Sunny skies at Beaver Lake
Pros begin first half of final round; co-angler champion to be crowned
ROGERS, Ark. – There was no fog to greet Friday’s round of 10 pros and co-anglers who made the cut at the Wal-Mart Open, just the morning mist rising from Beaver Lake under a warm Ozark sun. With temperatures expected to climb into the mid-70s by afternoon, anglers might start to look for an odd spawning bass or two to beef up their stringers as the competition in this $1.26 million FLW tournament heats up as well.
As expected, a few pros who’ve been there before have worked their way into the top 10 to fish for the big money. Four of the finalists – Scott Martin, Dan Morehead, Rick Clunn and Jim Moynagh – have already won FLW titles. Clunn, fishing out of boat No. 7 Friday, won at Beaver Lake in 2000. Randall Hutson, in boat No. 6, was runner-up at last year’s Wal-Mart Open here.
Another three pros – Russ Moran, Wesley Burnett and Jim Eakins – are having their first taste of FLW final-round action in the Pro Division. Burnett has been there before as co-angler – he won FLW Co-angler of the Year in 2001 – but this is the first time he’s asserted himself from the front of the boat on the FLW Tour. Opening-round leader Moran is an FLW rookie, fishing in just his fourth tournament.
Drop-shot king Aaron Martens has happily made his return to the top 10 after a relatively dismal first half of the season, and Rock Monteith has stepped it up again after finishing 10th at Lake Okeechobee in January.
The co-anglers will end their competition Friday. They were led in the opening round by Terry Chapman.
All anglers started the day with their weights reset to zero. The co-angler champion will take home $40,000. Pro competition continues through Saturday, where the winner will pocket $200,000.
Friday’s weigh-in will take place at 5 p.m. at Wal-Mart store No. 1 located at 2110 W. Walnut St. in Rogers. The public is encouraged to attend the Family Fun Zone, which opens at 3 p.m.
Additionally, there will be a live performance by country music artist Tracy Byrd to be held at the Wal-Mart following Friday’s weigh-in. It is free of charge and open to the public.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:49 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 53 degrees
Expected high temperature: 74 degrees
Water temperature at the ramp: 53 degrees
Wind: from the southeast at 5 mph
Relative humidity: 38 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny
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