Going for broke on Guntersville Lake
Three hundred and thirty anglers will battle it out for place in top 20
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. – With cloudy skies overhead and more rain in the forecast today, 165 pros and 165 co-anglers left Guntersville State Park Marina shortly after 5:30 a.m., signaling the start of the most important session of the four-day competition to date. As usual, anglers are expected to hold nothing back during today’s action as they attempt to qualify for the all-important top-20 cut.
However, with the expected two-day cutoff estimated at 27 pounds in the Pro Division and a staggering 22 pounds in the Co-angler Division, many anglers will need to turn their fortunes around in order to fish another day and grab a significant chunk of the $210,000 total purse.
To be sure, there is plenty of incentive to qualify for the next round. Not only are valuable year-end standings points at stake – which are necessary to qualify for the 2002 EverStart Championship this November – but also the chance to keep alive the dream of winning the tournament’s lucrative first-place bounty. In the Pro Division, that amounts to a brand new Ranger boat valued at $35,000 as well as a first-place check of $15,000. In the Co-angler Division, first place will net one lucky angler $6,000.
Currently, Tommy Swindle of Warrior, Ala., leads all pros with a one-day catch of 18 pounds, 6 ounces. In the co-angler field, Roy Altman, Jr., has grabbed the top position with a catch of 19 pounds, 12 ounces.
EverStart action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 2:30 p.m. at Guntersville State Park, located at 1155 Lodge Drive in Guntersville, Ala.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 5:33 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 68 degrees
Expected high temperature: 81 degrees
Water temperature: 64 degrees
Wind: From the southeast at 3 mph
Relative humidity: 94 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy, scattered thunderstorms
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