Bring on day two

Pros forget the past and go forth in search of better bags

OAKLEY, Calif. – The Delta giveth and the Delta taketh away, but anglers who experience the latter half of that truism can come back the next day confident they’ll have better luck.

By most measurements, day one of the season-ending Walmart FLW National Guard Western Division tournament was definitely a taketh away affair. Though 78 of 118 pros and 27 of 94 co-anglers weighed five-fish limits, nobody stepped on stage and said they were satisfied with their catch, even pro leader Scott Nielsen and co-angler leader Dan Cranston, who weighed 22 pounds, 5 ounces, and 15 pounds, 10 ounces, respectively.

Perhaps local pro Ishama Monroe put it best when he said, “”This is the California Delta. There are so many 3- to 5-pounders in this lake it’s ridiculous. When you come in with 16 pounds you can figure on 40th or 50th place. I expected a 20-pound bag but it just didn’t happen.”

Instead, the Delta native, who grew up in nearby Brentwood, weighed 16 pounds, 3 ounces, which was good for 13th place. Today he’s looking for a much heavier sack.

“I’ll burn up the water and catch as many fish as I possibly can,” Monroe said. “At some point I’ll get that big bite.”

The tide is always a factor on the Delta. Most pros agree that at peak time the prime bite lasts for 20 minutes to one-half hour. You must cash in during that peak bite, a fact Monroe knows well.

“Today we’ll have the outgoing (tide) right away in the morning,” he said. “After that first hour it’ll be slack and then it will be coming in. The low incoming is a tough time to fish. The big ones seem to like the high outgoing.”

Tough is the only way to describe the first day for pro Bob Cepek of Vacaville, Calif. He finished in 116th place with 2 pounds, 1 ounce, and said he’s confident he’ll to do better on day two.

“One thing about the Delta,” Cepek said, “is that you can always move up. With the wind change and the weather change we’ll be looking for a better bag today.”

Indeed, the unseasonably warm weather – day one’s high hit 84 degrees – is about to be swept away on an incoming Canadian cold front that will kick up winds today in the 30-40 mph range. Like most other pros, Cepek doesn’t like to fish in the wind and said staying out of it will be key.

As for Leon Knight, just getting along with his co-angler will be key. The Tehachap, Calif. pro drew his mother, Darlene Knight, who is walking on crutches after breaking her ankle. Son and mother launched together for perhaps the first time in FLW history Thursday morning.

“I’m glad they have that rule that says the pro makes all the decisions,” Knight joked as he motored away from the docks.

Logistics:

Anglers are launching from Russo’s Marina in Bethel Island, Calif., at 7:15 each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 2:00 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be at the Wal-Mart in Antioch, Calif., beginning at 4 p.m. Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday’s weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. at Wal-Mart. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include the Kellogg’s trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. All activities are free and open to the public.

Day-two weather:

Temperature at launch time: 57 degrees

Wind: From NW at 7 mph

Barometric pressure: steady at 29.95 inches

Today’s forecast: Sunny and windy with a high temperature of 76 degrees. Winds will be N-NW at 20-30 mph with occasional gusts over 40 mph.