The last stand

Top 10 pros, 10 co-anglers fish final day on Okeechobee in Stren Series opener

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. – With temperatures dropping into the upper 30s overnight, Lake Okeechobee experienced some of the coldest temperatures of the year last night.

Saturday morning, the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers in the Stren Series Southeast Division were wrapped up like artic explorers.

“It’s pretty cold, but at least the wind is slacking up a bit,” said tournament leader Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., as he rigged up a flipping bait. “I think I’ll probably flip more today than I have been.”

And Lane will not be the only one using the big stick today. As many Okeechobee experts know, when it gets cold on the Big O, bass nestle up in thick mats that absorb sun and do their best at playing lockjaw.

“Again, it’s going to come down to who gets the big bite today,” Lane said. “As of now, I’ve got a 2-pound lead. But any of these guys could catch an 8-pounder on their first cast, and I’m 6 pounds behind just that fast.”

Lane is gunning for his first FLW Outdoors win. Last year, he scored four FLW Outdoors top-10s, three in the FLW Tour and one in the Stren Series (formerly EverStart Series), and his best finish was third.

“I’m ready to make this happen,” he said. “Top-10s are great, but I want a win.”

Will Lane get his big W on the Big O today?

We’ll find out at the final weigh-in of the Stren Series Southeast opener being held at the Okeechobee Wal-Mart at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Saturday’s conditions

Sunrise: 7:15 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 38 degrees

Expected high temperature: 60 degrees

Water temperature: 55-65 degrees

Forecasted winds: NNW at 5-10 mph

Day’s outlook: sunny and cool