Judgment day

Anglers battle for place in top 10 as well as other significant honors

DETROIT – Today just might be the most important day of the year for the more than 350 anglers competing on the FLW tour. Not only is the entire field vying for a berth in the all-important top 10, but many anglers will be fighting for a place in the prestigious FLW tour championship as well. After a grueling year on the tour, Lake St. Clair represents the last chance for anglers to move up into the top 50 in the overall points competition – the requirement for qualifying for the year-end championship on Lake Champlain, scheduled to take place Sept. 12-15.

If that isn’t enough pressure, a select few anglers will also be competing for the 2001 Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year title. Although Kevin VanDam appears to have the title nearly locked up in the Pro Division – the pro from Kalamazoo, Mich., could be crowned champion as early as today with a good showing – the Co-Angler Division is a little more wide open. With very little time remaining to jockey for positition, Wesley Burnett of Hot Springs, Ark., remains the frontrunner with 892 points. However, Chris Rand (871 points) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., John Bruce (840 points) of Buford, Ga., Arlyn Johnson (835 points) of Enon, Ohio, and Mark Meyer (821 points) of Hanceville, Ala., should have a say in the matter before all is said and done.

Although anglers took off shortly after 6:30 a.m. under a brilliant pink sunrise, the National Weather Service is calling for partly cloudy skies throughout the day with a chance of intermittent showers.

Today’s weigh-in is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at Metro Beach Metropark in Mt. Clemens, Mich.

Vital statistics

Sunrise: 5:55 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees
Expected high temperature: 74 degrees
Water temperature: 68 degrees
Wind: From the northeast at 6 mph
Relative humidity: 79 percent
Day’s outlook: Partly cloudy, scattered showers possible

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