Final field frenzy
Strong smallmouth bite encourages top 10 pros, 10 co-anglers in Detroit River Stren Series
TRENTON, Mich. – A brown fury rages in the Detroit River area and 20 hopeful anglers have their sights set on the heaviest of the bunch. Layered in sweatshirts and rain gear, the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers launched into a clear, chilly morning for the local Stren Series finale. Their target – big smallmouth bass.
David Hasty of Toledo, Ohio, leads the pro field with 61 pounds, 11 ounces after weighing a 23-pound, 6-ounce bag – including the day’s biggest fish (6-3) – on Friday. He’s partnered with Robert Case of Point, Texas, whose 53-7 made him the top co-angler. Hasty will most likely fish deep water at the north end of the Detroit River.
One to watch is pro angler A.C. Campbell of Mineral Springs, Pa. Placing second on days one and three, Campbell led the pro side on day two. Holding a 60-pound, 12-ounce total, he’s been on a solid pattern of jigging and drop-shotting over rocky bottom with weed patches. His final-day catch should be competitive.
In the fourth-place slot, pro Terry Baksay of Easton, Conn., has 58 pounds, 15 ounces. He said he’ll need over 21 pounds for a chance to win. Baksay will seek such a limit by throwing jerkbaits, drop-shots and crankbaits in 14 feet of water in Lake St. Clair. The biggest challenge, he said, will be boating what he hooks.
“There’s fish in my area with enough size for me to catch 25 pounds, I just have to have a perfect day,” Baksay said. “These fish do not want to stay pegged when you hook them. They’re very, very difficult.
“I’ve lost quite a few fish the last few days, but hopefully, that’s not going to happen today. These fish are really strong, they’re hard to control, and they’re very hard to get in the boat. So, if everything goes right, I’ll catch them.”
Baksay’s co-angler, Renee Hensley of Edwardsburg, Mich., holds fourth place with 49 pounds, 5 ounces. Her husband, Brian, sits in eighth place on the pro side with 57-1.
“This is the first time we’ve made the top 10 together, so that’s an accomplishment,” Renee said. “He has a little more weight than I do, but I’m ranked higher than he is. We’re very competitive in that nature.”
The weather forecast calls for light winds in the morning, with a heavier blow coming from the north as the day progresses. Seventh-place pro Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va., (57-14) said he anticipates heightened smallmouth action if the wind increases.
“I think it’s going to be a good day today – there’s going to be a lot of big fish caught,” Powroznik said. “I’ll probably have to catch a 23- or 24-pound bag to have a chance. It’s possible. Yesterday, I caught one that weighed about 5 pounds, 10 ounces, so if we can lucky and get five like that, we’ll be good.”
Tournament rules
The Stren Series event, which runs Aug. 15-18, represents the second of four regular-season Northern Division events. The total purse for the Detroit River event is $275,225. The winning pro could earn as much as $65,000 in cash and prizes if various contingency awards are met, and the winning co-angler could earn as much as $35,000.
Action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. Eastern time at the Wal-Mart store located at 23800 Allen Road in Woodhaven, Mich.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:43 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 54 degrees
Expected high temperature: 69 degrees
Water temperature: 75 degrees
Wind: WNW at 5 mph
Humidity: 67 percent
Day’s outlook: Sunny to partly cloudy