Erie-ly calm

Quick limits will be key for Lake Erie anglers in the Chevy Open

DETROIT – There was an eerie calm at the day-three takeoff of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Chevy Open on the Detroit River this morning.

As the top-10 pros idled their boats out of the Elizabeth Park Marina harbor, there was hardly a breath of wind to be found. But according the forecasts that will change at about noon when 20 to 30 mph winds are expected to pick up out the southwest.

The goal for the pros running far out into Erie this morning is to get out there, catch their fish fast and start heading back before the wind becomes a major obstacle.

When Lake Erie is calm, running out towards the Pelee Island area, where many of the leaders are fishing, can take as little as 50 minutes. But if things get rough, coming back can take over two hours.

“I had 18 pounds by 9 a.m. yesterday,” said current leader Steve Clapper of Lima, Ohio. “I’d sure like to get ahead of the curve again this morning. That would let me get a head start coming back.”

“No doubt, I’m going out there,” said Wal-Mart pro Trevor Jancasz who is currently in sixth place. “Hopefully I can make quick work of it this morning. I’m fishing Erie, but I’m not fishing as deep as some of these guys. Some of the fish I’m catching are coming are as shallow as 4 feet; I can see most of them before I catch them. If I can just have a couple hours of calm this morning…”

Though Lake St. Clair has produced some top weights this week, it’s a commonly accepted notion that Lake Erie smallmouth are still a slightly better grade of fish. If anglers can get to their Erie spots and fish them right, 22 pounds can happen in a matter of minutes. But 22 pounds in a live well is useless if big waves cause a late penalty.

The day three weigh-in will begin a 4 p.m. this afternoon at the Cobo Center located at One Washington Blvd. in Detroit. The doors of the Cobo Center will open at noon to kick off the Family Fun Zone which precedes the weigh-in.

The Family Fun Zone is free and open to the public and provides fishing fans an opportunity to meet their favorite pros and get some hands on demonstrations of the latest and greatest fishing tackle and gear.

Saturday’s Conditions:

Sunrise: 6:09 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 60 degrees

Expected high temperature: 81 degrees

Wind: SW at 20 to 30 mph

Day’s outlook: Breezy with a 50% chance of thundershowers