Desert storm
Rain clouds move in as Stren Series Western Division anglers attempt to survive Friday’s crucial top-10 cut
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – Scattered rain, cloudy skies and a dreary overall outlook greeted anglers as they made their way past the Lake Havasu State Park marina shortly after 7 a.m. Friday morning. However, while rain wasn’t a welcome site for most, anglers are going to have to quickly put the inclement conditions out of mind as they head out onto the open waters of Lake Havasu in search of a berth in Saturday’s finals.
“The rain is definitely going to change things a little bit,” said pro Michael Tuck of Antelope, Calif., currently sitting in 17th place overall in the standings. “(Anglers) are going to have to slow down (their presentations) in this kind of weather. You have to remember, this lake is one of the most fickle we fish all season. Some guys who have been doing well could easily zero today. But the guys that make the right adjustments are the ones who are going to be fishing tomorrow. The cream usually rises to the top.”
According to Tuck, there will be some beneficiaries of the changing weather as well.
“Guys who are targeting smallmouth bass should do well,” he said. “As far as baits go, crankbaits, jerk baits, spinnerbaits – reaction baits – should be the deal today. But like I said, it’s a fickle lake. So we’ll have to see what happens.”
Currently, Justin Kerr of Simi Valley, Calif., leads all pro competitors with a total two-day catch of 28 pounds, 13 ounces. Meanwhile, Bob Diehl of Yucca Valley, Calif., sits atop the co-angler leaderboard with a two-day catch of 16 pounds, 14 ounces.
To be sure, there is a lot of money on the line. Pros will be fishing on Lake Havasu 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.
But after three straight days of completely different weather – cloud cover on day one, sunny skies on day two and rain on day three – the anglers who do survive today’s cut will have earned their money.
Tourney format
During Stren Series competition, 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 supply the boats, fish from the front deck, control boat movement and compete against other pros in their division. 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.
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 action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at Lake Havasu State Park, located at 699 London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 7:16 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 57 degrees
Expected high temperature: 63 degrees
Wind: From the south at 14 mph
Water temperature: 50-54 degrees
Maximum humidity: 45 percent
Day’s outlook: Morning rain giving way to cloudy conditions in afternoon