FLORENCE, Ala. – The grumbling heard from many EverStart Series anglers about the shoddy weather at Pickwick Lake Wednesday has transformed into a relieved sense of determination with the appearance of sunny skies Thursday. Central Division competitors are hoping that warmer temperatures will improve the bite on day two, maybe even pushing a few of those prespawn bass up toward the bank.

Steven Lake of Lowell, Ark., led the Pro Division on day one with a weight of 15 pounds, 3 ounces, but it’s a tight group atop the leaderboard. Less than 6 pounds separates the leader from 20th-place Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn.

On the co-angler side, Shane Phillips of Franklin, Ky., led with an opening weight of 10 pounds, 6 ounces.

Both divisions will be cut to the top 20 anglers apiece based on a two-day combined weight following today’s fishing action. Cut-weight estimates hovered around 16 pounds for the pros and 8 pounds for the co-anglers.

Thursday’s weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at McFarland Park on James M. Spain Drive in Florence.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 5:45 a.m.
Air temperature at takeoff: 48 degrees
Water temperature at the ramp: 54 degrees
Expected high temperature: 76 degrees
Wind: calm
Relative humidity: 83 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy

Day-two links:

Photos
Pairings