GREEN BAY, Wis. – Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour anglers awoke Friday morning in need of their sunscreen more than their rain gear. Certainly, day three will be a much more pleasant day on the water, but it will be difficult to match yesterday’s amazing catch.
As day three began, the leaderboard on the pro side remained tightly packed with less than 18 pounds separating first and 20th place. In order for many to have a chance at making the cutoff, the bite on Green Bay must continue its torrid pace.
Eric Olson was one of several pros who made a big move on day two. Olson, a Red Wing, Minn., native, caught 33 pounds, 10 ounces on Thursday and jumped from 43rd to eighth place on the pro side.
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood and a great day to go fishing,” said Olson, eager to duplicate his success on a decisive day three.
While the majority of anglers welcomed the sunny skies, some felt it could negatively impact the extraordinary bite. Squelching those fears was a steady easterly wind, which was producing considerable walleye chop. Most anglers felt the wind would cut down on the amount of light penetrating the water, allowing the postspawn walleyes to continue to stalk schools of baitfish in the shallows.
Anglers begin the critical day-three weigh-in at 3 p.m. Central time, when the field of 133 boats is trimmed to the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers. The top-10 cut is based on three days of accumulated weight from Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 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 four days of competition. Friday’s weigh-in takes place at Metro Park Boat Launch located on Bay Beach Road in Green Bay.
Friday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 5:19 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 51 degrees
Expected high temperature: 69 degrees
Water temperature: 49-57 degrees
Wind: ENE at 11 mph
Maximum humidity: 56 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny