Klinger clings to Havasu lead

Nevada native successfully navigates wind-swept landscape to maintain first place at National Guard FLW Series Western Division event

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – Dodging 20- to 30-mph winds, heavy swells and all-around nasty conditions, day-one pro leader Tim Klinger of Boulder City, Nev., showed once again why he’s a consummate pro. With nearly half the top-10 pro leaderboard changing hands after the second day of competition, Klinger proved to be one of the few constants in an otherwise turbulent day of tournament action.

“It was tough out there today. It’s really hard to (sight-fish) with this wind,” said Klinger, who recorded a two-day total of 33 pounds, 4 ounces. “Luckily, I was able to do some sight-fishing early before the wind started to blow. But I didn’t get my limit until about 11:30 a.m.”

Klinger said that he is generally fishing very shallow, targeting a variety of spawning beds he found in practice.

“I have one little spot that’s worked out pretty good for me,” said Klinger. “The water is fluctuating a lot in that area, and if the water is too shallow, those bass won’t bite. There are a couple of 6-pounders swimming around that I still haven’t caught yet. I also left a 4-pounder that I tried to catch for about 20 minutes. But I figured I can go back there Friday or Saturday and try to catch it then.”

Klinger also said he’s running a pretty far distance to an area that is rather difficult to navigate.

“It’s a wonder I make it there and back every day,” said Klinger. “It’s pretty dangerous. There are a lot of rocks in that area. And when the wind blows, it’s harder to control your boat, so you really have to watch out for those rocks. But hopefully it will all pay off in the end.”

Klinger – who is coincidentally a member of the National Guard fishing team, the primary sponsor of the Lake Havasu event – said that he feels like he has enough fish to make a serious run at the tournament title.

“I think if I had a bad day, I’d still be able to come back with 10 to 12 pounds,” he said. “But I have the potential to catch a 20-pound sack every day.”

With the tournament title starting to come into view, Klinger said he is beginning to feel the pressure.

“Overall I feel pretty good. I’m pretty excited,” he said. “But I’m probably not going to get much sleep tonight.”

Folkestad moves up in the standings

Veteran pro Mike Folkestad of Orange, Calif., leapfrogged from third place to second overall on the strength of a 32-pound, 9-ounce catch over the first two days. Folkestad’s rise up the leaderboard was attributable to some outstanding angling as well as the decline of Mike Goodwin, who dropped from second place to 26th-place overall in today’s competition after succumbing to the windy conditions that gave plenty of anglers fits.

“With these conditions, it’s a question of making the right choices,” said Folkestad. “I go to places where I can fish instead of fighting the wind. But it’s tough out there. Hopefully I can do the same thing tomorrow.”

Bailey climbs the Havasu ladder

After sitting in ninth place after yesterday’s competition, Shaun Bailey of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., turned on the afterburners, using a 31-pound, 10-ounce total catch to gain possession of third place.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top five pros at the Lake Havasu event were Cody Meyer of Redding, Calif., (fourth place with 30 pounds, 7 ounces) and Zack Thompson of Orinda, Calif., (fifth place with 30 pounds, 3 ounces).

Meanwhile, Ron Johnson of Chandler, Ariz., walked away with the day’s Big Bass award in the Pro Division after netting a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass.

Albury takes over top spot in Co-angler Division

Fishing in only the third FLW Outdoors event of his career, Lester Albury of San Marcos, Calif., is already starting to make a name for himself. After two straight days of consistent finishes, Albury now finds himself atop the leaderboard within sight of a tournament title.

“It feels good,” said Albury, who finished with a two-day catch of 23 pounds, 2 ounces. “All I can do is go out there and keep casting. I have to keep casting and keep trying.”

Like many anglers, Albury said today’s conditions were among the most difficult he’s ever seen.

“To be honest with you, I don’t think I’ve ever fished in weather this rough,” he said. “The wind was blowing all over the place. It was blowing the boat around, and it was really hard to cast.”

While a tournament title would be icing on the cake, Albury said he needs to maintain his focus if he’s to have a realistic chance at netting the top award.

“I’m going to have my work cut out for me this tournament,” he said. “There are lots of good fishermen out there, so I can still end up in the middle of the pack if I don’t fish well.”

Best of the rest

Hideki Maeda of Sakai-City, Osaka, Japan, grabbed hold of second place overall in the Co-angler Division with a total catch of 23 pounds.

Debbie Carnahan of Flagstaff, Ariz., used a two-day catch of 21 pounds, 3 ounces to net third place. In addition, Carnahan won the day’s Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division after landing a monstrous 6-pound, 2-ounce largemouth.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers were J.R. Wright (fourth) of Truckee, Calif., with a catch of 20 pounds, 15 ounces, and Taylor Parson (fifth) of Sutter Creek, Calif., with a catch of 19 pounds, 6 ounces.

Day three of Lake Havasu competition begins at 6:30 a.m. PDT at Lake Havasu State Park, located at 699 London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.