Cut and dried
Now that the rains have finally dissipated, EverStart Series Western Division anglers turn their undivided attention to surviving Friday’s top-10 cut on Lake Shasta
REDDING, Calif. – Although the cold, steady rains that dominated Thursday’s EverStart Series competition have finally dried up, another more formidable obstacle stands between anglers and their goal of a tournament title on Lake Shasta – the top-10 cut.
With weights tightly bunched together across the top of the leaderboard and beyond, it’s clear that most pros will have to return with double-digit stringers during today’s competition to have any hope of fishing in Saturday’s all-important final round of competition.
But it won’t be easy. With a fickle bass bite, a distinct lack of cover on Lake Shasta and plenty of suspended fish hanging out anywhere from 5 to 75 feet, anglers definitely will have their work cut out for them.
“I think the lack of rain could produce a slightly better overall bass bite today,” said EverStart Series pro Cody Meyer of Grass Valley, Calif. “But I also think you won’t see a lot of big fish caught like we saw yesterday. When it’s cloudy and rainy, the spotted bass like to suspend, but when the sun comes out – like it’s supposed to today – you’ll see these fish push back to the bottom. It could be another tough day of fishing.”
Meyer said that a combination of finesse baits and jigs should be the ticket to success in today’s competition.
“There are still lots of fish in the 20- to 40-foot range,” he said. “I think most of the guys will be throwing jigs, wacky-rigged Senkos and drop-shots as those baits seem to be getting the most consistent bites.”
Per usual, anglers on Lake Shasta will be targeting steeper drop-offs, deep cuts, rock walls and rock piles.
“Basically, there isn’t a lot of standing timber and that’s what makes the bass roam around this lake so much,” he said. “There’s just a lot of open water. That’s why it’s a tough lake to fish.”
In keeping with the general pre-tournament estimates, Meyer believes a 10-pound average each day – or thereabouts – will be the key to qualifying for the top-10 final field.
“If you keep getting 9 or 10 pounds, you’ll be in good shape,” said Meyer. “I thought coming into this tournament that 19 pounds would be enough to make the (two-day) cut and I still think that.”
Currently, Jeff Michels of Lakehead, Calif., leads all pros with a one-day weight of 13 pounds, 13 ounces. Bryant Smith of Castro Valley, Calif., holds the top spot in the Co-angler Division with a total catch of 10 pounds, 4 ounces.
Tourney format
During EverStart Series competition, pros supply the boats, fish from the front deck against other pros and control boat movement. Co-anglers fish from the back deck and compete against other co-anglers. Anglers are permitted to weigh in their best five bass each day. Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points that determine angler standings. The full field will compete one more day on Friday, with the top-10 pros and top-10 co-anglers advancing to Saturday’s final round of competition based on their two-day accumulated weight. Winners ultimately will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all three days.
Anglers will take off from Bridge Bay Resort, located at 10300 Bridge Bay Road in Redding, Calif., at 7:30 each morning. Friday’s weigh-in will also be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m., with Saturday’s weigh-in scheduled to take place at 3 p.m.
Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Pros are fishing for a top award of $35,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with 200-horsepower outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger 177TR with 90-horsepower outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
The EverStart Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of four tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the Angler of the Year title along with $5,000 for the pro and $2,000 for the co-angler. The top 40 pros and co-anglers from each respective division will qualify for the EverStart Series Championship that will be held on Kentucky Lake in Buchanan, Tenn., Oct. 27-30.
EverStart Series action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 2:30 p.m. at Bridge Bay Resort, located at 10300 Bridge Bay Road in Redding, Calif.
Bass-fishing fans take note
Want to watch the weigh in live but can’t make it in person? Then tune into FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com shortly before 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s opening-round weigh in.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 7:32 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 46 degrees
Expected high temperature: 62 degrees
Water temperature: 48-50 degrees
Wind: From the north-northwest at 7 mph
Humidity: 92 percent
Day’s outlook: Partly cloudy