The potential is there
FLW Series National Guard Western Division finalists hoping Shasta gives up more of its bounty
SHASTA LAKE, Calif. – Shasta Lake has given up the quantity and the quality for three days; now FLW Series National Guard Western Division finalists are hoping for some of both.
Pre-tournament predictions of “big” catches topping out at 3 pounds went right out the window – no doubt, on the tail fins of a good half dozen fish of 4-plus pounds. Day one saw a 5-pounder, day three a 6 1/2. The real monster made a mistake on day two – this one weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.
FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans said: “That’s the biggest spotted bass I’ve ever seen in
person.”
Leading the final field, San Jose, Calif. pro Chris Zaldain brings a 1-pound, 8-ounce lead into the finale. He’s hoping at least one of those Shasta hogs will give his day a big start.
“I’m going to start off at the same place I’ve been starting off every day – it’s an offshore hump near the Shasta Dam with a drop-off on the side of it,” Zaldain said. “I’m going to position my boat in about 45-50 feet of water, make about a dozen casts with the swimbait and try to gauge what the fish are doing.
“If there are trout in the area, I may stick with the swimbait. If everything settles down and I see bait and fish 
on the bottom with my electronics, I’ll go ahead and throw the darter head with a Robo Worm and drag it real slowly across the bottom.”
Zaldain said that his offshore spot has produced several quality fish this week and its proximity to deep water ensures that it can replenish. About midday, he plans to run up the Pit Arm and throw reaction baits around the trees where current from creek inlets creates prime feeding areas.
“I’ll be in six feet or less (in the Pit),” Zaldain said. “The shad’s right up on the bank and birds working. There’s bait all over the place.”
Zaldain’s expectation for day four: “Realistically, I could come in with 10-12 pounds, but with one big bite it could be in the `teens.”
Here’s a look at what the rest of the top-5 anglers have planned:
2. Brent Ehrler
Known for his ability to grind out consistent performances, the National Guard pro from Redlands, Calif. has
done just that for three days. Nothing fancy, just good limits of fish that marched him from fifth, to fourth and now into second place. Ehrler will commit most of his day to trusted waters and hope that a big bite interrupts the grind.
“Today, my game plan is to hunker down in two little spots,” Ehrler said. “All of my bigger fish have been coming out of a couple little areas. The last two days, I’ve been done at 9:30 and 10:30 so I left them alone.
“Once I was done around 10:30, I rode around and looked for other stuff and never culled out once. So, to me, the smartest thing is just to get in those areas and grind it out and let the bites come. There’s a lot of big fish in these areas, so it could happen.”
Ehrler will fish Yamamoto baits on Picasso Shaky Heads and Tru-Tungsten Flea Flickers.
3. KC Harris
It’s no surprise that the local pro from Shasta Lake is fishing the final round. Harris has thrown finesse worms and tubes this week and today he’ll stick with the latter until he feels comfortable switching into big-fish mode.
“I’m going to start off throwing the tube and if I can get five decent ones, I’m going to probably go with the swimbait and try to get some big ones,” he said.
With long, tapering points as his main targets, Harris said he plans on staying mobile in an effort to prospect the lake.
“I think I’m going to move all over today,” he said. “I’m going to start on the Backbone Arm. The bite has been in the morning, so I’m hoping to get five quick ones and then go to work.”
4. Bryan McDermott
The Cottonwood, Calif., pro caught the event’s heaviest bag – 16-pounds, 8-ounces – on day two and that
hefty limit included a gargantuan spot that weighed 7-3. Adding a 4 1/2 to the bag, McDermott clearly demonstrated Shasta’s potential.
Wacky-rigged Senkos with nail weights have delivered most of his fish this week, but McDermott will see is Shasta is in a generous mood.
“Today is swing-for-the-fences,” he said. “I’ll probably start out throwing swimbaits and if the weather holds up, I may just keep doing that. It’s go big or go home.”
McDermott will primarily target main lake points, but if that doesn’t pan out, he’ll run up the Pit Arm and work the shallow wood. Senkos will be the bait of choice for the Pit game.
5. Jeff Michels
Moving up from sixth place on day three, Michels earned his top-5 spot mostly by worm fishing. Sticking with that strategy today, he’ll throw Senkos and the locally-made hand-poured Mother’s Finest worms. He’ll rig both worms on a homemade ball head jig that stands up and wiggles similar to a shaky head. If five keepers come quickly, he’ll switch to an Osprey swimbait.
“I’ve been catching an 8 1/2-pound limit in the first hour (each day). Hopefully, I can do that today and if I can, we’ll swing for the fences and hopefully get a few big bites.”
Logistics
Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Mt. Shasta Mall located at 900 Dana Drive in Redding beginning at 3 p.m.
Fans will be treated to a Family Fun Zone at the mall prior to Saturday’s weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. There will be a drawing for a $500 mall gift card, and drawings for rod and reel combos will be held every 30 minutes during the event. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include a trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. All activities are free and open to the public.
The entire field competes for the first three days of FLW Series events. Co-angler winners are determined on day three based on the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 5 professionals continue competition on day four, and the winner is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.
Saturday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 7:31 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 42 degrees
Expected high temperature: 51 degrees
Water temperature: 48-50
Wind: from the southeast at 5 mph
Max. Humidity: 80 percent
Day’s outlook: Cloudy, rain possible