Shasta severance day

Stren Series Western Division anglers jockey for position in hopes of qualifying for Friday’s top-10 cut

REDDING, Calif. – As Stren Series Western Division anglers departed Bridge Bay Resort marina shortly after 7:30 a.m. (PST) for the open waters of Lake Shasta, there were some significant clouds looming on the horizon – both literally and figuratively. While overcast skies and misty mountain scenery dominated the landscape, anglers were also fully aware that come the end of today’s weigh-in, 140 pros and co-anglers would be given their walking papers and sent packing for home.

While today represents the last opportunity to win a berth in the finals by surviving today’s top-10 cut, the good news is that the field is so tightly packed together that plenty of anglers still have a realistic chance at fishing at least one more day.

Also, with temperatures expected to “soar” into the high 50s by late afternoon, the bite could pick up significantly. And if that materializes, a lot more anglers will have a decent opportunity to move up the leaderboard.

Currently, Chris Laskowski of Anderson, Calif., leads all Pro Division competitors with a two-day catch of 31 pounds. But while Laskowski appears to be pulling away from the rest of the field, nearly 20 pros sit within 2 pounds of the top-10 cut.

The Co-angler Division is even more tightly clustered. Currently, Matt Beller of Anderson, Calif., sits atop the leaderboard with a two-day catch of 22 pounds, 2 ounces. However, nearly 30 co-anglers are within 2 pounds of the top-10 cutoff.

But no matter how today’s action shakes out, it’s obvious that anglers will be counting on every ounce of fish they can possibly muster in order to advance.

Tourney format

During 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. Anglers are permitted to weigh in their best five bass each day. 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 full field competes on days one, two and three, with the top-10 pros and top 10 co-anglers advancing to the finals based on their three-day accumulated weight. Winners are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

Pros will be fishing for a top award of nearly $70,000 assuming contingency guidelines are met, while co-anglers will be angling for a first-place prize of $30,000.

In addition, competitors will be vying for valuable points that could earn them a berth in the $1 million Stren Series Championship, slated for Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8.

Stren Series Western Division action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. (PST) at Bridge Bay Resort marina, located at 10300 Bridge Bay Road in Redding, Calif.

Can`t make the weigh-in in person, then watch it on FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com beginning at 3 p.m. (PST).

Vital statistics:

Sunrise: 7:33 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 45 degrees

Expected high temperature: 58 degrees

Water temperature: 42-49 degrees

Wind: From the north at 3 mph

Maximum humidity: 74 percent

Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy