Rock the boat

Northern Division anglers brace themselves for another day of strong winds on the Detroit River

TRENTON, Mich. – As American flags whipped in the wind this morning, EverStart Series Northern Division finalists could see it was going to be another rough and rocky day out there on the Detroit River.

With northeast winds expected to blow, the top 10 pros and co-anglers seemed undeterred, as they all pointed their boats in the same direction, presumably to the Erie hot spots that are known to produce so well at these events. After all, what’s a whitecap wave when there’s big money and prizes on the line?

Leading the pack with a 42-pound opening-round catch is Eric Struif of Lake Villa, Ill., who went out in boat No. 1 this morning with co-angler Dwight Ameling of Fremont, Ind. Struif indicated yesterday that he intended to return to his spot today despite the rough-and-tumble boat ride it takes to get there. Assuming his spot has not run dry – and that weekend warriors won’t be there practicing – Struif should have the area to himself today, as he shared it the first two days with at least four fellow EverStart competitors who will not be fishing today or tomorrow.

Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain pelted the Detroit area last night, with flooding reported in some areas of the big city. No word on what, if anything, the excess water will do to the anglers’ fishing holes.

The final 10 will weigh in their catches today beginning at 4 p.m. from the Wal-Mart store located at 7555 Telegraph Road in Taylor. The 10 will continue competition tomorrow, with the winners determined by heaviest two-day weight.

Friday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 7:22 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees

Expected high temperature: 73 degrees

Wind: from the northeast at 13 mph

Maximum humidity: 67 percent

Day’s outlook: cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late