Into the mist
Stren Series Texas Division anglers prepare for second day of tournament action on the Red River
NATCHITOCHES, La. – With one day of fishing already under their belts, anglers departed Grand Encore Recreation Complex Thursday morning amidst a dense layer of fog and predictions of another day of warm temperatures and sunny skies. While weather-related fishing conditions should be largely unchanged from yesterday, some anglers do think that today’s bite on the Red River could improve due to one main factor – current.
“The water is moving today,” said Stren Series pro Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas. “I think you’re going to see people throwing a lot more crankbaits. Overall, the fishing should be better today.”
After yesterday’s difficult bite – where only four pros managed to land stringers in excess of 12 pounds – anglers would undoubtedly welcome any changes that increase stringer sizes.
Currently, Danny Gulledge of Crossett, Ark., leads all pro competitors with a total catch of 14 pounds, 15 ounces. However, his lead is far from secure. Jason Reyes of Humble, Texas, is only 2 ounces behind Gulledge and Walmart FLW Tour pros David Curtis and Chris McCall reside in third and fifth place, respectively.
Over in the Co-angler Division, local Randy Wooley of Natchitoches, La., currently sits atop the leaderboard with a one-day catch of 12 pounds, 8 ounces. But unlike Gulledge, Wooley has a little more breathing room as Nick Diberardino of Huffman, Texas, is the next closest competitor with a catch of 10 pounds, 14 ounces.
Tourney format
During the Red River competition, the full field (91 pros and 91 co-anglers) competes on days one, two and three. After day three has concluded, the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers, based on their three-day accumulated weight, advance to Saturday’s finals. The angler who has amassed the heaviest accumulated weight over four days in each of their respective divisions will be declared the winner.
Pros will be fishing for a top award of $65,000 assuming contingency guidelines are met, while co-anglers will be angling for a total first-place prize package of $35,000.
In addition, competitors will be vying for valuable points that could earn them a berth in the $1 million Stren Series Championship, slated for Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8.
Stren Series Texas Division action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. CDT at the Grand Encore Recreation Complex, located at 234 Rufus Morgan Road in Natchitoches, La.
Can`t make the weigh-in in person, then watch it on FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com beginning at 3 p.m. CDT.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7:03 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 59 degrees
Expected high temperature: 89 degrees
Wind: N at 10 mph
Water temperature: 74-78 degrees
Maximum humidity: 60 percent
Day’s outlook: sunny