Delta Friday

EverStart weights reset to zero for semifinals

OAKLEY, Calif. – A calm, cool morning greeted the top 20 anglers in EverStart Series Western Division competition as they took off for the semifinal round at the California Delta. While more good limits are expected out of the pros and co-anglers Friday, much of the fishing will depend on the tide, which is good for some and bad for others.

“The fish are really tide-oriented, and it’s getting worse for me,” said sixth-place pro qualifier Gary Dobyns of Yuba City, Calif., who won this tournament in 2003. “I just don’t know. I could come in with a magnum bag or come in with just a limit. The thing is, I’m fishing for big bites – straight up. And I’m not getting a lot of bites.”

Fourth-place pro qualifier Michael Bennett of Roseville, Calif., on the other hand, has seen his fishing improve with the tides throughout the week. Still, he’s unsure whether the trend will continue. “It’s hard to say,” he said. “You just can’t tell (how the fishing will be) when you’re catching spawn- and postspawn-fish. If I catch over 20 pounds, I’ll quit. Otherwise, I’m just going to keep going.”

Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 4893 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, Calif., beginning at 4 p.m.

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.

Friday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:04 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 53 degrees

Expected high temperature: 72 degrees

Water temperature: 66-71 degrees

Wind: from the southwest at 16 mph

Maximum humidity: 55 percent

Day’s outlook: partly cloudy