UMATILLA, Ore. – As FLW Series anglers departed Umatilla Marina shortly after 6:30 a.m. amidst sunny skies and moderate winds, anglers undoubtedly will be forced to put on their thinking caps for a second day in a row. While some anglers have been content to simply go with the flow, literally and figuratively, the vast majority of the competitors have been agonizing over strategy all week.
The questions are many. Do you head up river or down? Will the increased winds in today’s competition render some spots unfishable? Is it worth making a 150-mile roundtrip run such as day-one leader Ronald Hobbs Jr., did in Wednesday’s competition? Is it smarter to just concentrate on catching a five-fish limit of smallmouth bass or is it wiser to spend crucial fishing time targeting kicker largemouth bass?
While the answers to those questions are elusive, one thing is clear: There is little room for error in judgment.
“I think the key to winning this tournament just might be that largemouth bite,” said FLW Series and Chevy pro Jay Yelas. “In my 22 years of fishing, I’ve never been in a tournament where you’re only allowed to catch one largemouth – and that fish has to be over 17 inches. A 17-inch largemouth will usually weigh about 3 1/2 to 4 pounds so that’s a pretty good fish here. I really think that if you can catch one (regulation) largemouth a day you’ll probably win.”
With the exception of Hobbs (who currently holds a 4-pound lead over his next closest rival after boating a stunning 17-pound, 11-ounce stringer in Wednesday’s competition) the field is relatively bunched together. The end result is that it only takes a few ounces here and there to truly separate from the rest of the field.
But on the Columbia River, that’s easier said than done – especially if the wind picks up.
“The Columbia River is a just a funnel for westerly winds,” said Yelas. “It’s definitely going to be a little windier today so things are going to be a little more unpleasant. And some places are probably going to be unfishable. But, that being said, the fish are still going to bite.”
The question is: Who is going to be in the right place at the right time when those bites do come?
Tourney format
The entire field is scheduled to compete during the first three days of the Columbia River event. The co-angler who brings in the most accumulated over the course of three days will be crowned champion on Friday. The top-10 pros who survive Friday’s cut 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.
Anglers not only will be gunning for the tournament title but also their share of the lucrative $900,000 total purse. Throughout the week, pros will be battling for a top award of upwards of $125,000 while co-anglers will be angling for a first-place prize of $25,000.
In addition to the Columbia River purse, all anglers will be competing for valuable points in the hope of qualifying for a shot at advancing to the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup in 2010, 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 Umatilla Marina, located at 1710 Quincy Avenue in Umatilla, Ore., at 6:30 each morning. For the first three days of tourney action, weigh-ins will be held at the marina beginning at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 1350 N 1st St. in Hermiston, Ore., 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 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s opening-round weigh in.
FLW Series action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time at Umatilla Marina, located at 1710 Quincy Avenue in Umatilla, Ore.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 5:08 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 58 degrees
Expected high temperature: 83 degrees
Water temperature: 62-65 degrees
Wind: W at 10-20 mph
Maximum humidity: 34 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny