It’s go time
EverStart semifinalists on the lake
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. – The stakes have increased, but tensions seem to have eased with the milder weather conditions as the top 20 pro and co-angler semifinalists geared up for semifinal-round competition at the 2002 EverStart Series Championship.
The sun came out yesterday, temperatures have gone up and, perhaps most importantly, the wind has died down at Lake Martin. That had many competitors smiling as they launched their sponsor-detailed Rangers for Friday’s televised fishing action.
It wasn’t just the weather. Some anglers who made it this far are just happy that they’re fishing against a much smaller field.
“The hard part’s already done,” said pro semifinalist Marcel Veenstra of Newtown, Pa., who was also the Northern Division points champion in the regular season. “Getting past the first two days is what’s tough. The next two days are for fun.”
It’s not all fun and games, however, when it gets to this point. There’s still the competition to worry about. The fields have been narrowed, true, but that means there will probably be more room for anglers to roam and find heavy stringers. Opening-round pro leader Jason Quinn of Lake Wylie, S.C., said he would be aiming for roughly 9 pounds of bass to feel comfortable about advancing to Saturday’s finals.
Lots of competitors have been fishing deeper water to fill their livewells this week, but the leaders are saying that their bigger bass are coming out of very shallow water – often in less than 2 feet. Look for anglers to seine the banks today and tomorrow in search of those kicker fish.
The co-angler champion will be crowned following Friday’s action, while the pro field will be cut again to the top 10 for Saturday’s final round. The pros are competing for a top prize of $25,000 plus a Ranger boat, and the co-anglers are fishing for $10,000 and a Ranger boat.
The day-three weigh-in begins at the Wal-Mart store located on Highway 280 West in Alexander City at 4:30 p.m. There will be a Family Fun Zone and the public is welcome.
Today’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:08 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 55 degrees
Expected high temperature: 70 degrees
Water temperature: 65 degrees
Wind: from the south-southwest at 7 mph
Relative humidity: 59 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny
Day-three links: