Fishing for a 10 spot
Stren Series Central Division semifinals under way at Sam Rayburn
JASPER, Texas – Anglers competing in Friday’s Stren Central semifinal competition are looking for a 10 spot on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. If they find it, it will be worth much more than “a Hamilton,” however.
The final cut
The top 20 pros and 20 co-anglers who survived Thursday’s semifinal cut will compete today to make the top-10 cut and a chance to fish a final day Saturday. Pro Division finalists stand to earn anywhere from about $4,000 on up to $10,000 cash or a top award worth as much as $60,000, including a Ranger boat package and contingency money. Co-angler Division competitors who make the finals can make anywhere from roughly $1,500 to a top award of $5,000 cash, the latter including an added $30,000 Ranger boat package if contingency guidelines are met.
While earning a berth into Saturday’s finals won’t be easy, the 40 anglers who took off onto Sam Rayburn Reservoir at 6:30 a.m. today have already proven they are up to the challenge of making the best of tough fishing conditions on this East Texas fishery. Plus, the playing field has been leveled and all anglers started today’s competition with zero weight, so it’s anyone’s to win.
Leading the opening round on the pro side was local angler Chris McCall of Jasper, Texas. Over the first two days, McCall used a variety of baits and his local knowledge to find bass in various areas in Sam Rayburn. Yesterday he held off his favorite big-bass locations to save them for Friday’s semifinals.
When asked what his game plan for today would be, McCall replied, “Just go back to doing the same thing. We’re going to live with it or die with it. That’s for sure.”
Pro Ron Hopkins Sr. of Mounds, Okla., managed to finish out the opening two-day round in fourth place despite wave-induced damage that left his boat stranded Thursday afternoon. He was fortunate enough to get help from his sponsors and son, who brought him a different boat to use in today’s competition.
Like McCall, Hopkins said he intends to “go back to doing what we were doing.” For him, that means making a run to Angelina River at the north end of the reservoir, where his bite has been kicking in between 10:30 and 11 a.m.
All the anglers fishing today will have a little extra time to scour the fishery for limits, as the weigh-in doesn’t begin until 4 p.m. compared to 2:30 like the first two days.
The cold front that put a bit of a chill on the fishing here this week is still in effect today, so anglers will likely be fishing their patterns slowly, which has been a common practice so far. Many anglers have been catching fish in shallow water, and some have found the occasional postspawn bass moving off beds. Anglers have caught them with everything from flipping sticks and shallow-fished soft plastics to crankbaits and Carolina rigs.
Whoever manages to unlock the key to the cold fishing conditions – the high is only expected to hit 60 degrees – on Sam Rayburn today will have a chance to fish in Saturday’s finals, when the weather is expected to improve some with a possible high of 66 degrees and calmer winds.
Weigh-in watch
Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 800 W. Gibson in Jasper beginning at 4 p.m., but they will open earlier so fans can enjoy activities and product displays. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to everyone.
For bass-fishing fans unable to attend the festivities in person, you can catch all the weigh-in action live at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live. Show time starts at 4 p.m. Central today.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:14 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 37 degrees
Expected high temperature: 60 degrees
Water temperature at the ramp: 56 degrees
Wind: NW at 6 mph
Maximum humidity: 75 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy, clearing up in the afternoon