A chilly reception
Top 10 FLW pros, 10 co-anglers battle frigid temps at morning takeoff on Lake Toho
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Sunshine State or the Klondike State? That’s the question the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers were asking during Friday morning takeoff at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. Bundled from head to toe, FLW finalists departed the marina shortly after 7 a.m. amidst some unseasonably mind-numbing and bone-chilling temperatures. How cold was it? Try 37 degrees. However, with 13-mph gusts from the north, the wind chill dropped temps to a head-scratching 32 degrees – great for ice cream, but not the best conditions for fishing.
But despite the brutally cold conditions, anglers had much more on their plate to worry about than the weather. With $20,000 on the line for the tournament winner in the Co-angler Division – who will be crowned champion during today’s 5 p.m. weigh-in – and $100,000 at stake for the ultimate winner of the Pro Division, anglers were as focused as ever as they made their way onto the open waters of Lake Toho.
Art Berry, who is making his very first appearance in an FLW final after tearing up the EverStart Series Western Division for the past few years, said it was important to keep everything in perspective.
” border=”1″ align=”right” />“The cold weather is probably going to shut down the fish a little bit, but I still think we’ll catch them,” Berry said. “For me, the key is finding areas with a hard bottom and arrowhead grass. A lot of fish are sitting there, either guarding fry or spawning. If you find that combination, you’ll do well.
“My goal is to make the West proud,” Berry continued, acknowledging that he wanted to carry the torch for his fellow pros from the western circuits. “What else can you ask for? There’s only 10 of us (pros) left, and we get to fish for $100,000.”
The pros will attempt to catch as much weight as possible in today’s semifinals in an effort to position themselves for Saturday’s final day of competition. Whichever pro records the most weight over the course of the next two days will net the tournament title on Toho.
Currently, J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md., holds the top qualifying spot in the Pro Division with an opening-round catch of 40 pounds, 15 ounces. Richard Lowitzki of St. Charles, Ill., had the best opening-round catch for the co-anglers at 22 pounds, 6 ounces. However, all weights were reset at zero before today’s competition – meaning that each of the top 10 finalists in both divisions will be on a level playing field heading out onto the water today.
Friday’s weigh-in begins at 5 p.m. EST at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, located at 1471 E. Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee, Fla.
Today’s conditions:
Sunrise: 7:07 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 37 degrees (32 windchill)
Expected high temperature: 60 degrees
Water temperature: 55-64 degrees
Wind: from the north at 15 mph
Humidity: 42 percent
Day’s outlook: sunny