Fog stymies takeoff, again

Top 10 FLW Series pros lose nearly an hour to fog delay

SOMERSET, Ky. – For the second time this week, fog choked the Cumberland River valley, shortening the Wal-Mart FLW Series final day of competition on Lake Cumberland.

Though not as severe as Wednesday’s fog delay which pushed takeoff back an hour and 45 minutes, today’s lost hour will likely impact some of the finalists, especially those making the long trek to the dam.

Once the fog burned off, bright blue skies were revealed, giving anglers the exact same conditions they had on days one and two.

Leading the boats out this morning was Sean Hoernke of Magnolia, Texas, who holds a slim 4-ounce lead over fellow Texan Mike Hawkes.

Hoernke, 29, is representative of professional fishing’s next generation. He has been steadily assembling an impressive fishing resume since he graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in marketing in 2000.

Hoernke’s career highlights include a Stren Series win on the Red River in 2003 and a BASS Open victory on the Red River again last fall. Today he’ll be gunning for his first national tour-level win in the FLW Series.

“This is all I’ve wanted to do since I was 16,” said Hoernke, who used to guide on Lake Fork but now fishes professionally full-time. “Last year things really starting clicking for me and this fall I kind of turned a corner with my last win. I feel like I’m fishing good right now and to win this event today would help solidify those feelings.”

The final weigh-in of the Lake Cumberland FLW Series will be held at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Somerset, Ky., this afternoon. The Fun Zone begins at 2 p.m. and the weigh-in follows at 4 p.m.

Saturday’s conditions

Sunrise: 6:39

Temperature at takeoff: 52 degrees

Water temperature: mid-60s

Expected high temperature: 71 degrees

Wind: NNE at 5 to 10 mph

Day’s outlook: mostly sunny