Get while the getting’s good
Stren Texas competitors may have only today and tomorrow to fatten up their weights
JASPER, Texas – The city of Jasper awoke to a blanket of fog this morning, but surprisingly, Sam Rayburn Reservoir was perfectly clear, and competition started on time to kick off the brand-new Stren Series Texas Division.
Sam Rayburn is known to many as a big-bass factory, but weather patterns have both stymied and stimulated the bite in recent days. With a warming trend over the past few days, now is the time to take advantage of Rayburn’s generosity, because according to pro Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas, it’s get while the getting’s good.
“Today should be probably one of the best days of the year,” Tutt said. “The water is warming up a lot.”
Tutt said the warmer temperatures over the last few days have heated the water up to 50 to 51 degrees in the morning, and temps max out at around 55 degrees in the afternoon.
“We had a really bad cold spell, and it shut the fish down,” Tutt said. “But it’s been progressively warmer these past four days, and it’s warmed the water about 6 degrees.”
That all sounds promising until the extended forecast is taken into consideration. Wednesday and Thursday’s highs of nearly 70 degrees will fall to the upper 50s on Friday and the lower 50s on Saturday, a change of almost 20 degrees.
“Saturday should be tough,” Tutt said. “Today and tomorrow are very critical.”
Indeed, a Stren Series rule change from last year means competitors are now fishing for a four-day total weight – no cuts. So if an incoming cold front is going to hinder the fishing, then anglers might be going for broke on day one, a sight unseen in the Stren Series past.
“I’m just guessing, but someone could catch 27 pounds – maybe more – today,” Tutt said, further illustrating the need to capitalize today and tomorrow. “Overall, the fishing has been pretty tough.”
Logistics
Anglers will take off from Umphrey Family Pavilion located at 5438 RR 225 W. in Sam Rayburn at 7 Central time each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 800 W. Gibson St. in Jasper beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a $40,000 519VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor, Lowrance electronics and EverStart batteries if contingency guidelines are met. Ranger will award another $3,000 to the winner if he or she is a participant in the Ranger Cup program. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $1,500 to the highest-finishing participant in the contingency program. Yamaha will match 50 percent of Ranger Cup earnings if “Powered by Yamaha” guidelines are met.
Co-anglers will cast for a top award of $5,000 plus a $30,000 Ranger boat and trailer if contingency guidelines are met.
Wednesday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7:04 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 45 degrees
Expected high temperature: 69 degrees
Wind: SSW at 5 mph
Maximum humidity: 80 percent
Day’s outlook: a mix of clouds and sun