Slugfest slated for Saturday
Big catches predicted as perfect conditions align for final day
DEVILS LAKE, N.D. – Devils Lake has the perfect opportunity to show its true colors today. With warming water temperatures and winds of only 9 mph, day four of the third Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour qualifier should be a slugfest to remember.
With a tight leaderboard and the prospects for an awesome day on the water, the final weigh-in promises to be both exciting and dramatic.
Second-place pro John Renschen had to change areas yesterday to scrape together an 18-pound limit. He caught his day-three fish in East Bay and will return to East Bay first thing this morning. Still, he plans to check his honeyhole in Black Tiger Bay to see if the larger walleyes have returned. The Red Wing, Minn., pro believes his spot in Black Tiger holds bigger fish, but it isn’t as consistent as East Bay.
Within the first 15 minutes of day one, Renschen pulled 15 pounds from Black Tiger.
“Dennis will be tough,” said Renschen, referring to Jeffrey, the pro leader. “He’s got a 2 1/2-pound lead. We just need one really good kicker fish.”
Renschen’s secret weapon today just might be his co-angler partner Jeff Trana. Trana is a local from the town of Devils Lake who spends about 80 days on the water each year.
Over in boat No. 1, Jeffrey plans to start by trolling bigger crankbaits in 16 feet of water. On both Wednesday and Friday, he started the day by pitching crankbaits to shallow-water pockets. Yesterday that technique netted him zero fish, so it makes logical sense to start deep. But during practice he was getting quality fish shallow so he hasn’t given up on that idea entirely.
“We’re going to start out deep,” said the Garrison, N.D., pro. “But at some point we’re going to move up. I think the water temperature in those shallow-water pockets has warmed enough where those fish might come back on.”
Although Jeffrey won the 2004 Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year award, he’s looking to solidify his professional walleye fishing career this afternoon.
“It would be a great feeling to hold that check up in the air and put that winner’s trophy next to my AOY trophy.”
The winners in both divisions will be determined today, with top honors going to the anglers with the most cumulative weight over three days of competition instead of the usual four.
The final weigh-in begins at 4 p.m. Central time at the Wal-Mart store, which is located on Highway 2 in Devils Lake.
Saturday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 5:36 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 57 degrees
Expected high temperature: 75 degrees
Water temperature: 56-63 degrees
Wind: W at 9 mph
Maximum humidity: 58 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy