LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – The weather couldn’t be nicer, but the fishing will likely be less accommodating as Stren Series anglers work the cool waters of Lake Havasu Thursday in an attempt to make their first Western Division cut of the season.
Only nine five-bass limits – out of 400 anglers – crossed the scale on day one thanks to a tough bass bite. The main reason is the season: It’s balmy and Arizona-sunny outside, but beneath the water surface it’s still chilly. Anglers reported finding water temperatures below 50 degrees in a lot of areas, but most say those readings are rising daily.
“I think the fish are just on the edge of moving up to spawn,” said pro Brent Lyon, who placed sixth Wednesday. “I think, if you catch one, there are plenty of them around it. They just don’t seem to want to eat.”
Due to the variable water temps, rising and falling water, and steep banks of the Havasu impoundment, anglers are having to fish at a variety of depths in search of transitioning fish. Lyon, for instance, said he caught fish anywhere from 5 to 25 feet Wednesday.
“I’m fishing as slowly as possible,” he said. “It’s painful because you cast it up there and you know it will be five minutes until you get it back to the boat. You just have to have enough confidence to know that the fish are there.”
Another variable is the target fish: largemouth or smallmouth. Lake Havasu offers both, and it seemed like many of the top pros on day one had a whole lot of smallies in their sacks. The leader, Robert Lee, caught nothing but smallmouths.
Both the Pro and Co-angler divisions will be cut to the top 20 apiece, based on two-day combined weight, following Thursday’s action.
Day-two weigh-in festivities begin at 3 p.m. Mountain time at Lake Havasu State Park located at 699 London Bridge Road in Lake Havasu City. All four days’ weigh-ins will be held at the same location.
Thursday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 7:35 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 50 degrees
Expected high temperature: 79 degrees
Water temperature: 50-58 degrees
Wind: NW at 8 mph
Maximum humidity: 24 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny