Plenty of limits expected during four-day battle
PIERRE, S.D.- Cool temperatures and overcast skies greeted competitors this morning during the start of second tour event of the 2002 Wal-Mart RCL season on Lake Sharpe. Expectations are high among most anglers and limits should be fairly commonplace. So, what’s the drawback here? It has been rumored that there are no big fish.
“This tournament is going to be a battle of ounces,” said Ranger pro John Nelson of Wahkon, Minn. “My practice for the tournament went well. I caught an awful lot of walleye, just no big fish. You are going to have to keep the four biggest slot fish and make decisions on whether or not to keep fish measuring over 18 inches early in the day or throw it back and try for a larger fish. I bet there will be plenty of limits caught, If you catch a 4 pounder in your limit, you should do well.”
Each boat is allowed to keep four walleye measuring between 15 and 18 inches and two walleye measuring 18 inches or longer.
Finding warmer water could be the key to hooking Lake Sharpe walleye.
“You will want to find warmer water so you will find more active fish,” said Ranger pro Mike Kulm of Rapid City, S.D. “In the upper portion of the lake, the water is a bit colder than the lower portion, but there are fish all over the lake. You just have to find a couple of larger fish.”
While catching fish should not be a problem on Lake Sharpe, catching the right kind of fish is a little bit more tricky.
“There are tons of fish in this lake,” said Crestliner pro Wasyl Mirutenko of Hawthorn Woods, Ill. “The only problem I have been having is catching the right kind of fish. If this was a bass tournament, I would know just how to win it. I have been catching lots of smallmouth bass. They are so big, they look like footballs.”
To run or not to run. That is the question many anglers are asking themselves.
“I am a rookie on the RCL trail,” said Crestliner pro Gerry Mehowalb of Faribault, Minn. “I know there are good fish in the lower portion of the lake. The only problem is the long run involved. You can make it back with about a gallon of gas. If the water gets rough you can get stuck out there. Not to mention the other hazards, like sandbars and stumps, located just under the surface, but out of sight.”
Pro-anglers will be competing for a first place prize of $50,000 cash and a fully rigged Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat. Co-anglers will be competing for a first place prize of $15,000 cash. After the first two days of competition, the top 20 pros and co-anglers will advance to the semi-final round. On Saturday, the top 10 pros and co-anglers will compete in the final round.
Weigh-in today will be a 3:00 p.m. at the American Legion on Pierre Street, Pierre, S.D. Weigh-ins for days three and four will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 1600 North Harrison Avenue Pierre, S.D.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 6:26 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 41
Expected high temperature: 48-50 degrees
Water temperature: Upper lake – low-to-mid 40s. Lower lake – upper 40s to low 50s.
Water clarity: Stained in the upper lake, slightly clear in the lower portion of the lake.
Wind: Northeast at 3 mph.
Relative humidity: 89 percent.
Day’s outlook: Occasional rain with a high near 50 degrees. Winds north to northwest at 10-15 mph. Chance of rain is 90 percent.