Walleye anglers get wet
Rain expected throughout day two of FLW Walleye Tour event on Lake Sharpe
PIERRE, S.D. – Rain gear was the dominant fashion Thursday as anglers prepared for a wet day two of Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour action on Lake Sharpe. Morning showers are forecast to transition into steady afternoon rain, so the waterproofing trend is likely to last at least for the day.
After a beautiful, sunny day one, competitors fishing in this four-day event – presented by Berkley – will experience cooler temperatures today, and breezier conditions are likely. And while changing weather and barometric pressure affect fishing conditions, the shift doesn’t have to spell gloom and doom for the walleye bite. In fact, some tournament anglers welcomed it.
“It’s going to increase opportunity on my spot,” said pro Chris Pluntz of Coeur D’alene, Idaho, who sits in 55th place heading into day two.
Pluntz elaborated that he is fishing the popular West Bend area about 30 miles downstream, where the crowds of tournament boats have scared off many of his walleyes. Fishing a shallow pattern, he said the rain should decrease clarity while increasing noise in the water, which could lower his walleyes’ awareness of encroaching boats.
Todd Riley, winner of a 2002 Walleye Tour event on Michigan’s Saginaw Bay, is also fishing with the masses at West Bend, but he figures the wet weather will be little more than a nuisance for the long run down Lake Sharpe on the Missouri River.
“I really don’t think it’s going to have any effect whatsoever,” said the Amery, Wis., pro, who currenty sits in 104th place.
By way of explanation, Riley said anyone in the 134-boat field can catch walleyes “all day long,” but the larger bite – meaning fish 19 inches long or better – coveted by tournament anglers has been best for 
most in the afternoon. At most, today’s rain will move that target to a different part of the day, he said.
“The timing may vary, but the simple fact that there will still be a time window (for a better bite) won’t change,” Riley said.
Still, shifts in barometric pressure have been known to flip the switch on a walleye bite. The question is whether it will get switched on or off.
Logistics behind tournament stakes
A field of 134 pros and 134 co-anglers will compete in the tournament for their share of a $461,500 purse, including as much as $100,000 for the winning pro and $20,000 for the winning co-angler.
Pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day and fish for a combined boat weight. Pros compete against other pros, and co-anglers compete against other co-anglers. The full field competes during the three-day opening round for one of 10 final-round slots based on their three-day accumulated weight. Weights carry over to day four, with the winner determined by the heaviest four-day weight.
Since South Dakota is a no-cull state, anglers must decide whether to keep a walleye at the time they catch it. The minimum length for a keeper is 15 inches, while two walleyes over 20 inches are allowed. Eight walleyes may be kept on a boat, but only the best five from a pro and co-angler may be weighed in per day at the tournament.
Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points, with 150 points awarded to the winner, 149 to second, 148 for third, and so on. These points determine angler standings. The top 50 pros and 50 co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the 2008 FLW Walleye Tour Championship.
Local details
The shoreline between Steamboat Park and the American Legion cabin in Pierre will be the takeoff and weigh-in site at 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, Thursday and Friday. The final takeoff on Saturday will be hosted by Downs Marina at 7 a.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1730 N. Garfield Road in Pierre beginning at 4 p.m. The community is invited to attend daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public.
On TV
Coverage of the Lake Sharpe tournament will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program airing Aug. 24. “FLW Outdoors” is also broadcast in Canada on WFN (World Fishing Network) and to more than 429 million households in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world. The program airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time in most markets. Check local listings for times in your area.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:22 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 47 degrees
Expected high temperature: 54 degrees
Water temperature on the river: 44 degrees
Wind: E at 9 mph
Maximum humidity: 89 percent
Day’s outlook: showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon; ESE winds from 10 to 20 mph