Back to the drawing board

Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour anglers adjust to shortened fishing time

PORT CLINTON, Ohio – Mother Nature threw FLW Walleye Tour anglers a mean curveball Thursday by transforming a four-day tournament into a three-day slugfest. With one less day on the water, most anglers spent their day off scrambling to adjust strategies.

The top-10 cut will be decided at today’s weigh-in and will be based on two-day accumulated weight from Wednesday and Friday, since competition was cancelled Thursday. The remaining 10 pros and 10 co-anglers will fish a final day Saturday to determine the winners in their respective divisions, with top honors going to the anglers with the most cumulative weight over three days of competition instead of the usual four.

Pro Phil Eirikson recognizes that the complexity of the tournament has changed. He and his partner, Dean Holden, plan to jig reefs early in the day and get their five-fish limit before searching for big fish.

“You’ve got to go out and get weight, that’s for sure,” said Eirikson. “Three days after a cold front, the fish start straightening out. There are going to be big sacks, and someone will come in with 34 or 36 pounds.”

While there is no guarantee of better weather, it was calm at takeoff and forecasts once again predict lighter winds.

Pro Mike Hiser currently sits in 14th place and agrees that the bite on day three will be improved. “I think the bite is going to get better, because the weather is finally calming down,” he said.

Hiser and his partner, Keith Strauss, welcome the lighter winds, which are also expected to change in direction. “With the change in wind, we will change the direction we troll,” said Hiser. “It should make things a lot easier. This morning we’re going to run out to our big-fish spot and see if the water is clear enough. I still think it will take 60 pounds to make the cutoff.”

Anglers begin the critical day-three weigh-in at 3 p.m. Eastern time, when the field of 136 boats is trimmed to 10. Friday’s weigh-in takes place at Waterworks Park located on Perry Street in Port Clinton.

Friday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:31 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 44 degrees

Expected high temperature: 55 degrees

Water temperature: 41-45 degrees

Wind: ENE at 10 mph

Maximum humidity: 72 percent

Day’s outlook: mostly cloudy