Anglers aim for semifinals at RCL Championship
With only 5 pounds separating the angler in the No. 12 spot from the angler in the 53rd position, today brings hope to most anglers positioned in the top 50 spots. With so many solid baskets of walleyes brought in yesterday, it should be a real shootout this afternoon for a chance to be one of the 12 semifinalists at the 2002 Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit Championship.
RCL pro Bob Propst of Fort Pierre, S.D., does not plan on changing his strategy for today’s round.
“I am going to stick to my plans,” said Propst. “I thought the fishing was really tough the first day. If I can catch as much weight as I did on day one, I will be okay.”
Evinrude pro Tom Brunz of Madison Lake, Minn., feels fairly confident about his chances today.
“I only weighed in four walleyes yesterday, but the weight was good,” said Brunz.
His weight on day one was 16 pounds and 5 ounces, good enough to put him in the No. 6 spot going into today.
“I lost a couple of nice fish yesterday; one looked like an 8-pounder,” Brunz said. “I did not have much company where I was fishing, but you never know how things will turn out.”
Lund pro Mike Gofron of Antioch, Ill., knows he has an uphill climb to make it to tomorrow’s semifinal round.
“I know I have some catching up to do,” said Gofron. “I feel I had a good start on day one. I know what I have to do to move on, so I plan on giving it my best shot.”
Anglers are expecting the bite to be about the same as yesterday. Weather conditions appear to be stabilizing and that might have a positive influence on fish activity. Don’t be surprised to see a few more 20-pound limits coming across the stage this afternoon.
No word on willow cats.
The “secret” bait that so many pros were swearing by during practice, willow cats or small bullheads, are not the only bait producing for the RCL Championship contenders. Fathead minnows, creek chubs, redtail chubs, crawlers and crankbaits have all produced fish for some of the top anglers.
Today’s weigh-in will start at 3 p.m. at the Treasure Island Resort and Casino Marina, (800) 222-7077, located at 5734 Sturgeon Lake Road in Red Wing, Minn.
Today’s statistics
Sunrise: 7:15 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 45 degrees
Expected high temperature: 56 to 58 degrees
Water temperature: mid- to lower 60s
Water clarity: muddy
Wind: east-northeast at 3 mph
Relative humidity: 93 percent
Day’s outlook: cloudy with light and variable winds
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