Sighting for a Peek

Sight-fishing anglers hoping to come on strong Friday

EUFAULA, Ala. – After leading the EverStart Series Eastern Division event Thursday, Tim Peek of Sharpsburg, Ga., starts at zero today with his other nine competitors this morning.

His plan today is to get in and out of his Lake Eufaula hot spot, which has given up 35 pounds of bass over the last two days.

“I’m going to get five quick, hopefully, and get out of there,” Peek said this morning. “I know it’s a cumulative-weight tournament, but I think the key to this thing is 14 to 16 pounds per day instead of 20 today and 9 tomorrow.”

Peek believes that leaving fish in his prime spot will help keep fish moving into the area.

“It’s a postspawn feeding place, and I want the fish to stay aggressive like they were yesterday,” he added. “I think if you hammer a place like this too hard, eventually the well will go dry and it won’t fill back up. I just want to be in striking range after today.”

As he checked out this morning, Peek had just one rod on the deck rigged with a Rabbit Dog spinnerbait.

“That’s been the ticket,” he said. “Hopefully I won’t have to get another rod out this morning.”

Other anglers are hoping for a renewed sight-fishing bite today as waters levels have dropped, making fish more visible.

Koby Kreiger of Okeechobee, Fla., won this event last year by sight-fishing, and when fish are on bed, his eyes light up.

“I saw a few more fish on beds yesterday afternoon,” he said. “I’m going to start on those and then go looking for some more. We are supposed to get some wind this afternoon, so I want to get this done while it’s still calm this morning.”

The day-three weigh-in will be held at the Eufaula Wal-Mart starting at 4 p.m.

Friday’s conditions

Sunrise: 5:56 a.m.

Water temperature: 66 degrees

Air temperature: 54 degrees

Expected high: 84 degrees

Wind: forecasted from the SSW at 10 to 20 mph

Day’s outlook: sunny and warm with building winds