Rumble in Kentucky
Hite needs to overcome 4-pound deficit to overtake Kennedy; $100,000 on the line
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – Booming thunderstorms rumbled through western Kentucky overnight, dumping buckets of rain on the already saturated Kentucky/Barkley waterway. That might push the bass around somewhat and slightly affect anglers’ tactics, but the pro leader heading into Saturday’s final round of action on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., has already put a thumping on the competition and looks strong to clinch his first FLW victory.
Kennedy led the first half of final-round competition Friday with a fat limit of bass weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce. His closest rival for the trophy, Davy Hite of Prosperity, S.C., started Saturday almost 4 pounds behind the leader with 19-3.
Kennedy’s lead is the biggest one we’ve seen yet this FLW season heading into Saturday fishing. However, Kentucky and Barkley lakes have been coughing up bass at an amazing rate this tournament – numerous anglers have reported catching over a hundred fish a day – and if ever a 4-pound lead was unsafe, it would be here.
Not only that, Hite, a past FLW champion, was quick to play the psych card on Kennedy, an FLW final-round rookie, in pre-fishing interviews Saturday morning.
“You know, the pressure mounts the further you get into this,” Hite said. “I wish him the best of luck, but he’s going to have to earn it.”
In other words, this one isn’t over yet. At stake is a $100,000 top prize. Can Davy Hite overcome a 4-pound deficit and extend his tour accomplishments? Can Steve Kennedy keep that from happening and begin his own?
Find out at Saturday’s final weigh-in, which begins at 3 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 310 W. 5th St. in Benton, Ky. The free Family Fun Zone opens at 11 a.m.
For FLW fans unable to attend the weigh-in in person, you can catch real-time results at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live™. It’s easy, and it’s free. Come back to FLWOutdoors.com at 3 p.m. Central Daylight Time and watch the drama unfold at Kentucky Lake as it happens.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 5:44 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 66 degrees
Expected high temperature: 75 degrees
Water temperature at the ramp: 67 degrees
Wind: from the west at 5 mph
Relative humidity: 93 percent
Day’s outlook: isolated thunderstorms
Day-four links: