Big day on big water - Major League Fishing

Big day on big water

FLW Walleye Tour Western Division anglers face cut day on Lake Oahe
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Lake Oahe takeoff Photo by Patrick Baker.
June 25, 2010 • Patrick Baker • Archives

PIERRE, S.D. – A slight rain subsided just in time for the 7 a.m. FLW Walleye Tour takeoff Friday from Spring Creek on Lake Oahe. Though the 58 pros and as many co-anglers fishing in this Western Division event may face some minor weather challenges today, including stiffer early winds than yesterday, something else looms larger on the horizon: the top-10 cut.

After Friday’s weigh-in, only the 10 pros and 10 co-anglers with the heaviest combined weight from the first two days of competition will survive to fish Saturday’s finale. The stakes are big: Tourney anglers are competing for top prizes of up to $35,000 in the Pro Division and $7,500 in the Co-angler Division as well as points toward a Walleye Tour Championship berth.

The field weighed good numbers of fish Thursday on the opening day of the Walleye Tour event: 60 percent caught a tournament limit of five walleyes. And just like yesterday, the make-or-break factor today will be finding two walleyes over 20 inches to anchor an Oahe sack.

Chances of morning thunderstorms loomed on the horizon over Lake Oahe during the Walleye Tour Western event.

Tournament logistics, details

In Walleye Tour events, competitors are paired as a pro and co-angler per boat each day. They are allowed to keep eight walleyes – with a minimum length of 14 inches and only two fish allowed over 20 inches – and weigh their five best fish each day, sharing that weight for the day (pros and co-anglers carry each day’s weight for individual accumulated weight totals combined over three days).

The top 10 professionals and top 10 co-anglers, based on combined weight from days one and two, continue competition on the final day. Winners are determined by heaviest combined weight from all three days and are fishing for top awards of up to $35,000 in the Pro Division and $7,500 in the Co-angler Division.

The wind was blowing hard prior to takeoff on Lake Oahe as evidenced by the angle of the flag on the Walleye Tour start boat.

In FLW Walleye Tour competition, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2010 FLW Walleye Tour Championship to be held on Leech Lake in Walker, Minn., Sept. 23-25.

Anglers will take off from Spring Creek Resort and Deep Water Marina located at 28229 Spring Creek Place in Pierre, S.D., at 7 each morning. Weigh-ins will also be held at Spring Creek Resort and Deep Water Marina beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at Beck Chevrolet located at 500 S. Grant in Pierre beginning at 4 p.m.

For walleye-fishing fans unable to attend the festivities in person, you can follow the action in real time at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live, providing a live Walleye Tour leaderboard. Show time starts at 3 p.m. Central today.

Walleye Tour competitors wait for takeoff on day two at Spring Creek on Lake Oahe.Friday’s conditions

Sunrise: 5:58 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 67 degrees

Expected high temperature: 89 degrees

Water temperature at the ramp: 66 degrees

Wind: ESE at 12 mph

Maximum humidity: 61 percent

Day’s outlook: partly to mostly sunny with temperatures rising toward the mid-80s; SSE winds shifting to SSW at 10 to 15 mph