On Wisconsin
Locals looking to make bank as Stren finals rev up in La Crosse
ONALASKA, Wis. – At most fishing tournaments, local anglers theoretically have a decided advantage over the itinerant anglers. But at Stren Series events held in La Crosse, Wis., the local-angler advantage is more fact than theory.
As the two-day final round of Midwest Division competition begins on the Mississippi River Friday, look for the Minnesota and Wisconsin natives – affectionately known as “Sconnies” around here – to make their usual impact on the money board as the week winds down. Eight out of the 20 pro semifinalists hail from either Wisconsin or Minnesota, and three of those live on the river.
While it’s not unusual for locals to do well at Stren events, that trend seems especially true at limit-heavy places like La Crosse. The top three pros after the opening round this week – Jim Johnson, Chris Cox and Doug Stanton – are all Sconnies and Minnesotans with a solid track record at tournaments on this part of the river. Cox and Johnson top-10ed at this event last year, and Stanton finished second here in 2001. Another Sconnie semifinalist, Jim Jones, finished second here last year.
One reason for the local advantage here is the prolific nature of this bass fishery. A 5-year-old could probably catch a limit on this part of the Mississippi River because the bass are plentiful and they’re hungry. What sets the locals apart from the rest is that they know where the big ones are, those crucial 4-pounders that give them an edge – sometimes of just ounces – over the rest of the field. It’s not just a matter of finding fish; it’s about finding good fish.
Johnson readily admits that he probably has an advantage over most anglers on this fishery, if only because he spends so much time on the water here.
“I’m able to get a pretty quick limit up (on Pool 8),” he said. “I’ve got a couple of better fish up here.”
The trick is knowing what to look for that’s unique under the conditions available and striking while the iron’s hot. Kentucky pro Terry Bolton, who made the cut in 17th place, said that he’s had fun catching so many fish here, but admitted that he hasn’t quite clued in to what the local guys are doing.
“I’m just catching all my fish flipping the slop. It’s a really obvious area,” he said. “I guess none of the locals fish that obvious stuff, but I’m stupid. I don’t know any better.”
Of course, the counter-argument to the La Crosse local-advantage theory is Fred Roumbanis, the Californian who won this event last year. Plus, there are a few notable locals missing from this week’s top-20 list: namely Wisconsinites Jeff Ritter, Darren Zumach and Tom Monsoor. Monsoor knocked himself out of competition when he got hung up on a sandbar on day one and missed weigh-in, but apparently Bolton’s “obvious-fishing” technique worked better than the local knowledge employed by Ritter and Zumach this week.
And that just goes to show the fun part about theories: They all have their counter-arguments.
Day-three weigh-in festivities begin at 4 p.m. Central time at the Wal-Mart store located at 3107 Marketplace in Onalaska. Following today’s competition, both the pro and co-angler fields will be cut to the top 10 anglers for Saturday’s final round.
On the Web
For fishing fans unable to attend the Stren Midwest tournament taking place this week in Wisconsin, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, a real-time video look at the daily weigh-ins. Just access the online application during weigh-in hours to keep tabs on your favorite anglers.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 5:36 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 69 degrees
Expected high temperature: 93 degrees
Water temperature: 76-82 degrees
Wind: WSW at 8 mph
Maximum humidity: 61 percent
Day’s outlook: morning showers, steamy hot later