Heat reprieve
Third leg of Stren Series Midwest Division begins under cooler, more favorable conditions
FORT MADISON, Iowa – The dog days of summer are gone, at least for now. The record temperatures that cooked up the Midwest for the better part of July have thankfully departed. But by several accounts, the Mississippi River bass haven’t received the memo.
In the month of August, it’s common for hot weather to cause sluggish behavior in bass, especially largemouth. One would think that the recent cooldown would have the fish returning to their aggressive patterns. That hasn’t been the case yet, and it looks like this will be a scratch-and-claw tournament.
Roughly 28 pounds was a good enough weight to make the cut at the second Stren Series Midwest Division event on the Mississippi River in Onalaska, Wis., but most anticipate 20 or 21 pounds to be good enough here.
Pro Kevin Snider of Elizabethtown, Ky., said his practice has been tough overall. He’s caught some fish here and there, but it’s been tough sledding as he attempts to attain consistency. Snider expects most pros to be flipping jigs and working frogs on the top of the water column. He firmly believes that it won’t take much more than 20 pounds to make the cutoff.
“I’d be tickled to death with 12 pounds today,” Snider said. “I’m boat 127 (in launch order), but it’s a big lake.” 
Curt Erpenbach competed in the Onalaska event on the Mississippi last month and said it’s like fishing two entirely different rivers.
“I’d be happy with a limit,” said the Morris, Ill., pro. “I think I’m going to try moving baits early and then slow down when the sun comes out.”
Even with a tough bite, the stakes are still high. Pros competing in the event will fish for a top award worth as much as $64,500, while co-anglers could win a top award worth $35,000, so long as contingency guidelines are met.
Tournament logistics
Anglers will take off from Captain Kirk’s Marina at 6:30 each morning. Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina, which is located at 902 4th St. in Fort Madison, beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 324 West Agency Road in West Burlington, Iowa, beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
One hundred forty-four pros and 144 co-anglers will compete for two days to determine the top 20 pros and top 20 co-anglers who advance to day three based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for day three and anglers compete for 10 spots in each division on day four. Winners are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four.
In Stren Series competition, pros supply the boats, fish from the front deck against other pros and control boat movement. Co-anglers fish from the back deck and compete against other co-anglers. Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points that determine angler standings. Two hundred points are awarded to the winner, 199 points for second, 198 points for third, and so on. The top 40 pros and top 40 co-anglers from each of the Stren Series’ five divisions – Central, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast and Western – will advance to the $1 million Stren Series Championship on Wheeler Lake Nov. 1-4.
On the Web
For fishing fans who can’t watch the action in person, FLWOutdoors.com provides FLW Live, a free, real-time viewing application that is the next best thing to being there.
Wednesday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:10 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 66 degrees
Expected high temperature: 84 degrees
Water temperature: 78-84 degrees
Wind: SSE at 6 mph
Maximum humidity: 71 percent
Day’s outlook: scattered thunderstorms