Finals within ‘sight’
EverStart Series Texas Division anglers to rely heavily on bedding bass in order to survive Friday’s top-10 cut on Toledo Bend Reservoir
HEMPHILL, Texas – As the full field departed the Fin & Feathers marina shortly after 7:15 a.m. amid overcast skies and moderate temps, anglers were all too aware of what is at stake during Friday’s EverStart Series competition. With a top-10 cut looming and nearly 100 anglers scheduled to be sent packing after today’s action, anglers will attempt to make a desperate push to qualify for Saturday’s finals.
But how they make that push and which on-the-water strategies, tactics and techniques they employ will be key. Although some anglers will target fish holding to grass and offshore stumps and points, the majority of the leaderboard will be sight-fishing – keying in on those massive females holding their ground on beds as they wait to spawn.
In short, if there is any hiccup in the sight-fishing bite today, bass-fishing fans most likely will see a major shakeup of the leaderboard. Conversely, if the sight-fishing bite is on, there are still plenty of big fish available to allow mid-ranked anglers to make a dramatic leap up the standings. Either way, sight-fishing should play a major role in today’s tournament action.
“I’m going sight-fishing today – plain and simple,” said EverStart Series pro Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas, who currently resides in 24th place with 17 pounds, 9 ounces. “Right now the water is clear, and there doesn’t appear to be much wind. I need a big sack today – something around 22 pounds to qualify for the finals – and that’s the best way to get it.”
Tutt says that while other techniques will be employed during today’s competition, sight-fishing should rule the day.
“Some guys are fishing Carolina rigs and fishing offshore grass beds, but I would say that about 70 percent of the top 10 guys are sight-fishing, and that’s going to play a big role in who makes the finals and who doesn’t,” said Tutt. “Sight-fishing is a boom-or-bust type of situation. It’ll definitely be interesting to see what happens.”
Because the fishing has been so good this week, Tutt continues to believe that anglers will need a two-day average just shy of 20 pounds to qualify for the finals.
“It’s been an excellent bite here this week,” said Tutt, who has fished Toledo Bend since he was 8 years old. “I think the tournament came here at the perfect time. You can catch fish anyway you like – almost any technique will work. And because of that, I think it’s going to take about 38 pounds total – 19 pounds a day or a little more – just to make the cut. And for me, sight-fishing is probably the best way to get to that weight.”
Tourney format
During EverStart 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. The full field competes on days one and two, 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 ultimately will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all three days.
Anglers will take off from the Fin & Feather Resort, located at 245 Fin & Feather Drive in Hemphill, Texas, 7:15 a.m. each morning. Friday and Saturday weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m.
Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Pros will fish for a top award of $35,000 plus a 198VX Ranger boat with 200-horsepower outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger 177TR with 90-horsepower outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
The EverStart Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of four tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the Strike King Angler of the Year title along with $5,000 for the pro and $2,000 for the co-angler. The top 40 pros and co-anglers from each respective division will qualify for the EverStart Series Championship that will be held on Kentucky Lake in Buchanan, Tenn., Oct. 27-30.
EverStart Series action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at the Fin & Feather Resort, located at 245 Fin & Feather Drive in Hemphill, Texas.
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 Friday’s weigh in.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7:22 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees
Expected high temperature: 82 degrees
Water temperature: 65-70 degrees
Wind: SSW at 4 to 11 mph
Humidity: 65 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy