Last call for Central Division

Bohannan looks to secure points title

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. – For many Stren Series Central Division anglers, today will be their last day of competition for the season. Only the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers advance to Saturday’s final round. Likewise, only the top 40 pros and top 40 co-anglers based on total points accumulated throughout the year will fish the Stren Series Championship.

Leading the chase for the Angler of the Year title in the Central Division is Greg Bohannan. Bohannan entered the final tournament of the season in third place, behind veteran FLW Tour anglers Carl Svebek and Mark Rose. But while Svebek and Rose have struggled on Lake of the Ozarks, Bohannan has stayed consistent. The Rogers, Ark., pro caught a limit on day one that weighed 12 pounds, 7 ounces and a limit on day two weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces. He currently sits in 13th place with one day of the opening round remaining.

“My prediction is that Greg Bohannan is going to win the points title,” said Rose. “He’s just got that drive right now. In this sport, when you’ve got momentum, you’re tough to beat.”

Bohannan certainly has momentum on his side. His goal for the season was to finish in the top-10 of the points race to qualify to fish the Wal-Mart FLW Tour in 2008. He started the season with a 17th-place finish on Bull Shoals Lake. He then took 20th on Kentucky Lake before winning the third event of the year on the Columbus Pool. Just last weekend he also won the Wal-Mart BFL Super Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks.

With a successful day today, he could wrap up the Central Division Angler of the Year. Also noteworthy is that he’s 23rd in the points race on the BP Eastern Division of the Wal-Mart FLW Series. If he finishes in the top-30 at the end of the year he will go to the East-West Fish Off to see who qualifies for the Forrest Wood Cup. So it’s conceivable that Bohannan could already be qualified for the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup before the 2008 FLW Tour season even begins. Now that’s momentum.

With nearly identical conditions forecasted for the third consecutive day, expect most of the field to struggle once again. With the hot weather gripping the Ozarks, the bass have been lethargic and after two days of competition they are also highly pressured.

“You’ve just got to make a lot of casts if you don’t have the sweet spots,” added Rose. “The fish are suspended and they’re using shad as cover. They’re shady, they produce oxygen and they’re an excellent food source.”

The day-three weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. Central time at the Grand Glaize Recreation Area, located just off Highway 54 on Public Beach Road in Kaizer, Mo.

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.

Friday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:57 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 71 degrees

Expected high temperature: 90 degrees

Water temperature: 78-82 degrees

Wind: SSW at 7 mph

Maximum humidity: 50 percent

Day’s outlook: mostly sunny