ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. – Under cloudy skies and bundled from head to toe due to uncharacteristically frigid temperatures, 350 anglers representing 34 states officially kicked off the start of the FLW tour event on Lake Martin shortly after 6:30 a.m. today.

Although most anglers appeared to shrug off the cold – temperatures were hovering right around 43 degrees at takeoff – it was less clear how the fish would react. By most accounts, the fishing has been slow all week. And coupled with the fact that Lake Martin is not necessarily home to the largest fish when compared to other stops on this year’s FLW Tour, conventional wisdom states that most anglers won’t be bringing in huge sacks of largemouths and spotted bass – a smaller species of bass that comprises more than 70 percent of the entire bass population on Lake Martin.

But then again, a full field of determined FLW anglers can easily turn conventional wisdom on its head.

Today’s weigh-in is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at the Wind Creek State Park located about one mile east of Highway 63.

Vital statistics

Sunrise: 5:46 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 43 degrees
Expected high temperature: 54 degrees
Water temperature: 51 degrees
Wind: From the northwest at 12 mph, gusting to 18 mph
Relative humidity: 87 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy

For a look at all of the day’s photos, click here.