Stren Central finalists prospect pools for winning bite
10 boats enter Columbus Pool one last time, two men to leave winners
COLUMBUS, Miss. – Some of the best bass anglers in the game fought tooth and nail this week to qualify for the Stren Series Central Division finals on the Columbus Pool. Twenty of them survived to fish Saturday – 10 pros and 10 co-anglers – but only one man in each division can lay claim to a hard-fought win when competition closes this afternoon, and many are still realistically in contention.
In the Pro Division, weights were tight: Less than 6 pounds separated 10th place from first when the day started at 6 a.m., and a mere 2 1/2 pounds separated the top spot from sixth place. The Co-angler Division provided a wider spread, though more than a few were within striking distance: 10 pounds separated first from 10th, but fifth place was barely more than 4 1/2 pounds off the lead.
Currently leading the pros is Yancy Windham of Gordo, Ala., with a three-day total of 34 pounds, 6 ounces. Leading the co-anglers is Bill Bowen of Caledonia, Miss., with a total of 23-8. Winners in each division will be determined by heaviest combined weight from all four days of competition.
“I’m just going to try to go out and get the job done, just like all week,” said Windham, who has been fishing in both Columbus Pool and Aberdeen Pool, a lock through to the north, each day.
And these skilled fishermen are fighting for much more than bragging rights at the end of an arduous journey: To the victors will also go the spoils. For the winning pro, that will mean a bare minimum of $25,000 cash, with the potential to tack on a $40,000 boat package and additional bonus dollars as well. The top co-angler will be awarded at least $5,000 cash, with a $30,000 boat package and contingency money also available.
The finalists took off under clear skies with no wind, a temperature of about 70 degrees and nearly 100-percent humidity. But that will change, and anglers will have to adjust to stay with the fish.
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the late morning and afternoon, under cloudy to partly cloudy skies. Highs are expected to be in the lower 90s with northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph.
Today’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1913 Highway 45 N. in Columbus, 
Miss., beginning at 4 p.m. The weigh-in is free and open to the public.
On the Web
For bass-fishing fans unable to attend the festivities in person, you can catch all the weigh-in action live at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live. Show time starts at 4 p.m. Central today.