Capital offense
With lighter winds, FLW Tour pros can eschew defensive crouch for more aggressive approach on Potomac
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – As the full field of 154 pros and co-anglers departed National Harbor marina shortly after 6:30 a.m., FLW Tour anglers could at least breathe a sigh of relief that Friday’s conditions aren’t expected to be nearly as blustery as the opening day of competition on the Potomac River. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean today’s second day of tournament action will be easy.
With a top-20 cut looming in both the pro and co-angler divisions, anglers clearly will have their work cut out for them as they carefully navigate the wide open expanse of the Potomac River abutting the nation’s capital.
“Today should be a good day,” said 2010 FLW Tour Angler of the Year Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C. “The wind shouldn’t blow as hard today so people should be able to fish a lot more areas.”
Thrift, who currently sits in 28th place, knows that today’s competition is crucial if he is to remain in the running for a tournament title.
“I’m shooting for 14 pounds again,” he said. “If I can do that, I should have a pretty good chance at making the (top-20) cut.”
With the drop off in winds speeds, Thrift says that he should have a lot more flexibility today to pursue a bunch of areas that were effectively either unreachable or unfishable in yesterday’s competition.
“I’m fishing a typical grass pattern,” said Thrift. “I’m still running a good bit, but I think I’ll do a little more running today.”
On the other end of the spectrum were anglers like Koby Kreiger, who currently sits in 137th place and faces a long, uphill struggle to climb back in contention.
“So far this has been a bad rodeo for me,” said Kreiger, who struggled in yesterday’s windy conditions like so many of his fellow competitors. “The only area I had any faith and confidence in was absolutely pounded by the wind. As soon as I got there yesterday morning I knew it was going to be a long day.
“Today I might be able to catch something, we’ll just have to see,” continued Kreiger. `I think I’ll probably start this morning fishing riprap and then I’ll start fishing grass. Just like on Okeechobee, if you’re not fishing grass here, especially this time of year, you’re basically wasting your time.”
Tourney format
During FLW Tour 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. After Friday’s day-two weigh-in, both the co-angler and pro fields will be cut to the top 20. On day three, the co-angler champion will be crowned based on the field’s three-day accumulated weight. Also on Saturday, the pro field will be cut down to the top 10 pros. The remaining pro field will then compete during Sunday’s final round of tournament action. The pro winner ultimately will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.
Anglers will take off from National Harbor Marine, located at 137 National Plaza in National Harbor at 6:30 each morning. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Pros will fish for a top award of $125,000 and co-anglers will cast for a first-place prize of $25,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
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 p.m. Eastern Time to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s opening-round weigh in.
Daily on-the-water coverage will also be available online at FLWOutdoors.com. To see up-to-the-minute tournament updates, click here.
Fans will also be treated to the FLW Outdoors Expo at the National Harbor Marina, located at 137 National Harbor Plaza in National Harbor, Md., on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. prior to the final weigh-ins. The Expo includes Ranger boat simulators, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public.
In addition, during this week’s FLW Tour competition on the Potomac, anglers will be vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing.
Coverage of the Potomac River tournament will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS. “FLW Outdoors” will air Aug. 7 from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to more than 500 million households worldwide.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 5:44 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees
Expected high temperature: 79 degrees
Water temperature: 76-80 degrees
Wind: From the north-northwest at 11 mph
Humidity: 40 percent
Day’s outlook: Partly cloudy