Keep or keep fishing?
No-cull rule looms large over Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour anglers
GREEN BAY, Wis. – After a day of sampling what Green Bay has to offer, day two will be pivotal in determining the outcome of this four-day, cumulative-weight tournament. Much of an angler’s success or failure hinges on one question: Keep or keep fishing?
Pro leader Dean Arnoldussen was extremely fortunate Wednesday in that his fish came in the right order. There isn’t too much decision-making involved when each of your five fish is roughly 28 inches. But what about a 22-inch fish? Does it go in the box, or does it go back in the bay?
Shortly after the day-one Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour weigh-in, Arnoldussen said that he plans to keep 22-inchers on day two. Local Green Bay pro Carl Grunwaldt has a slightly more complex arrangement planned.
“Anything under 4 pounds is chucked back before noon,” said Grunwaldt, who sits in 11th place with 28 pounds, 13 ounces. “I’m hoping for 35 today, but if I pull 25, I’ll be more than happy. In all honesty, I expect the bite to decline slightly. Over 600 fish were taken out of that one spot.”
Even with the no-culling rule in effect, anglers brought 629 walleyes weighing 2,319 pounds, 6 ounces to the scale on day one, including 48 limits of walleyes breaking the 20-pound mark.
AOY update
The 2006 FLW Walleye Tour Angler of the Year race is beginning to resemble a photo finish. Coming into the event, Dennis Lantzy led with 417 points. Lantzy brought 18 pounds, 13 ounces to the scale Wednesday, good for 48th place. In second was Jason Przekurat with 408 points. On day one, the Stevens Point, Wis., pro sacked 17-13 for 51st place.
Lantzy is still sitting in the top spot for now, but watch out for hard-charging pro Tom Keenan. The Hatley, Wis., native came into the event in third place with 405 points. But after day one, he has unofficially leapfrogged Przekurat with a 20-pound, 4-ounce limit yesterday. He finished the day in 38th place and is only two points behind Lantzy.
Don’t rule out defending AOY Nick Johnson either. The Elmwood, Wis., pro started the final qualifier in fourth place with 386 points, but he stumbled somewhat on day one with a 16-pound, 9-ounce limit.
Both Przekurat and Johnson have the rare opportunity to become the first angler to win the FLW Walleye Tour AOY award twice in their career.
The day-two weigh-in begins Thursday at 3 p.m. Central time, when the field returns to Metro Park Boat Launch located on Bay Beach Road in Green Bay.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 5:20 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 71 degrees
Expected high temperature: 89 degrees
Water temperature: 58-72 degrees
Wind: S at 7 mph
Maximum humidity: 56 percent
Day’s outlook: sunny