Just for fun

EverStart final round under way at prolific Lake Champlain

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – EverStart Series anglers seemed to be in a particularly good mood at takeoff Friday morning as they geared up for the first half of final-round competition in the Northeast Division. Perhaps that was due to the lack of pressure they felt after having made it through a tough cut round the first two days. More likely it had to do with the prospect of fishing another day at generous Lake Champlain, which tends to brighten any bass angler’s spirits.

“This place is absolutely the greatest fishery in the world, bar none,” said ninth-place qualifying pro Jason Knapp, who caught some 30 or 40 keeper fish Thursday by simply flipping tubes.

With more friendly weather on the docket for Friday, expect those kinds of catch rates again. The wind is down and the clouds are out, which means the topwater bite that so many pros talked about yesterday should be hopping again this morning. Air temperatures have dropped back down to more normal September levels, but about the only impact that will make on anglers is that they’ll have to zip up their jackets as they make their runs in the morning.

In short, the fall bass-fishing patterns should be hot today, so expect 10 boats to come back in this afternoon full of five-bass limits.

Everybody’s fishing for best two-day weight Friday and Saturday to determine the pro and co-angler winners of this event.

Day-three weigh-in festivities begin at 4 p.m. Eastern time at the Wal-Mart store located at 25 Consumer Square in Plattsburgh.

Friday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:34 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 58 degrees

Expected high temperature: 71 degrees

Water temperature: 66-70 degrees

Wind: NE at 5 mph

Maximum humidity: 81 percent

Day’s outlook: afternoon showers