Cutting through Florida’s frigid format
FLW American Fishing Series anglers attempt to brave frosty conditions, survive Friday’s top-10 cut on Lake Okeechobee
CLEWISTON, Fla. – As the full field departed Roland & Mary Ann Martins Marina & Resort shortly after 7 a.m. Friday morning, it was clear that change was in the air – literally and figuratively. The good news for the 147 pros and co-anglers who struggled mightily with Thursday’s gusting conditions is that the wind – which tortured the crucial sight-fishing bite for many anglers – has finally abated. The bad news is that the cold temps that blanketed morning takeoff on the opening day have only gotten colder.
With anglers bundled from head to toe and mist screaming off the lake as the sun rose over the horizon, anglers hit the open waters of the Big O with two distinct goals in mind – to stay as warm as possible while maintaining enough focus to catch a large enough stringer to advance to Saturday’s final round of competition.
However, while the temps remained unseasonably cold to say the least, many anglers were hopeful that the bite wouldn’t be negatively affected in the long run.
“So far, so good,” said fourth-place pro John Skipper, who turned in one of only four 20-pound-plus stringers in yesterday’s competition due to the excessively windy conditions. “The water temperature didn’t drop as much as I thought it would. So today’s conditions shouldn’t affect the fish that much. The wind dying down is a real blessing as well. And as the day goes on, it’s supposed to heat up pretty good. And that should help position the fish back on the beds – at least during the afternoon hours.”
Even though conditions have changed fairly significantly, Skipper said that he doesn’t plan on any radical shifts in strategy during the tournament’s second most crucial day of competition.
“I’m going to go to the exact same area I hit yesterday, get some good bites and head to my next spot,” said Skipper. “If that doesn’t work out, I’ll hit the holes where I know I can catch a smaller limit. But the key is getting that limit. Because when you have five fish in the boat, it really puts you ahead of the game.”
Tourney format
During FLW American Fishing 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 will continue to compete during today’s action, with the top-10 pros and top 10 co-anglers advancing to Saturday’s final round of competition based on their two-day accumulated weight. Winners will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all three days.
Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with 200-horsepower outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award of $10,000. If the co-angler meets the Ranger Cup guidelines, they will earn an additional $5,000.
The American Fishing Series consists of four divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast and Texas. Each division will consist of three tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points that could earn them a trip to the American Fishing Series Invitational on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., Nov. 4-6. The points champion from each division will qualify for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup and a fifth Forrest Wood Cup qualifier will advance from the Invitational that is open to the top 50 anglers from each division.
FLW American Fishing Series action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at Roland & Mary Ann Martins Marina & Resort, located at 920 E. Del Monte Avenue in Clewiston, Fla.
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. ET to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s opening-round weigh in.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:50 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 43 degrees
Expected high temperature: 66 degrees
Water temperature: 67-72 degrees
Wind: NNW at 10-12 mph
Maximum humidity: 40 percent
Day’s outlook: sunny with temperatures warming into the low to middle 60s