Answer blowing in the wind
Walmart FLW Series anglers could struggle with windy conditions during today’s National Guard Western Division contest on Lake Havasu
LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – When Bob Dylan sang, “For the times they are a changin’,” he wasn’t necessarily referring to the fishing conditions on Lake Havasu. However, those lyrics couldn’t be more apropos for the full field of FLW Series Western Division anglers who undoubtedly will be fighting some severe winds throughout the latter part of Thursday’s round of tournament action.
With the National Weather Service issuing a severe wind advisory starting at noon today, anglers will likely be facing winds in the 20- to 30-mph range, with possible wind gusts clocking in as high as 40 mph.
Yes, the times they are a changin’.
“The wind is definitely going to affect the fishing today,” said FLW Series pro Jay Yelas of Corvallis, Ore. “The conditions will probably eliminate the sight-fishing bite, and it could affect a lot of the guys. And the wind, which I heard will get up to 20 or 30 mph, isn’t supposed to stop until sometime tomorrow.”
With approximately 70 percent of the field employing a variety of sight-fishing techniques, it’s possible that today’s conditions could dramatically reshuffle the leaderboard in both divisions.
However, despite the less-than-hospitable conditions, Yelas does see a silver lining – at least for the pros and co-anglers who are deft at changing on the fly.
“The wind is just part of fishing,” said Yelas. “You’re going to have to make adjustments. While the sight-fishing bite will be hurt, the wind could turn on the swimbait bite. It could also make the fish easier to catch on reaction baits. I think in the end, you’re still going to see some good stringers come in. They’re just going to be caught differently than yesterday.”
Although excessively windy conditions can be a nightmare for boaters, Yelas explained that the composition of Lake Havasu makes it less of a challenge than say fishing on the wide-open expanses of Lake Erie.
“As far as boating is concerned, it’s not too bad because this lake is pretty narrow,” said Yelas. “There are a lot of places to get out of the wind if it starts blowing real bad.”
So far, the conditions haven’t affected Tim Klinger of Boulder City, Nev. – who leads all pros with a one-day catch of 19 pounds, 5 ounces. Klinger, like the rest of the pro field, is gunning for the top prize of $125,000.
In the Co-angler Division, David Martin of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., currently holds the top spot with a total catch of 14 pounds, 5 ounces. Co-anglers are squaring off for a shot at the first-place prize of $25,000.
Tournament format
The entire field will compete during the first three days of the Lake Havasu event. The co-angler champion will be crowned after Friday’s weigh in based on the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 10 pros will then continue on to Saturday’s final day of competition. The pro winner will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.
In addition to the Lake Havasu bounty, all anglers will be competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for a shot at advancing to the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, where the winning pro will earn as much as $1 million – the sport’s biggest award.
Bass-fishing fans take note
During FLW Series competition, anglers will take off from Lake Havasu State Park/Windsor Beach located at 699 London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City at 6:30 each morning. For the first three days of tourney action, weigh-ins will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 5695 Highway 95 N. in Lake Havasu City beginning at 4 p.m. Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday’s weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. at Walmart. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include a trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games.
All activities are free and open to the public.
Want to watch the weigh in live but can’t make it in person? Then tune into FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com shortly before 3 p.m. PDT to watch live streaming video and audio of Thursday’s opening-round weigh-in.
FLW Series action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. PDT at Lake Havasu State Park, located at 699 London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:32 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 57 degrees
Expected high temperature: 81 degrees
Wind: NNW at 20-30 mph
Maximum humidity: 16 percent
Day’s outlook: partly sunny