Santee Stren Series shootout begins

Top-20 field features rookies, locals and previous Santee Cooper winners

MANNING, S.C. – Ron Klys of Gainesville, Fla., fishing his rookie season as a professional in the Stren Series, has his work cut out for him Friday.

Though he led the Stren Series Southeastern on Santee Cooper after two days, weights started from zero this morning as the top 20 pros and 20 co-anglers took their positions dockside just before takeoff.

Klys was at ease this morning as he rigged up a Berkley Gulp Sinking Minnow for a day of sight-fishing.

“I’m ready to go,” Klys said. “I’m just ready to get out there and start fishing. It should be a good day for it.”

But Klys has some serious competition lined up behind him, notably Santee Cooper veteran Ken Ellis of nearby Bowman, S.C.

Ellis has been fishing Santee Cooper for 35 years, and he knows a thing or two about the lake, especially the key cypress trees that big postspawn females like to hold on after departing the nest.

And while Ellis is the hometown favorite, he is quick to point out some of the competition around him that knows how to win on Santee Cooper as well.

“There’s Chuck Howard; he knows this place well,” Ellis said. “Over there is Roger Crafton, who has won here before. And of course Tony Couch, who is always tough on this lake. I might have a local advantage, but if these guys get around fish, they’re not going to miss many.”

Ellis can also factor in Allen Armour of Cumming, Ga., (3rd) who brought in 21 pounds, 7 ounces Thursday. Lisa Opel of Hernando, Fla., (4th) is another Stren Series rookie who has been all over fish this week. And there is the ever-dangerous sight-fishing guru Koby Kreiger of Okeechobee, Fla., (15th) who is looking for some serious redemption after losing several big fish yesterday.

The scales will crank up at 4 p.m. today at the Manning Wal-Mart for the day-three weigh-in.

Friday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:44

Temperature at takeoff: 61 degrees

Water temperature: 70-75 degrees

Expected high temperature: 83 degrees

Wind: S at 5-10 mph

Day’s outlook: variable clouds