Final battle for Fort Madison title

Pro and co-angler champions to be crowed after today’s Stren Series Central Division competition on the Mississippi River

FORT MADISON, Iowa – As the top-10 Stren Series Central Division finalists departed Captain Kirk’s Marina shortly after 6:15 a.m. Saturday morning, anglers were finally treated to some truly welcome news on the weather front. For the first time in days, the National Weather Service is calling for sunny skies, modest winds and a zero chance of rain.

After battling through brutal conditions throughout the tournament – conditions so difficult that only six five-fish limits have been recorded by the entire field in two straight days of fishing – anglers were more than happy to shelve their rain jackets, don sunglasses and concentrate on the business of fishing without having to worry about 5- and 6-foot waves crashing over their bows.

Ah yes, back to the business of fishing. With the lion’s share of the $275,000 total purse on the line and double-digit stringers once again a possibility in today’s competition, anglers will now take aim at a tournament title. However, with a quality field in play and plenty of expert river anglers in the top-10 mix, securing that title will be far from easy.

Currently, Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio, leads all pro competitors with a total catch of 18 pounds, 7 ounces. Meanwhile, Brad Baldwin of Dayton, Ohio, maintains the top spot in the Co-angler Division with a catch of 7 pounds, 11 ounces.

Although Shaffer has said repeatedly that he’s worried about the fishing holding up in his prime fishing area, the Ohio native isn’t about change up his gameplan just yet.

“I’m going back to the same area to start with and hopefully there will be a fish or two left,” said Shaffer. “But I might be practice fishing after that.”

According to Shaffer, sunny skies in today’s competition will be an added bonus. But unlike most of the field, weather hasn’t been Shaffer’s primary Achilles heel throughout the competition.

“The sun is going to help but the weather wasn’t going to bother me one bit,” said Shaffer. “I’ve been pretty much out of the wind all week. What’s really going to affect me is how much they drop the water today. I’m fishing real shallow and if they drop the water, some of the places I’m fishing are going to be very difficult to get into. I’m just going to have to go out there and fish like I’ve been doing.”

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.

Throughout today’s competition, the top-10 pros and top 10 co-anglers will compete one final time on the Mississippi River. The winner in each division will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all three days of competition.

Pros will fish for a top award of $65,000 which includes $25,000 cash plus a 198VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a MinnKota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will be angling for a first-place prize of $35,000, which includes a top award of a 177TR Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and trailer and $5,000 in cash if the co-angler meets the Ranger Cup guidelines.

In addition, competitors will be vying for valuable points that could earn them a berth into the Stren Series Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala., Nov. 5-7 for a shot at $150,000 in the Pro Division and $60,000 in the Co-angler Division.

Stren Series action continues at today’s final weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. at the Walmart store, located at 324 West Agency Road in West Burlington, Iowa.

Bass-fishing fans take note

Want to watch the weigh in live but can’t make it in person? Then tune into FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com shortly before 3 p.m. Central Time to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s opening-round weigh in.

Ranger Boats to unveil all-new Z521 Comanche

This week bass boat fans can also check out the official unveiling of the new Ranger Z521 Comanche, scheduled to be shown Aug. 22 in Fort Madison, Iowa.

Specifically, the Ranger Z521 will be available for viewing 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 during the final Stren Series weigh-in, slated to take place at the Burlington Walmart Supercenter, located at 324 West Agency Road, Burlington, Iowa.

Vital statistics:

Sunrise: 6:23 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 57 degrees

Expected high temperature: 74 degrees

Water temperature: 75-79 degrees

Wind: From the north-northwest at 12 mph

Maximum humidity: 69 percent

Day’s outlook: Sunny