Favorable weather conditions dominate morning takeoff, half the field within striking distance of the semifinal cut
PIERRE, S.D.- With so many limits coming across the weigh-in stage on day one of the Wal-Mart RCL Walleye Circuit tournament on Lake Sharpe, a majority of anglers still have a realistic chance of making the semifinal-round cut later this afternoon.
“I feel as long as I catch about 10 pounds today, I can make the first cut,” said day-one leader on the pro side Jack Neuman of Naperville, Ill. “I am in a good position. There are a lot of fish out there to catch.”
With the forecast calling for beautiful blue skies, warmer temperatures and light wind, the 290 pro and co-anglers will be facing comfortable conditions today for the first time at an RCL event all season. Most anglers, not surprisingly, welcomed the change.
“Not being so cold is a good thing when you are out in a tournament,” said RCL pro Charles Johnson of Merrifield, Minn. “I think the morning bite will be good again. Yesterday, the bite in the morning was fast and furious. I caught plenty of fish, but had trouble getting slot fish. I just kept pitching.”
The slot limit can be a blessing in disguise for many anglers teetering on the edge of elimination. Since anglers in front of them cannot weigh any six fish they choose, one of the anglers sitting back in the pack can weigh a limit with two larger kicker fish and leapfrog into the top 20 to make the semifinal cut.
Pro anglers are competing for a first-place prize of $50,000 cash and a fully rigged Ranger, Crestliner or Lund boat with either a Yamaha or Evinrude engine. The co-anglers are competing for the top prize of $15,000 cash.
Following today’s 3 p.m. weigh-in at Steamboat Park near the American Legion in Pierre, the field will be cut to the top 20 pros and top 20 co-anglers. These anglers will advance to the one-day semifinal round Friday where they will compete for a spot in the final round. The top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers will advance to Saturday’s final round. Catch weights are carried over during the opening round, but anglers start the semifinal and final rounds from zero. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins start at 4 p.m. at the Pierre Wal-Mart located at 1600 North Harrison Ave.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 6:25 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 29
Expected high temperature: 62
Water temperature: Upper lake low-to-mid 40’s. Lower lake upper 40’s to low 50’s.
Water clarity: Stained in the upper lake, slightly clear in the lower portion of the lake.
Wind: WSW 9 mph
Relative humidity: 88%
Day’s outlook: Highs in the lower 60’s with winds from the WSW 5-10 mph with sunny skies.