FLW opens at old Kentucky home

Rough weather possible this week

BENTON, Ky. – The fifth tournament of the 2004 Wal-Mart FLW Tour season began Wednesday morning as 200 boats took off onto the familiar waters of Kentucky and Barkley lakes near Benton, the home of FLW Outdoors headquarters.

These lakes are some the largest impoundments in the eastern U.S., and FLW anglers might end up doing battle with them this week, literally. Not only have bigger bass been relatively harder to find during practice – which is news on this extremely productive waterway – the weather forecast does not look good. While it was sunny, warm and calm at takeoff Wednesday morning, rain and thunderstorms forecast all the way through Saturday could have bass boats bouncing around like ping-pong balls once the fronts start passing through.

Compounding the weather threat, many anglers were reportedly heading towards the southern ends of both lakes Wednesday – the furthest points of which are about 90 miles away. The tournament takeoff and weigh-in is at the northern end of Kentucky Lake at Kentucky Dam Village Marina.

Still, if the massive number of fish caught by FLW anglers here last year is any indication, fans can rest assured that more than a few in the field of 200 boats will catch plenty of good fish. Pro Steve Kennedy won this event in 2003 with more than 44 pounds of bass over the last two days – when the field had been cut to 10 boats.

Wednesday’s weigh-in takes place at 3 p.m. Central time at Kentucky Dam Village Marina in Gilbertsville, Ky. At stake this week is $100,000 for the pro winner and $20,000 for the co-angler winner.

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 at 3 p.m. Central.

Wednesday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 5:48 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 71 degrees

Expected high temperature: 80 degrees

Water temperature at the ramp: 70 degrees

Wind: from the south at 13 mph

Maximum humidity: 73 percent

Day’s outlook: afternoon thunderstorms