Rainy Rayburn
Anglers prepare for another day of wet weather at the EverStart Series Central Division opener
JASPER, Texas – Anglers bundled up Thursday for the day-two launch at the EverStart Series Central Division opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. With rumbling thunder and lightning flashing in the background, anglers prepared to take off in a cold front that lowered temperatures by at least 10 degrees.
Forecasts for today call for thunderstorms in the morning, with rain likely extending into the afternoon. The sunshine that was enjoyed for a little while yesterday will probably not be seen at all today, but no matter – anglers were catching Sam Rayburn bass rain or shine.
The falling temperature, though, could spell trouble, as the fish are currently moving up shallow to spawn. With the fish in transition, nothing is a sure thing on Sam Rayburn this week. Although the sun should peek through tomorrow, temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-to-upper 50s throughout the remainder of the week after highs in the mid-60s yesterday.
Despite yesterday’s ever-changing weather conditions, Central Division anglers still hauled in tremendous numbers of fish, with both the pro and co-angler leader naming luck as the primary reason why they are at the top of the leaderboard. One hundred and ninety-six pros and 181 co-anglers – out of a field of 200 – caught bass yesterday, and close to 3,400 pounds of fish were brought to the scales in a weigh-in that lasted approximately three and a half hours.
The dock talk was that the fish ought to still be biting today, the first day of the cold front, but could clam up for the final two days. Pro leader David Curtis currently holds a 1-pound, 5-ounce lead over William Davis of Russellville, Ala.
Today’s results will determine the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers that will advance to Friday and Saturday’s competition. They will weigh in their catches today beginning at 3 p.m. at the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located at 5438 RR 255 W. in Jasper.
Thursday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 6:48 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 50 degrees
Expected high temperature: 56 degrees
Water temperature: Around 60 degrees
Wind: from the north-northeast at 10 mph
Maximum humidity: 90 percent
Day’s outlook: Thunderstorms in the morning with a chance of showers in the afternoon