Great day for fishing

EverStart final round ensues on Mississippi River

ONALASKA, Wis. – Weather conditions couldn’t be more favorable as the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers begin the two-day final round of EverStart Series Northern Division competition at the Mississippi River.

The sun is shining, and the wind has lain down for Friday’s fishing, which should prove advantageous for the finalists. Many of the top pros seem to be catching their fish downriver in Pool 9, and flatter water will, at the very least, make their runs a little easier.

Pro Mike Feldermann led the opening round with almost 28 pounds over two days. With everybody’s weights reset to zero, most pros say that 13 or 14 pounds a day will probably win this event.

Catching a limit doesn’t seem to be a problem; it’s catching a good limit that seems to be especially key here. Several finalists reported that they didn’t catch a whole lot of bass the first two days but instead went for size.

“In the area that I’m fishing, the fish are filtering out to the main river. I think they’re going into winter mode,” said pro Chris Cox, who qualified in 10th place and is making a bid to win back-to-back Northern Division tournaments. “I’m not getting a lot of bites, but the ones I’m getting are quality.”

Everybody’s fishing for best two-day weight Friday and Saturday to determine the pro and co-angler winners of this event.

Day-three weigh-in festivities begin at 4 p.m. Central time at the Wal-Mart store located at 3107 Marketplace in Onalaska. The onsite Fujifilm trout pond for kids opens at 2:30 p.m.

Friday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 5:58 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 58 degrees

Expected high temperature: 86 degrees

Water temperature: 77-81 degrees

Wind: NNW at 7 mph

Maximum humidity: 44 percent

Day’s outlook: sunny