M1 competition heats up
Temps rise on the delta; quarter-million-dollar co-angler could be crowned Friday
MOBILE, Ala. – The fields have shrunk to the top 20 anglers apiece, but the stakes have become huge at the 2002 Ranger M1 Friday. While the pros are fishing to make the top-10 cut into Saturday’s finals, the co-anglers took off from Chocolotta Bay at 8 o’clock this morning knowing that one of them might go home tonight $250,000 richer.
For today’s Co-angler Division finals and Pro Division semifinals, temperatures have risen from the record lows that greeted anglers in the opening round. That could have a stimulating affect on today’s bass bite; however, there are moderate east winds on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and the skies have gone gray. Look for the anglers to encounter precipitation by afternoon.
Several pros said they would be shooting for 7 pounds of bass to make the cut. As for the co-anglers, any sack just 5 pounds or higher could be worth a quarter-million dollars. The largest co-angler one-day weight during the opening round was Ryan Deal’s 10-7 on day one, but the next best was Michael Robinson’s 7-12 yesterday. Look for the top co-angler weights to drop even further today as pros maneuver hard to make tomorrow’s cut.
Friday’s weigh-in starts at 5 p.m. at the Mobile Convention Center, which is located on Water Street downtown. Admission to the weigh-in and Family Fun Zone, which opens at 3 p.m., is free. The Fun Zone features children’s games and product samples from Ranger M1 sponsors.
Vital statistics
Sunrise: 6:21 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 40 degrees
Expected high temperature: 58 degrees
Water temperature: 46 degrees
Wind: From the east at 15 mph
Relative humidity: 37 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy with showers becoming likely during the afternoon
Links: