OSAGE BEACH, Mo. – The last time FLW Outdoors visited Lake of the Ozarks for a major event was October 2006 – the fourth event of the inaugural FLW Series season. That tournament was dominated by frigid fall weather. This time around with the Stren Series Central Division in town, the conditions couldn’t be any more different.
Although the calendar says late September, the conditions feel like August. The high temperatures the next four days are expected to reach the upper 80s and low 90s. That will make things tough on both the fish and the fishermen.
Pro Bill McDonald is one of several anglers vying for a berth in the no-entry-fee $1 million Stren Series Championship to be held Nov. 8-11 on the Mobile Delta in Mobile, Ala.
McDonald currently sits in 46th place, only six spots away from sealing the deal. After the four qualifying events are complete in each Stren Series division – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western – the top 40 pros and 40 co-anglers based on Angler of the Year points standings from each division will advance to the championship.
The Indianapolis pro has had a fairly successful practice. He’s caught bass in water as deep as 25 feet and as shallow as 6 inches. On day one, his primary pattern will be throwing a crankbait parallel to the docks. He’ll also use a jig and skip his bait underneath the docks.
“You can fish any type of pattern you want,” he said. “They’re everywhere right now.”
Although McDonald says the fish are everywhere, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are biting. Last fall the weather was cold, but the fishing was hot. Now that the weather is hot, the fishing might be cold.
“If I could catch 10 to 12 pounds a day, I’d be in good shape for the championship.”
Harrison, Ark., pro John Hill is no stranger to fishing the Ozarks, although he considers Bull Shoals his home lake. He thinks this event will be a low-weight tournament for the most part.
“I believe there’s only going to be two or three 20-pound bags,” said Hill. “The guys who really know this lake, like the Hibdons and the Eakins, will do well. Eighteen pounds may be good for them, but 12 or 13 will be good for everybody else.”
Logistics
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 and Lowrance electronics 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.
Anglers will take off from Grand Glaize Recreation Area located just off Highway 54 in Kaizer, Mo., at 6:30 each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins also will be held at the recreation area beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 4252 Highway 54 in Osage Beach beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
On the Web
For Stren Series fans unable to catch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, an online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results, streaming video and audio. Show time starts at 3 p.m. Central today.
Wednesday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:55 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 71 degrees
Expected high temperature: 87 degrees
Water temperature: 77-80 degrees
Wind: WSW at 6 mph
Maximum humidity: 67 percent
Day’s outlook: slight chance of an isolated thunderstorm