A welcome calm
Stren Midwest anglers get rare reprieve as winds stay calm for second consecutive day on Detroit River
TRENTON, Mich. – Every now and then, Mother Nature gives mercy to the fishermen, and Thursday is one of those days, as 137 pros and 137 co-anglers left Elizabeth Park to kick off day two of the Stren Series Midwest Division tournament on the Detroit River with a second consecutive day of calm winds.
Smooth, navigable waters are a relief when competitors are trying to fish big Lake Erie, which the vast majority of competitors are doing to bring in the big ones. But anglers are also grateful for the calm conditions because it’s helping them find the fish.
And find the fish they did on day one, to the tune of 21 limits weighing in excess of 20 pounds. According to pro Chad Grigsby, today will likely be more of the same.
“Not very often do we get two days in a row where it’s dead, flat calm,” Grigsby said. “The way it’s looking, we’re going to have another 15 to 16 20-pound stringers, and it’s going to take 40 pounds to make the top 10.”
Grigsby acknowledged that it’s happening on Lake Erie, where he did not go yesterday and subsequently slipped a little, bringing in only 13-9 for 73rd. Indeed, once again today the boats lined up to head toward Erie, with only a few running the other direction toward Lake St. Clair.
Grigsby also said fishing pressure would likely not be a factor here, as it often is on the second day of a tournament that saw incredible catches brought in on day one.
“There are so many fish in both lakes and the river,” Grigsby said.
Competitors will weigh in their catches today beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern time from Elizabeth Park Marina, located at 200 Grosse Ile Parkway in Trenton. Following today’s competition, the field will be cut to the top 20 in both the pro and co-angler divisions, based on heaviest two-day weights.
On the Web
For fishing fans unable to attend the Stren Midwest tournament taking place this week in Michigan, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, a real-time video look at the daily weigh-ins. Just access the online application during weigh-in hours to keep tabs on your favorite anglers.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7:04 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 60 degrees
Expected high temperature: 79 degrees
Wind: SSW at 7 mph
Maximum humidity: 76 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny