The quest for the Cup begins

Recent rain, cooler temperatures change playing field of Forrest Wood Cup

COLUMBIA, S.C. – At 7 a.m. on Thursday, 77 of America’s best bass pros fanned out across Lake Murray in search of a million dollars’ worth of bass as the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup got under way in Columbia, S.C.

For only the second time in history, a $ 1 million dollar payday is on the line for the one pro who can bring in enough bass to claim the Forrest Wood Cup.

All total, it is four days of competition. The full field of 77 pros will fish Thursday and Friday with a top-10 cut being made at the conclusion of Friday’s weigh-in – then the real excitement begins.

Weights will be zeroed and the top 10 pros will essentially fish a two-day tournament over the weekend for a possible $1 million first-place prize.

At the takeoff ceremonies this morning, some pros seemed a little unnerved by the all-day rain which saturated Columbia during Wednesday’s official day off, when pros were not allowed on the water.

After four days of bright, hot August skies during the practice round, more than 2 inches of rain fell across central South Carolina yesterday, cooling the surface temperatures at Lake Murray by some 5 to 6 degrees.

Such a change in conditions just before the start of the Forrest Wood Cup is bound to have an impact.

Deep-water specialists from the Carolinas – such as Anthony Gagliardi and David Fritts, who invested a lot of time in prepractice scouring Murray’s lake bottom for hidden gems – were grimacing a bit this morning over the sudden rain and cooldown.

“I didn’t really need this,” Gagliardi remarked about the change. “I don’t think it’s going to hurt what I’m doing; it’s just really going to help those guys going down the bank.”

Those “guys going down the bank” that Gagliardi refers to are the visitors to his backyard who plan on using the unexpected weather break to their advantage.

There’s little doubt that top pros such as Andy Morgan, Clark Wendlandt and Bryan Thrift will be burning up the shallower banks of Lake Murray this morning.

“I was getting a few bites in practice when the water was hot,” Morgan smiled. “This little cool-off should only help things. I think it’s going to be a tournament of speed – who can make the most casts, flips and pitches in a day. Don’t think too much about putting something together; just go cover as much water as possible.”

For Wendlandt, a 180-degree change from what he planned on doing in this tournament was being processed this morning.

“I came here with intentions of fishing deep, started leaning more shallow during practice, and that rain yesterday pretty much helped me make up my mind on how I’ll spend my day today,” the Kellogg’s pro hinted.

While several pros indicated that the cooler water should help the shallow fish bite better, no one was making any adjustments to their predictions on weight cuts for the top 10. Estimations of 21 to 24 pounds for two days seem to be the popular numbers for earning the right to fish for the million on Saturday and Sunday.

As for Thursday’s weather, Forrest Wood Cup qualifiers will enjoy a beautiful fishing day with temperatures reaching just a mere 84 degrees – some 10 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year in South Carolina.

Logistics

Morning takeoffs each day of the Forrest Wood Cup (Aug. 14-17) will begin at 7 a.m. at Lake Murray Marina and Yacht Club located at 1600 Marina Road in Irmo, S.C.

Weigh-ins each day will begin at 5 p.m. at the Colonial Center located at 801 Lincoln St. in Columbia.

The Forrest Wood Cup is also much more than a fishing tournament; it’s a week-long fishing festival that includes the Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show, which will be located next to the Colonial Center at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center on Lincoln Street.

The Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show features free fishing giveaways for kids, fishing-themed games, plenty of pros on hand to sign autographs and answer questions, fishing seminars and retailing opportunities for outdoors equipment of all kinds.

The doors to the Family Fun Zone and Outdoor Show will open at 2 p.m. Aug. 14-15 and 11 a.m. Aug. 16-17.

Thursday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:45 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 67 degrees

Expected high temperature: 84 degrees

Water temperature: 82 degrees

Wind: light and variable

Day’s outlook: 30-percent chance of rain