Wet ones at Lake Murray

Can Wet Ones pro Brennan Bosley keep it up on a rainy day four?

COLUMBIA, S.C. – With air temperatures in the low 40s this morning, competitors experienced the balmiest takeoff they’ve had yet this week on Lake Murray. Unfortunately, Mother Nature giveth, and she also taketh away, as the warmer temperatures came with a pelting rain that showered down on anglers as they took off in search of a $200,000 top Chevy Open prize.

Lake Murray surrendered multiple 20-pound-plus weights on days one and two, but the top 10 experienced a tougher bite on day three, with only Brennan Bosley and Anthony Gagliardi bringing in weights similar to those brought in by the leaders of the opening round. What hampered the bite yesterday was not immediately clear to the top 10 pros.

Some blamed the fishing pressure, others blamed the weather, but no matter what, no one is ever really out of contention at Lake Murray. The fish are huge and have proven this week that they’re hungry, and anyone can bust a huge stringer at anytime given those conditions.

However, Bosley and Gagliardi do seem to be the anglers to watch heading into the final day, as Bosley is obviously on some serious fish, having jumped from 74th to fifth to get into the top 10 and catching more than 47 pounds of bass the last two days. Gagliardi, however, is by far the local favorite, living in nearby Prosperity with years of Lake Murray knowledge.

The final showdown begins today at 4 p.m. Eastern time at the Wal-Mart store located at 2401 Augusta Road in West Columbia.

Saturday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 7:14 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 43 degrees

Expected high temperature: 49 degrees

Wind: from the north-northeast at 13 mph

Maximum humidity: 80 percent

Day’s outlook: occasional rain tapering to a few showers late