GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – The top 10 pros and co-anglers took off from Moors Resort at 5:30 a.m. for final-round competition at Kentucky and Barkley lakes Saturday. The third EverStart Series Central Division tournament of the year ends this afternoon, and the top pro is going home with $15,000 and a new boat. The co-angler champion will receive $6,000.

Friday’s semifinal round eliminated half of the pro qualifiers who had already tasted victory before. Still, three former champions remain and are fishing Saturday. Paducah, Kentucky’s Dan Morehead could be the favorite by a nose; he’s running steady at home and has a solid batch of fish down a bit on Barkley Lake. But don’t forget about not-so-long shots Wesley Strader and Craig Powers, who could easily make a charge from the rear of the pack in ninth and 10th place, respectively. And the rookies, too, were impressive heading out of the third day; they took four of the five top positions.

Conditions are sunny here in Kentucky, but the track remains a little wet. The fish are itching to spawn, according to Friday’s pro leader Jeremiah Kindy, so watch for a lot of very shallow fish to come across the scale.

Saturday’s final-round weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 310 West Fifth Street in Benton, Ky., starting at 4 p.m.

Vital statistics

Sunrise: 5:56 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 58 degrees
Expected high temperature: 73 degrees
Wind: From the northeast at 6 mph
Relative humidity: 70 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon.

Day-four link:

Pairings