Day two on the delta
Western points title on the line
OAKLEY, Calif. – EverStart Western anglers hit the California Delta for the second half of opening-round action at 6:30 a.m. Thursday.
Bernie Gaunt of West Sacramento, Calif., set a torrid pace for the Pro Division with a 28-pound, 13-ounce leading stringer Wednesday that included a monstrous 12-9 kicker. Co-angler leader Bob Weaver of Lawton, Okla., wasn’t far behind that mark with 23-4.
As expected, lots of limits – a total of 158 in both divisions – came across the scale Wednesday, but many of them contained smaller bass. To contend with the likes of Gaunt and make the top-20 cut, many pros will have to step it up a notch Thursday and target bigger fish. The cut weight could approach 30 pounds, especially since the wind has died down for day two, which might improve anglers’ catches.
“This is one of the few places where you can catch five good ones and get back in it,” said pro Mike Goodwin of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., who caught a limit weighing just 8 pounds, 14 ounces Wednesday and is looking to claw his way up from 77th place. Goodwin won the second EverStart Series Western Division tourney this season at Lake Havasu.
More than making the cut, Thursday will be decisive in terms of the final points standings in the Western Division. Currently, Art Berry of Hemet, Calif., leads the pros by 27 points, but Mike Folkestad of Yorba Linda, Calif., who is tied for second in points, placed fourth Wednesday and looks solid to make yet another cut. Berry placed 62nd on day one, which could jeopardize his standings lead if he doesn’t come up big on the delta today. And if Folkestad isn’t worry enough for Berry, he has to contend with Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., who is also second in the standings 27 points behind Berry. Ehrler, who won the Western Division standings title last year, placed 27th on day one at the delta and is also in position to overtake Berry.
Day-two weigh-in festivities begin at 3 p.m. Pacific time at Big Break Marina in Oakley. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 4893 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, Calif., beginning at 4 p.m.
The full field is competing for two days to determine the top 20 pros and 20 co-anglers who will advance to Friday’s semifinal round based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for the semifinal round, and anglers compete for one day to determine who will advance to Saturday’s final round. Only the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers compete Saturday, and the winner is determined by the heaviest two-day weight.
Thursday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:05 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 54 degrees
Expected high temperature: 76 degrees
Water temperature: 66-71 degrees
Wind: from the southwest at 15 mph
Maximum humidity: 46 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy