COLUMBUS, Miss. – It’s a cold day out there for competitors in the EverStart Series Central Division event on the Columbus Pool. Even though it’s mid-March, a cold front has folks across the South wondering if spring-like weather will ever come.

Making the cold and wind even less tolerable was the light mist that fell off and on during this morning’s takeoff, although showers are not currently forecasted. Temperatures topped out at around 38 degrees at launch, with the north wind making it feel more like 32.

Undeterred by the frosty conditions is current leader Will Dupler, a Columbus resident. In fact, Dupler claims that the cool weather is what turned his fish on. Others, like co-angler leader Michi Oba, say their fish like the sunshine, although Oba fared well beneath the clouds yesterday.

Even though it defies conventional wisdom, perhaps the cold front is what made the fish bite, as competitors brought in surprisingly heavy catches after nearly everyone reported dismal practices. If that is indeed the case, more of the same should be seen at today’s weigh-in before temperatures rise into the 60s tomorrow.

Today’s weigh-in begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Columbus Marina, located at 295 Marina Drive in Columbus.

Thursday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:01 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 38 degrees

Expected high temperature: 53 degrees

Wind: from the north-northeast at 8 mph

Maximum humidity: 64 percent

Day’s outlook: mostly cloudy