Brisk bayou battle commences
Pros attempt to position themselves for Saturday’s finals while co-anglers enter last day of competition
MORGAN CITY, La. – Although anglers were spared from facing a steady downpour for seemingly the first time all week, conditions could hardly be characterized as pleasant during Friday morning’s takeoff. With temperatures continuing to plummet, the top 10 pro and top 10 co-angler finalists were greeted with chilly conditions ranging in the mid-40s as well as a northeasterly wind clocking in at 12 mph as they departed Belle River Marina at 8 a.m. In short, for the third consecutive day, anglers will be forced to bundle up and earn their pay.
But while the constant specter of rain has been frustrating, it is the recent cold front that seemed to have pros most alarmed.
“My only concern now is the drop in water temperature,” said Louisiana native and top-10 pro finalist Sam Swett. “I know I’m on a good concentration of fish, but the water temperature is about 49 degrees now. It’s been dropping every day. My hope is to catch 15 pounds of fish today, but it’s really going to be important to find clear water. It’s definitely nerve-wracking.”
The pressure is clearly mounting for everyone. With a $100,000 first-place prize at stake for the pros in Saturday’s finals and another $20,000 award awaiting today’s co-angler champion, there is plenty of incentive to ignore the elements and go for broke in Friday’s competition.
However, it won’t be easy. With the National Weather Service calling for storms later today, anglers could be facing the toughest set of conditions they’ve had to deal with all week.
Currently, Tom Monsoor of Lacrosse, Wis., holds the top qualifying position in the Pro Division after landing an impressive total of 32 pounds, 11 ounces over the first two days of competition. Meanwhile, William Bridges of Tallapoosa, Ga., leads all co-anglers into the finals with an opening round total of 17 pounds.
Per tournament rules, the weights of the top 10 anglers in both divisions were zeroed out at the start of today’s competition. As a result, the co-angler who brings in today’s largest stringer will be crowned champion. Pros will attempt to land the largest sack possible as today’s weights will be combined with Saturday’s weights to decide the eventual $100,000 winner.
FLW action continues at today’s final weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 5 p.m. Central time at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, located at 973 Highway 90 East in Bayou Vista, La. The community is also encouraged to attend the Family Fun Zone Friday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 3 p.m. on Friday, features interactive displays, product samples and games and is free to the general public.
For bass-fishing fans unable to attend the festivities in person, you can catch all the weigh-in action live at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live. Show time starts today at 5 p.m. Central.
Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:46 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 45 degrees
Expected high temperature: 52 degrees
Water temperature: 50 degrees
Wind: from the northeast at 12 mph
Relative humidity: 76 percent
Day’s outlook: showers