Working the shallows
Day-two action ensues at FLW Kentucky Lake
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – On day one of Wal-Mart FLW Tour action at Kentucky Lake, 16th-place pro Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla., found himself coming down with a case of “sore thumb.”
“Your thumb gets tired from catching all these 14-inchers,” he said, marveling at how many bass he caught Wednesday.
Many anglers have reported similar experiences because Kentucky and Barkley lakes are coughing up 12- to 14-inch bass by the boatload. But the trick this week is catching bass over 15 inches long, which is the minimum lake limit. All those short fish just don’t do anyone any good.
Thursday, as 350 pros and co-anglers try top make their push further up the standings and qualify for the $1.5 million Jacobs Cup, competitors will focus even harder on trying to land those bigger bass. To do so, most anglers are heading into the shallows where the bass are in various stages of the spawn. And with the water level so high – countless docks, parking lots and even back yards are underwater right now along the shores of Kentucky Lake – that means heading into the trees.
Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, Wis., led the charge for the pros on day one, catching a limit weighing 20 pounds, 3 ounces. Bud Goeke of Pinckneyville, Ill., led all co-anglers with a five-bass weight of 16-7.
Both divisions will be cut to the top 10 anglers apiece based on a two-day combined weight following Thursday’s fishing action. Catch weights have been relatively sizeable so far, so look for the pros to need about 30 pounds to make the cut. The co-anglers are staring at about 24 or 25 pounds for their cut weight.
Thursday’s weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at Kentucky Dam Marina, located at 466 Marina Drive in Gilbertsville, Ky.
For FLW fans unable to attend the weigh-in in person, check out the newest fan-friendly feature at FLWOutdoors.com called FLW Live™. It’s real-time results right at your fingertips. It’s easy, and it’s free. Just surf back to FLWOutdoors.com at 3 p.m. Central Daylight Time and watch the drama unfold at Kentucky Lake as it happens.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 5:46 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 65 degrees
Expected high temperature: 78 degrees
Water temperature at the ramp: 68 degrees
Wind: variable at 6 mph
Relative humidity: 93 percent
Day’s outlook: isolated thunderstorms
Day-two links: