Columbia River combat commences
Wal-Mart FLW Series National Guard Western Division anglers vie for $1 million total purse on expansive, windy waterway
TRI-CITIES, Wash. – With a crisp chill in the air and relatively clear skies above, the full field of FLW Series anglers departed Columbia Point Marina shortly after 6:30 a.m. Wednesday amid a backdrop of one of the greatest stretches of river in the continental United States. From Sept. 19-22, anglers will do their utmost to unlock the keys to the mammoth Columbia River basin, which covers some 260,000 square miles, from its headwaters in British Columbia, Canada, to its mouth at Astoria, Ore.
However, it won’t be easy. For starters, this tournament represents the very first foray into the state of Washington for the Wal-Mart FLW Series, which means that most anglers will be relatively green when it comes to strategic assessments of this gigantic waterway. Secondly, while rivers tend to pose their own unique challenges for anglers, regardless of the venue, the Columbia River stands alone as one of the most complex and grandiose waterways in the country.
But for all of its majesty, the Columbia River can be less than forgiving for anglers who don’t pay careful attention to the weather at all times. The reason: the wind. With long stretches of unencumbered shoreline, the Columbia River often acts as a giant wind conduit with gusts of 50 mph or more not entirely out of the question. And with huge wind come huge swells. And with that come huge headaches for anglers.
“What is the key today? Definitely the wind,” said FLW Series pro Lewis Milligan. “Every day the wind is going to be the biggest factor.”
According to Milligan, if the wind blows hard, the Columbia River will tend to fish smaller, as most boats won’t be able to make long runs. As a result, the few local community fishing holes nearest the marina will have plenty of boat traffic which, in turn, will suppress stringer weights across the board.
“If the wind picks up, the swells get so big out there we won’t be able to travel too far. And locking down will be a disaster,” said Milligan. “There’s a bend in the river about 40 miles from the marina that people won’t be able to get around if it’s too windy. If that happens, you’re going to see a lot of the boats bunch up in a just a few places.”
In addition to the wind and weather, anglers will have plenty of other things on their mind this week, not the least of which is the lucrative prize money. In the Pro Division, anglers will be competing for a first-place check of $125,000 while co-anglers will be shooting for the top prize of $25,000.
Tourney format
Per tournament rules, the entire Columbia River field will compete in each of the first three days of tournament action. Top prize in the Co-angler Division will be awarded to the angler who nets the heaviest accumulated three-day total weight. After the third day of competition, the pro field will be whittled down to the top 10 anglers based on overall weight during the first three days. During Saturday’s final day of competition, the pro winner will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight over the course of the entire tournament.
Although the prize money allocated for the eventual champion is significant, the lucrative total purse at the Columbia River will also offer up a nice payday for a good chunk of the field, including a minimum $10,000 cash prize through 50th place and a guaranteed $2,000 minimum payout through 75th place in the Pro Division alone. In addition, all anglers in the tournament will be competing for valuable year-end standings points in the hope of qualifying for the BP East-National Guard West Fishoff and a shot at advancing to the $2 million, 2008 Forrest Wood Cup, where the winning pro will earn as much as $1 million.
FLW Series Western Division action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. Pacific time at Columbia Point Marina, located at 660 Columbia Point Drive in Richland, Wash.
Can`t make the weigh-in in person? Then watch it on FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com beginning at 3 p.m. Pacific.
Wednesday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:40 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 42 degrees
Expected high temperature: 72 degrees
Water temperature: 65-68 degrees
Wind: NNE at 10-20 mph
Maximum humidity: 43 percent
Day’s outlook: partly cloudy