Gloom but no doom?

Despite cold, damp conditions, Sam Rayburn bite might still be red-hot

JASPER, Texas – With cold air temperatures and the finest of mists spraying competitors’ faces, day three of the Stren Series Texas Division event on Sam Rayburn kicked off under decidedly gloomy conditions. But as any angler will tell you, sometimes the best fishing comes on the nastiest days.

Conventional wisdom says that the fishing gets tougher when air temperatures – and subsequently water temperatures – fall quickly in a short period of time. And while earlier in the week some competitors were stockpiling in anticipation of the cold front that is now here, there is now a significant number of people who believe the fishing will get even better today.

That is saying a lot, as Stren competitors hauled in enormous numbers of bass, and enormous bass, period, yesterday. And while almost no one is revealing their method of choice, the prevailing dock talk indicates that the Rat-L-Trap’s got it going on.

“I think a lot of guys are going to catch them on Rat-L-Traps and fast-moving baits,” said pro Charles Bebber of Willis, Texas. “If guys were catching them on Rat-L-Traps, it will definitely continue.”

If that’s the case, then today’s chilly temperatures and intermittent rain will be but a nuisance to competitors.

“I think it’ll continue,” Bebber said of the smoking-hot Rayburn bite. “It might even be better today.”

With that prediction, Bebber echoes what No. 2 pro Randy Millender and other leaders said yesterday. On that note, another day of limit after heavy limit on Sam Rayburn may be in store.

Following today’s weigh-in, the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers based on their three-day accumulated weights will advance to tomorrow’s final round. Saturday’s winners will be determined by heaviest four-day weights. Today’s weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. CST at the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located off Highway 255 West in Sam Rayburn. FLWOutdoors.com also offers FLW Live – bringing remote fans up-to-the-second results, complete with streaming audio and video – for those who cannot attend in person.

Friday’s conditions

Sunrise: 7:02 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 43 degrees

Expected high temperature: 51 degrees

Wind: N at 7 mph

Maximum humidity: 79 percent

Day’s outlook: showers early with partial clearing by the afternoon