eddie’s Marine and Tackle in Vidalia from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.

If you enter on tournament morning at Lake Bruin Resort there is a $10 late fee. We are still in the process of stocking tackle and marine accessories.

Good luck to all next weekend.

Eddie Roberts writes a weekly fishing column for The Democrat. He can be reached at eddie@fishingwitheddie.com