Red River rendezvous
Stren Series Texas Division anglers prepare for scaled-down field in final regular-season event of 2008
NATCHITOCHES, La. – At approximately 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, a field of 92 pros and as many co-anglers departed Grand Encore Recreation Complex to kick off the start of the last regular-season event of the year in the Stren Series Texas Division. As the anglers hit the open waters of the Red River amidst sunny skies and decidedly balmy conditions, competitors raced to their prime fishing locations in search of the lion’s share of the $275,000 total purse.
However, while bountiful stringers won’t be easy to come by on the Red River – the result of typical late-summer conditions – the smaller field size should give every competitor an increased chance at winning the tournament title. Because of the devastation created by Hurricane Ike, many Stren Texas Division anglers were unable to make the long haul to Louisiana proper as gas and power shortages in their home state of Texas forced them to sit this event out.
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 $65,000 assuming contingency guidelines are met, while co-anglers will be angling for a total first-place prize package of $35,000.
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 Texas Division action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. CDT at the Grand Encore Recreation Complex, located at 234 Rufus Morgan Road in Natchitoches, La.
Can`t make the weigh-in in person? Then watch it on FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com beginning at 3 p.m. CDT.
Wednesday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 7:02 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 68 degrees
Expected high temperature: 89 degrees
Wind: ENE at 9 mph
Water temperature: 74-78 degrees
Maximum humidity: 61 percent
Day’s outlook: sunny