Timing is everything
Stren Midwest finalists get head start on Lake Erie to close out season
BROWNSTOWN, Mich. – Stren Series Midwest Division Detroit River finalists got a little break this morning with a 15-minute head start to kick off the final day. Saturday is a notoriously crowded day to compete, and indeed, a Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League event kicked off this morning, as well, just down the river.
In addition to the 15-minute lead time, the top 10 also took off from Lake Erie Metropark, which put them that much closer to their final destinations, as many of them are expected to return to the big lake today with a calmer wind forecasted.
A strong wind muddied up the water and rocked the rigs yesterday, forcing several semifinalists to stay close and fish the Detroit River. While good numbers were still caught yesterday, the huge sacks that defined days one and two seemed to have disappeared. But according to No. 2 pro Vic Vatalaro, those 20-pound stringers will probably make a comeback today.
“It’s calmer,” Vatalaro said. “Guys are going to be able to run farther, so the weights will definitely go up.”
Leader Mike Trombly, who was the only competitor to bust the 20-pound mark yesterday, agrees.
“I think the change in wind ought to increase the bite,” Trombly said. “Weights are going to be up.”
Both Trombly and Vatalaro expressed concern over Saturday boat traffic, with Vatalaro saying, “There will be some competition out there. This 15 minutes is everything to get out to the spot.”
But even though the winds were still at 6:45 this morning, the current forecast does call for some afternoon storms, so what competitors will bring in this afternoon remains a mystery.
Final weigh-in today at 4 p.m.
Both the pro and co-angler winners will be determined today by two-day combined weight.
The pros are competing for a top award worth as much as $64,500, including a 519VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor, Lowrance electronics and EverStart batteries plus $10,000 cash. Pros have the chance to earn an additional $10,000 bonus from Ranger if contingency guidelines are met. Ranger awards another $3,000 to the winner if he or she is a participant in the Ranger Cup program, or $1,500 to the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant. Yamaha will match 50 percent of Ranger Cup earnings if the participant meets “Powered by Yamaha” guidelines.
Co-angler competitors are fishing for a top award worth as much as $35,000, including a 519VX Ranger boat and trailer if contingency guidelines are met.
Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 23800 Allen Road in Woodbridge beginning at 4 p.m. Eastern time.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7:07 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 64 degrees
Expected high temperature: 73 degrees
Wind: N at 10 mph
Maximum humidity: 68 percent
Day’s outlook: variable clouds with afternoon thunderstorms