Fog delay on Lake Lanier

Competitors delayed 35 minutes

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Lake Lanier sat beneath a dense fog this morning, as the 7 a.m. takeoff was delayed a little over a half hour.

Any delay in competition usually makes anglers nervous, but a delay today compounds the anxiety, as the top 10 finalists are making their final attempt to secure the $100,000 top prize. This week marks the first Wal-Mart FLW Series event, and also making today’s performance critical is the fact that the winner is determined by the heaviest four-day weight.

Lake Lanier is a popular weekend destination for Atlanta-area locals and recreational boaters, meaning on any given Saturday, there is a good chance that anglers could get to their fishing holes and find somebody already on their spot. However, working in the anglers’ advantage is the Saturday forecast, which is calling for afternoon thunderstorms. If the fog didn’t keep them away, perhaps the storms might, thus leaving the competitors’ plans unspoiled.

Right now, Connecticut’s Terry Baksay holds a 13-ounce lead over local Tim Farley, but Baksay’s weights have dropped each day and he admitted yesterday his fish were a little harder to come by. Many think the tournament is Farley’s to lose, with his extensive local knowledge that has obviously served him well this week.

However, No. 3 Shinichi Fukae has been steady all week and should never be counted out, and No. 4 Marty Sisk has increased his weight each day during the three-day opening round. Also climbing every day is local Jody Cordell, also a man with deep, local Lanier know-how who is currently in the No. 7 position.

The top 10 will weigh in their final catches today at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart store located on Shallowford Road in Gainesville.

Saturday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:51 a.m.

Expected high temperature: 75 degrees

Wind: from the south-southeast at 9 mph

Maximum humidity: 69 percent

Day’s outlook: isolated afternoon thunderstorms