Wet and wild
EverStart anglers battle thunderstorms as well as the competition as semifinals commence on Kentucky Lake
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – EverStart anglers are surely going to earn their money in today’s competition. Less than 90 seconds after Friday’s takeoff was underway, the top-20 semifinalists were hit with a potent combination of lightening, thunder and a massive deluge of rain from the heavens. But as usual, that was the least of their worries.
With only one day of fishing remaining before the top-10 cut, anglers realize that a tournament title on Kentucky Lake will be out of reach without a stellar performance on the water in today’s competition. So, despite the harsh weather conditions, anglers are keenly aware that their fellow competitors – some of the most seasoned fishermen in the nation – represent the main obstacles to a trip to the finals, the coveted Kentucky Lake trophy and healthy share of the tournament’s $250,000 total purse.
(Photo by Gary Mortenson)” BORDER=”1″ ALIGN=”RIGHT”>Currently, David Young of Mayfield, Ky., holds the top qualifying position in the Pro Division after netting a two-day total of 32 pounds, 12 ounces in the opening round of competition. In the Co-angler Division, Daniel Cramer of Van Wert, Ohio, stood atop the leaderboard after turning in a total stringer weighing 24 pounds, 7 ounces.
However, while Young and Cramer hold all tiebreakers for the remainder of the tournament by virtue of Thursday’s finish, EverStart rules dictate that the weights of all anglers be reset to zero for the start of Friday’s competition. The result? The outcome of today’s competition should be just as unpredictable as the weather.
EverStart action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 310 West Fifth Street in Benton, Ky.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 5:59 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees
Expected high temperature: 74 degrees
Water temperature: 67 degrees
Wind: From the northwest at 11 mph
Relative humidity: 94 percent
Day’s outlook: Morning thunderstorms giving way to partly cloudy skies