Day two begins
EverStart Series Eastern event under way at Santee Cooper
MANNING, S.C. – Day two of the Eastern EverStart Series on Santee Cooper lakes is under way. Four hundred anglers blasted off at 6:30 a.m. for another gorgeous day of fishing. Forecasted highs today are supposed to be in the low 80s.
Those anglers that topped the 20-pound mark yesterday can breath a little easier today, but they will still be hunting some in-the-cut insurance.
“I better go in there and catch at least one or two today,” said Sandy Melvin of Boca Grande, Fla., about his honey hole that produced 25 pounds, 7 ounces yesterday. “You never know when this lake will turn on and these guys will start toting up loads of bass.”
For others like Roger Crafton, also of Boca Grand Fla., the pressure is on. Crafton is the cut man with 12 pounds, 4 ounces. He will be scratching for everything he can get today.
Santee Cooper took the day off yesterday and did not provide the kind of heavy weight fireworks that it had been this spring. “I have fished tournaments here for five weeks in a row, and I have had 20 to 25 pounds per tournament,” said Brent Riley of Ridgeville, S.C., “Then yesterday I go out and catch just two bass. Something has changed and I am going to have to figure it out today.”
Some anglers are speculating that the lower lake (Moultrie), which has been the most prolific lake the last few weeks, has finally given out. Moultrie has been the clearer lake, and a major wave of fish has already spawned there. Fishing pressure has also taken its toll on the lower lake.
For this tournament, Lake Marion, the bigger lake, may be the ticket. Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va., toted 26 pounds, 9 ounces out of Marion in short order yesterday.
Past EverStart champion Ricky Shumpert of Lexington, S.C., is favoring Marion this week, too. Shumpert is in 24th place with 10 pounds, 9 ounces. “It might be won out of the upper lake this week,” he speculated.
The weigh-in at John C. Land III boating facility at 3 p.m. today will tell the tale.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:15 a.m.
Temperature: 51 degrees
Water temperature: 57 degrees
Forecasted wind: from the southwest at 10-15 mph
Relative humidity: 67 percent
Day’s outlook: abundant sunshine
Day-two links: