Clouds, rain return for day two
Productive bass bite expected to continue
EUFAULA, Ala. – While the sun briefly threatened to brighten things up for today’s EverStart Series Eastern Division competition on Lake Eufaula, rain again prevailed shortly after the anglers took off from Lake Point State Park this morning. The forecast calls for continued cloudy conditions and scattered showers throughout day two of the opening round, but anglers didn’t expect the productive bedding bass bite to fall off much at all.
Pro Mike Mandes of Clayton, Del. – who weighed in five fish for 12 pounds, 5 ounces yesterday – and co-angler Mike Birge of Florala, Ala. – who placed third yesterday with five bass weighing 18-2 – took off in a later flight this morning. They hoped the later start will further increase their fishing success.
“The fishing will remain good,” Mandes said. “The fish (bite) will turn on later in the day.”
Also happy to see the clouds roll in was pro leader after day one James Nuckols Jr. of Rockwood, Tenn. He spinnerbaited his way in shallow water to a 22-pound, 14-ounce total weight yesterday, saying the cloud cover helped him land the big ones.
After today’s competition, both the pro and co-angler fields will be cut to 30 anglers apiece for tomorrow’s semifinal round. Yesterday over half the 330-person tournament field weighed in limit of five fish. Competition will be fierce today as anglers expect a continuation of five-fish limit production and a heavy weight total to be the cutoff point for both divisions.
Weigh-in begins today at 3 p.m. at Lake Point State Park located at 104 Lake Point Drive just north of Eufaula. The four-day tournament lasts through Saturday, when the winning pro will receive $15,000 and a Ranger boat. The winning co-angler will receive $6,000.
Day-two vital statistics
Sunrise: 6:08 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 54 degrees
Expected high temperature: 68 degrees
Water temperature: 62 degrees
Wind: From the North at 7 mph
Relative humidity: 82 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy, scattered showers