Walleye anglers face top-10 cut on Oahe
PIERRE, S.D. – The full field of 113 pros and 113 co-anglers fishing in the National Guard FLW Walleye Tour event on Lake Oahe are competing to survive Friday’s cut. Only the top 10 in each division, based on accumulated weight over the tourney’s first two days, will qualify to fish Saturday in the finale of the last event of the 2011 regular season.
Currently in the lead are pro Darrell Peters of Slayton, Minn., and co-angler Jeff Sass of Waupun, Wis., who were paired together on day one and brought in five walleyes weighing 21 pounds, 9 ounces. As competitors took off at 7 a.m. from Spring Creek Resort & Deep Water Marina for a second day of Walleye Tour action, Peters and Sass each held a 2-pound, 1-ounce lead over their closest competition. Like yesterday, Friday’s pairings were determined by random draw.
With at least one 10-pound walleye being weighed on day one, anything is possible today on Oahe in terms of who will amass the weight necessary to fish the final day. And much more than the top-10 cut is at stake – including the likely determination of the National Guard FLW Walleye Tour Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year – when the weigh-in unfolds this afternoon.
The stakes
In Walleye Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are casting for top awards of up to $63,000 in the Pro Division and $10,500 in the Co-angler Division. They are also competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the 2011 National Guard FLW Walleye Tour Championship held on the Missouri River in Bismarck, N.D., Sept. 22-25.
Additionally, competitors are vying for the coveted Angler of the Year title, which secures them a place in the 2012 Walleye Tour Championship as well as $10,000 for the pro and $2,500 for the co-angler. As the final tournament of the 2011 regular season, the Walleye Tour Angler of the Year and Co-angler of the Year will be determined this week on Lake Oahe.
Tournament details
Anglers competing in Saturday’s finale will take off from Spring Creek Resort & Deep Water Marina located at 28229 Spring Creek Place in Pierre at 7 a.m. Friday’s weigh-in will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart located at 1730 N. Garfield in Pierre beginning at 4 p.m. Prior to the final weigh-in, FLW Outdoors, in conjunction with the NPAA, will host a free Family Fishing Clinic, where children can receive free rod and reels plus other great giveaways. Fans will have the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, ride a Ranger boat simulator, enjoy interactive games and activities, and learn more about the sport of fishing. All activities are free and open to the public.
This week’s tournament is hosted by the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce.
For complete tournament details and updated information regarding associated events, visit Walleye Tour at Lake Oahe home.
On the Web
Today’s weigh-in will be broadcast over the Intenet via http://www.flwoutdoors.com/flwlive.cfm?type=bass FLW Live. Show time begins at 3 p.m. CDT.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Walleye Tour on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWWalleyeTour and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWOutdoors.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:57 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 72 degrees
Expected high temperature: 90 degrees
Water temperature at the ramp: 79 degrees
Wind: WNW at 9 mph
Maximum humidity: 59 percent
Day’s outlook: abundant sunshine and dry conditions with winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph