Searching for sanguinity

Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour anglers launch on day two with many questions, few answers

BULL SHOALS, Ark. – When the 104 boats launched Thursday morning amid a light rain, only a handful of anglers had anything to feel good about. Only 32 walleyes were brought to the scales on day one, and most anglers said they feel the bite has no alternative but to improve.

Pro angler Keith Reimer didn’t catch a walleye on day one, but knows Bull Shoals Lake is capable of producing better days.

“There are fish down there, but the bass and crappie are getting to the bait first,” said Reimer. “They are feeding at night, and then they are acting lazy during the day. They’re stacked tight along the bottom, and they’re not coming up.”

Veteran angler Ted Takasaki, who is currently in 7th place with only one fish, said it best when he described the competition on Bull Shoals as “just like a vitamin, all you need is one a day.”

After bringing in his 4-pound, 7-ounce walleye yesterday and examining it closely in his livewell, Takasaki revealed some enlightening information. “The fish are eating,” he exclaimed. Takasaki went on to say that his lone walleye spent yesterday throwing up approximately 20 shad. “When I saw it was puking, I realized I was losing weight and I started puking myself.”

The consensus among the anglers is that the walleyes are feeding at night, making fishing during the day a chore. Further proving this theory is the fact that nearly all of the day-one walleyes were caught before the sun came up, making the early morning bite crucial to an angler’s success.

FLW Walleye Tour anglers can take solace knowing today’s weather will again remain cloudy, possibly prolonging the morning bite.

Pro Jason Przekurat welcomes the rain and clouds. “I think the rain will improve the bite,” he said. “It’s a warm rain, so that’s a good thing. We hope the heavy cloud cover extends the bite an hour or two.”

Przekurat went on to make a bold prediction. “I think someone will bring in around 12 pounds again today.”

Anglers will weigh in their catches today beginning at 3 p.m. Central time, when the field begins returning to Bull Shoals Boat Dock on Route 178.

Thursday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:47 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 53 degrees

Expected high temperature: 62 degrees

Water temperature: 49-54 degrees

Wind: NNW at 16 mph

Maximum humidity: 76 percent

Day’s outlook: showers