REDDING, Calif. – For the better part of a week, the National Weather Service had been calling for sunny skies and warm temperatures for Saturday’s Stren Series final on Lake Shasta. However, as it turns out, the forecasters fared about as well as the pollsters did at the New Hampshire primaries.
As Stren Series Western Division finalists departed Bridge Bay Resort marina shortly after 7:30 a.m. (PST), they did so amidst a backdrop of pouring rain and plenty of gray clouds. And while temperatures were expected to climb into the high 50s later in the afternoon, there was hardly a hint of the warmer weather to come as temps hovered in the low 40s around takeoff – making it the fourth day in the row that anglers were bundled from head to toe before they set foot in their boats.
But while weather is normally a huge factor – especially during the final day of competition on any tournament circuit – there were indications that today would be an exception. With Chris Laskowski of Anderson, Calif., holding a nearly 7-pound lead heading into today’s competition, the majority of the pro field seemed to be resigned to battle it out for second place.
“It’s tough. Normally when you’re in second place you want a chance to be able to win. But it’s going to be difficult to make up 7 pounds on this lake,” said pro Robert Lee, who currently sits in second place overall. “It’s hard. I need 15 pounds today period. And then I have to hope (Laskowski) stumbles.”
Lee said his task is compounded by the extraordinarily difficult bite that has been plaguing anglers all week on Lake Shasta.
“The bite is getting tougher every day,” he said. “Water levels are way down compared to last year. In fact, this is the lowest I’ve ever seen this lake. But with all of this rain, the water levels are starting to rise very fast. And the problem is that the fish are not rising with the water. Right now, 90-percent of the fish are suspended in 50 feet of water and they’re really difficult to catch. I’m running all over the place trying to find fish.”
While Lee wouldn’t exactly concede defeat, he also didn’t sound very hopeful for his prospects of hoisting the winner’s trophy at today’s weigh-in.
“I swung for the fences yesterday and it really backfired on me,” he said. “So today, I’m just going to fish conservatively and try to catch 9 or 10 pounds. I think in the end, there is basically just going to be a lot of switching around from second to 10th place.”
However, the Co-angler Division is a different story altogether. While Craig Kraft of Cottonwood, Calif., currently sits atop the leaderboard with a three-day stringer weighing in at 25-pounds, 12-ounces, the entire top-10 field is basically within 3 pounds of Kraft’s weight. In short, unlike the Pro Division, co-anglers will have a genuine battle on their hands for the tournament trophy.
Tourney format
Anglers are permitted to weigh in their best five bass each day. Every angler who receives weight credit 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. Today represents the last day of competition for the top-10 pro and co-angler finalists. The pro and co-angler who ultimately record the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days of competition will be declared the winner in each of their respective divisions.
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 final 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: 44 degrees
Expected high temperature: 59 degrees
Water temperature: 42-49 degrees
Wind: From the north-northwest at 2 mph
Maximum humidity: 74 percent
Day’s outlook: Heavy rain showers in morning tapering off in afternoon