I'm gonna be fishing similar tmw at lake murray. Big front rolling through right now so it may make the fish suspend tmw. Plan on starting out with a lucky craft pointer 100 and a rouge..then probably a mag fluke or a caffine shad if the hard jerkbaits aren't producing. And if all that fails probably end up DS or a shakey head in deeper water. Mixed in with a drop shot finesse jig combo and a new rig I just read about called the jig rig...they're super easy to make you take a split ring and put it on a 3 or 4/0 ewg and then attatch a weight to the split ring. Tie your line to the split ring so the weight dangles below it...almost like a super compact dropshot rig. Never tired it before but it's something a little different. I made mine a little more unique by getting some thin wire and using glass and brass for the weight..kinda like those pre rigged carolina rigs and attatching that to the split ring.
I think as long as the top guys like KVD continue to only fish BASS they will stay on top as far as ratings go. I know quite a few of the top guys fish both tours but I think more of the "house" names stick to BASS. But I do think the FLW events are probably more competitive just because of the local sticks that fish the events. The best thing that ever happened to BASS was ESPN! They covered it sooo much better and I think it really made the sport grow. Hopefully they keep the model ESPN has set up.
I'm trying to fish all of the BASS weekend series touneys this year for the SC division, fishing as a co-angler. I don't know these lakes well enough to fish as a boater yet and I don't have enough time off work to prefish for the events to get to know them

I'll definitely fish them as a boater next season.
Just signed up to fish the Southern open as a co angler...hope I get in! And if I don't I better get my deposit back!
One thing I know is I'm missing lake wilson right now! Tired of this cold weather...super jealous!