Finalists to fish under stormy skies
EUFAULA, Ala. – Thunderstorms rolled through eastern Alabama overnight and heavy rainsqualls greeted EverStart anglers this morning at Lake Point State Park marina. Around 6:30 a.m., however, the heavy precipitation lightened up just long enough to allow the top 10 pro and co-angler finalists to take off for the final round of EverStart Series Eastern Division competition at Lake Eufaula.
What effect, if any, will the heavy weather have on today’s competition? Anglers aren’t sure. Heavy rains can tend to slow down fish activity, but precipitation at Eufaula this week has historically had the opposite effect. Yesterday’s co-angler leader, Joseph Webster of Hamilton, Ala., had nothing but praise for the rain, saying the fish bit twice as well when clouds rolled in.
If that remains to be the case, the bass should bite extremely well this morning. The local forecast calls for a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 a.m.
Still, Operation Bass staffer Gary Peck wasn’t sure how the fish would behave today under stormy skies. “I don’t know,” he said. “Sometimes the rain turns them on big time. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Today is the fourth and final day of EverStart competition at Lake Eufaula. All competitors restarted the day with zero weight. The winning pro will receive $15,000 and a Ranger boat while the winning co-angler will receive $6,000.
Weigh-in begins at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 1218 South Eufaula Ave. in Eufaula.
Day-four vital statistics
Sunrise: 6:05 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 64 degrees
Expected high temperature: 72 degrees
Water temperature: 64 degrees
Wind: From the West at 5 mph
Relative humidity: 100 percent
Day’s outlook: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms