Slugfest shapes up on Champlain

Calm, sunny conditions play to both largemouth and smallmouth hunters on day four

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – As the 10 final-round pros of this week’s Wal-Mart FLW Tour event on Lake Champlain made their preparations to fish the final day, the sunny, clear conditions made it clear indeed that today’s results would be determined by the skies.

The reason for this is that the top-10 field is divided into two groups – south for largemouths or closer to sight-fish for smallmouths. The largemouth group – including leaders Dion Hibdon and Tracy Adams – currently has the edge. But the sight-fishing smallmouth group looked with hope at today’s forecasted sunny skies.

“It looks like it’s going to stay pretty calm,” said Scott Dobson, a sight-fishing smallie targeter who currently sits in sixth with 14-12. “It looks like guys are going to get to where they are going. However, since it’s calm, that could be key for the sight-fishermen – me, Kevin Vida, Scott Martin and Thomas Lavictoire.”

Indeed, with the sight-fishermen getting their sun back and the long-runners getting their calm conditions back, the playing field looks to be evened out a bit, setting the stage for a nail-biting weigh-in at the Plattsburgh Wal-Mart this afternoon.

“It could be a slugfest,” Dobson said. “The key is getting those big smallmouths. If the largemouth guys stumble, it could be anyone’s game.”

Today’s final weigh-in will begin at 4 p.m. Eastern time at the Wal-Mart store located at 25 Consumer Square in Plattsburgh. The winning pro will take home $100,000 cash.

Saturday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 5:09 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 60 degrees

Expected high temperature: 78 degrees

Wind: from the NNE at 5 mph

Maximum humidity: 58 percent

Day’s outlook: partly cloudy