Decision day in the desert
National Guard FLW Series Western Division co-angler champion to be crowned after today’s competition, pro field cut down to top 10
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – As the full field of FLW Series anglers departed Lake Havasu State Park marina shortly after 6:30 a.m., plenty of things were still up in the air – literally and figuratively.
For starters, it appears that anglers will be dealing with a second consecutive day of extremely windy conditions as the National Weather Service is once again calling for gusts in the 20- to 30-mph range. The wind has not only adversely affected the sight-fishing bite, the most popular angling technique heading into the tournament, but it has also taken away valuable fishing areas and wreaked havoc on boat control.
And it’s not just the wind, it’s what’s in the wind. During yesterday’s competition, pro Mike Goodwin of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., was actually struck in the shoulder by a flying bird pushed off course by the gusting winds. Goodwin, who had a nice mark on his shoulder which served as an unwanted souvenir from the incident, joked that “everything went downhill from there.” And he wasn’t kidding. After finishing day one in second place overall in the Pro Division, Goodwin dropped all the way to 26th place by the end of day two.
In addition to the blustery conditions, anglers will have plenty of other variables to wrestle with as well. Do they target the north or south end of the lake? Do they abandon their sight-fishing bite entirely? How far of a run are they willing to make given the size of the waves and ferocity of the wind?
“I don’t know how the weather is going to affect us today,” said day-two pro leader Tim Klinger of Boulder City, Nev. “I’m going to try a few new spots to try and get some decent fish in the boat because yesterday was really a struggle. I think the wind is going to take a lot of the guys out of the game today. It’s going to be tough again out there.”
Klinger, who sits in the top spot with 33 pounds, 4 ounces, still believes he has the fish to make a run at the title – which will be awarded during Saturday’s final day of pro competition.
“I’m still on some good fish and I think that I’ll come back with another good stringer,” said Klinger, who plans on drop-shotting and flipping in today’s competition. “My fish are biting a little bit better later in the day – that’s when the water level rises enough in my areas so that the (bedding fish) aren’t as spooky. And that’s key for me.”
Klinger, like the rest of the pro field, is gunning for the top prize of $125,000. However, they will all have to survive today’s top-10 pro cut first if they are to have any shot at the tournament title.
Meanwhile, co-anglers will be facing even more pressure during today’s competition. Not only do they have to deal with the weather and adapt on the fly to the areas their pros take them to, but they only have a few hours left to maneuver for the first-place prize of $25,000 as the co-angler champion will be crowned after today’s competition.
Currently, Lester Albury of San Marcos, Calif., holds down the top spot in the Co-angler Division with a two-day catch of 23 pounds, 2 ounces.
In addition to the lucrative Lake Havasu purse, all anglers will be competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, where the winning pro will earn as much as $1 million – the sport’s biggest award.
Bass-fishing fans take note
During FLW Series competition, anglers will take off from Lake Havasu State Park/Windsor Beach located at 699 London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City at 6:30 each morning. For the first three days of tourney action, weigh-ins will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 5695 Highway 95 N. in Lake Havasu City beginning at 4 p.m. Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday’s weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. at Walmart. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include a trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games.
All activities are free and open to the public.
Want to watch the weigh in live but can’t make it in person? Then tune into FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com shortly before 3 p.m. Pacific Time to watch live streaming video and audio of Thursday’s opening-round weigh in.
FLW Series action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. Pacific Time at Lake Havasu State Park, located at 699 London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 6:31 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 51 degrees
Expected high temperature: 78 degrees
Wind: From the north-northeast at 20-30 mph
Maximum humidity: 11 percent
Day’s outlook: Sunny with gusting winds