Going where the wind blows
EverStart Central contenders brace for strong winds on Kentucky/Barkley
BENTON, Ky. – Weights were solid on day one of EverStart Series Central Division competition on Kentucky Lake, but whether or not competitors can expect a repeat may be blowing in the wind.
According to day-one leader Travis Fox of Rogers, Ark., the wind itself wouldn’t affect the bite; it merely affects whether or not anglers can get to their holes. Kentucky/Barkley is vast, and it is not at all uncommon for contenders to make runs of an hour or more south. A 15-mph wind would make that a jarring ride.
“They’re going to bite either way,” Fox said of how Kentucky Lake bass will behave in today’s changing weather conditions. “The wind is just going to make for a tough boat ride. I don’t think it’s going to bother me.”
Yesterday’s weigh-in saw the top three pros weigh in bags totaling more than 23 pounds. While Fox says we can expect to see a few more heavy stringers, weights could fall a tad today.
“I don’t know about three 23-pound bags, but I expect to see another three or four over 20,” he said. “I would about expect weights to double. Guys are figuring out what’s going on and getting more confident.”
However, there were some pros who hauled in big weights yesterday that chalked it up to nothing but luck. If their luck doesn’t hold and someone else picks it up, the standings may look pretty different heading into the final day.
“There’s probably going to be some people who didn’t catch them yesterday flip flop,” Fox said.
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 Moors Resort and Marina, located at 570 Moors Road in Gilbertsville, Ky., at 6:30 each morning. Friday’s weigh-in will also be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at Walmart, located at 310 West Main Street in Benton, at 3:30 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.
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 2:30 p.m. Central Time to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s opening-round weigh in.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 6:39 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 40 degrees
Expected high temperature: 61 degrees
Wind: From the west-southwest at 15 mph
Humidity: 74 percent
Day’s outlook: few showers