Clear Lake clearing up?

Favorable weather could produce bigger sacks on EverStart day two

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – EverStart Series anglers were hoping that Clear Lake lives up to its name as they took off for the second half of the opening round in Western Division action Thursday. Judging by a few breaks in the clouds and calmer winds this morning, competitors might get to see a few more big largemouths in the shallows than they did Wednesday.

Gabe Bolivar of Ramona, Calif., is carrying a seemingly huge lead in the Pro Division with 29 pounds, 1 ounce, but his lead could dwindle if more pros can get on fish weighing 5 pounds or more under Thursday’s calmer conditions. Brian Mlekush of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., leads the co-anglers with 19-4.

With the potential for more sacks over 20 pounds today, look for cut weights to stay relatively high. The pros are staring at about a 27- to 29-pound cut weight, but that could go higher if the wind stays down all day. The co-anglers will probably need about 18 to 20 pounds.

Day-two weigh-in festivities begin at 3 p.m. Pacific time at Redbud Park in Clearlake. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 15960 Dam Road in Clearlake beginning at 4 p.m.

The full field is competing for two days to determine the top 20 pros and 20 co-anglers who will advance to Friday’s semifinal round based on their two-day accumulated weight. 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.

Thursday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:33 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 41 degrees

Expected high temperature: 60 degrees

Wind: from the southwest at 9 mph

Maximum humidity: 56 percent

Day’s outlook: partly cloudy