Potomac two-step
Chevy Open under way; FLW anglers vying for $200,000 top prize, championship berth
LA PLATA, Md. – Their boats are gassed; their gear’s in order; and Wal-Mart FLW Tour anglers have two main objectives this week at the Chevy Open on the Potomac River. The first is to make the cut and have a shot at winning the $200,000 winner’s check in the Pro Division. The second is to earn enough points to move up into the coveted top 48 in the standings and qualify for the Forrest L. Wood Championship.
The sixth and final regular-season event of the 2005 FLW Tour began at 6:30 Wednesday morning as 200 boats splayed out across the Potomac in search of a bass bite that, by most accounts, has been relatively strong. Reports are that the fishing pressure on this waterway has been heavy, but anglers are nevertheless hooking into some sizable fish. Boats scattered every which way up and down the river at takeoff, so look for limits to come from a variety of different areas. This week, shallow water and grass should play key roles in the fishing.
A third objective remains for a lucky handful, as well: the 2005 Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year. Right now, Frostburg, Maryland’s J.T. Kenney has an ever-so-slight, two-point lead over Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., in the standings. He’s fishing his home waters this week and is considered a very strong contender for the title, but Gagliardi and a bunch of others hovering in the top 10 will likely have something to say about that before this one’s over. Top-10 standings leaders historically have had good tournaments at the last event of the year on the FLW Tour, which usually makes the AOY race fun to watch.
Logistics
The Pro Division winner of the Chevy Open will take home $200,000, and the Co-angler Division winner will earn $40,000. There are 200 anglers competing in each division.
The full field competes in the two-day opening round for one of 10 slots in Friday’s competition based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for day three, and co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in. The top 10 pros continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight.
Wednesday’s weigh-in, the first half of the opening round, begins at 3 p.m. Eastern time at Smallwood State Park in Marbury, Md.
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. Eastern.
Wednesday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 5:44 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 76 degrees
Expected high temperature: 84 degrees
Water temperature: 80-85 degrees
Wind: NW at 11 mph
Maximum humidity: 56 percent
Day’s outlook: scattered thunderstorms