Sight bite likely to return

Water clarity improves on day four

JASPER, Ala. — Day three of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour event on Smith Lake was drastically different from the opening round. Although the weather was mostly cloudy the first two days, the temperatures were warm and the winds were light. Late Friday afternoon severe thunderstorms rolled through the area and by Saturday there was a 30-degree temperature drop.

Not only were the fish not as aggressive, they were also much more difficult to see. Friday’s rain muddied up the water and made bank fishing a chore in general.

But those same sight-fishermen that struggled yesterday had smiles on their faces Sunday morning. Although the final takeoff commenced under cloudy skies, the forecast calls for clearing. And the skies aren’t the only thing clearing – Smith Lake’s water clarity was noticeably improved on day four as well.

Second-place pro Scott Canterbury has been beating the bank in Rock Creek all week. He is using a unique multitasking approach to catch his fish. As he parallels the bank, his primary lure is a buzzbait. However, he is not watching the buzzbait as he retrieves it. Instead, he listens for blowups while keeping his eyes focused for spawning bass. Once he locates a bedding bass, he pitches a green-pumpkin tube.

“I’d rather the sun be out, but the day of the storm was actually my best day,” said Canterbury.

Canterbury qualified for the FLW Tour by finishing eighth in the Stren Series Central Division points race. He wants to win and he wants to win badly.

“If I catch between 12 and 15 pounds that would probably give me a shot at it. I haven’t got many bites on that buzzbait, but they’re all big bites. If I can get two or three on the buzzbait and two or three on beds I’ll be tickled.”

Pro leader Michael Bennett is trying not to think about the $125,000 first-place purse or even leading the tournament.

“I’m thinking if I catch 12 pounds I’ll be hard to beat,” said the 23-year-old Roseville, Calif., native. “But the goal is to catch 14 again.

“Each day of practice and during the tournament I’ve done something a little different. Today we’re getting sun and worst-case scenario I’ll have to go sight-fish. I think I’ve still got three fish on bed.”

This is Bennett’s third trip to an FLW Tour top 10. He finished second on Wheeler Lake in 2005 and seventh on Lake Norman last year.

“Each top 10 you learn a lot. This one I purposely practiced with the last two days in mind.”

Tournament notes Today represents the fourth and final day of competition at the FLW Tour event on Smith Lake. First place in the Pro Division will go to the angler who brings in the heaviest two-day combined stringer over Saturday and Sunday. The winning pro is guaranteed a top prize of $100,000, with a chance to win $125,000 if he is a registered owner of a Ranger boat.

The action continues at today’s weigh-in, which is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. Central time at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The free Family Fun Zone will open its doors at noon.

Sunday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:29 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 52 degrees

Expected high temperature: 77 degrees

Water temperature: 62-66 degrees

Wind: SE at 5 mph

Maximum humidity: 52 percent

Day’s outlook: cloudy start, afternoon sunshine