LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – The top 20 pros and co-anglers took off from Windsor Beach State Park Friday morning for the semifinal round of EverStart Series Western Division action at Lake Havasu.
While all anglers’ weights were reset to zero for the second half of competition, Dino Caporuscio of Coto de Caza, Calif., led the Pro Division in the opening round and took off in boat No. 1.
“I’m ready,” he said, “but I’m worried about other people fishing my best spot.”
Fishing traffic would generally be less of a worry for EverStart semifinalists since the field has been cut to 20 boats, but recreational boat traffic will increase today and tomorrow on Havasu as spring break picks up even more for the weekend.
Many anglers will likely hunt big bedding largemouths in among the tules Friday, but a lot of the best shallow bass are wary from having seen a lot of lures in the last week. So, again, look for a few good stringers to be filled with smallmouths coming from a little deeper water, from 15 to 18 feet.
Several pros indicated that they would need anywhere from 12 to 15 pounds of bass Friday to feel comfortable about making the cut.
Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1795 Kiowa Blvd. in Lake Havasu City beginning at 4 p.m.
Weights are cleared for the semifinal round, and anglers compete for one day to determine who will advance to Saturday’s final round. Only the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers compete Saturday, and the winner is determined by the heaviest two-day weight.
Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:42 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 65 degrees
Expected high temperature: 96 degrees
Water temperature at the ramp: 64 degrees
Wind: from the south at 10 mph
Maximum humidity: 15 percent
Day’s outlook: sunny