Weather will play a critical role in how the RCL anglers will perform today as the first tournament of the 2002 season kicks off on the Detroit River. Chilly temperatures in the lower thirties greeted 300 pro and co-anglers at this morning’s launch. With highs only projected to be in the upper thirties to lower forties and wind steady from the northwest at 10-20 mph, only the hardiest will make it through day one on their way to $50,000 cash plus a fully rigged Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat for the Pro Division champion and $15,000 cash for the Co-angler Division champion.
“The weather has only been deteriorating over the last couple of days,” said Mark Dorn FLW Outdoors Director of Walleye Operations. “The weather is quite cold for this time of the year in Detroit and will have an effect on the anglers and fishing. Even with the cold weather and fairly cold water temperatures in the upper thirties, I expect to see some very large fish at the weigh-in today.”
Local anglers claim the largest females show up early in the spawning run, so many pros are keeping their fingers crossed.
“All I caught were small fish in practice,” said RCL pro Ron Gazvoda from Lakewood, Colo. “I know the big 10-pounders are here, that is why I came. With my practice being so tough, I bet it will only take 20 pounds or so per day to make the first cut. I did catch a few 4-5 pounders, but no big walleye.”
“My practice was okay,” said Ranger Pro Mark Brumbaugh from Arcanum, Ohio. “The weather is really cold and the water is not very warm either. We’ll see how it turns out.”
Add to the cold weather and water conditions the Detroit River is muddy thanks to the recent heavy rains.
“The water is dirty right now,” said Dorn, “but in my experience on the Detroit River, muddy water can cycle out within 24 hours and the conditions can change rapidly. It is like you flip a switch and the water clears, then warms up a couple of degrees. Then big female walleye start to show up, there might be some huge limits caught if this happens.”
After the first two days of the tournament the competition field will be cut to 20 pros and 20 co-anglers. After the third day of competition the field will be cut to 10 pros and 10 co-anglers for the final day of competition. The weigh-in for the final two days of competition will be held at the Wal-Mart which is located at 755 Telegraph Road in Taylor, Mich.
Today’s stats
Take-off: 7 a.m.
Air temperature at take-off: Low to mid 30’s.
Water temperature at take-off: Upper 30’s to lower 40’s.
Water clarity: Muddy on the US side of the river. Slightly clearer on the Canadian side.
Weigh-in time and location: 3 p.m. at Lake Erie Metropark at 32481 W. Jefferson Ave. Brownstown, Mich.