Stren Series synergy
Top performers convene on Wheeler Lake
DECATUR, Ala. – Take five divisions of the Stren Series, hold four events in each division and then invite only the best 40 anglers from each division based on year-end point totals to a fishoff, and you have the best of the best of the Stren Series, otherwise known as the Stren Series Championship, being held at Wheeler Lake this week.
In all, 197 boats filled Ingalls Harbor on Wheeler Lake Wednesday morning, some coming from as far away as California, Nevada and Utah, for the day-one launch of the championship.
Many pros who have sampled the waters over the last week are expecting no miracles from Wheeler Lake.
“It’s regular old Wheeler Lake,” said Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, Ala. “Catch an 8-pound limit and then cull up with a fortunate 3- or 4-pound bite each day, and you’re probably going to the races Friday and Saturday.”
Fall fishing usually has Mother Nature throwing curve balls, but this week the water level is likely to be a bigger player than the weather.
Considering how frigid it can get the first week of November in northern Alabama, conditions are slated to be rather mild for the first two days of the championship.
This morning’s takeoff temperatures neared the 60-degree mark, and the wind was calm.
Also, there was no fog delay this morning, which is amazing considering the number of fog delays that have impeded the start of previous FLW Outdoors events along the Tennessee Valley, especially in November.
The water level, however, is what anglers are buzzing about – mostly because it’s rising. Over the last few days the water level has come up 2 feet.
“Cool rising water is usually not a good thing here,” said Newton. “Falling water is what groups these Wheeler fish up, especially out there on the Decatur Flats. If they started pulling water hard over the next couple of days, it could improve the bite, but so far it has been on the rise.”
Reports from the Decatur Flats, considered to be the heart of Wheeler’s fishery, are not good either.
“I can tell when the flats bite is off here because I start seeing a lot of boats in areas where there usually are no boats,” Newton added. “Normally, the flats absorb a majority of the fishing pressure. But so far in practice, that hasn’t been the case. There have been very few boats out on the flats. I’m sure a few guys will catch them out there, they always do, but I don’t think the flats bite will dominate the event like it has in past.”
Logistics
Anglers will take off from Ingalls Harbor at 7 each morning Central time. Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins will also be held at Ingalls Harbor, which is located on Highway 20 W. in Decatur, beginning at 3 p.m. For those who can’t watch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com provides FLW Live daily, a real-time viewing application that is the next best thing to being there.
As part of the festivities, Lynn Layton Chevrolet, located at 2416 Highway 31 S. in Decatur, will host Chevy Pro Night Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2800 Spring Ave. S.W. in Decatur beginning at 4 p.m. The community is invited to attend the Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday, features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy. Admission to all activities is free.
Pros and co-anglers will compete for two days on Wheeler Lake to determine the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers who will advance to the final round based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for the final round and co-angler competition concludes on day three with the winner determined by the day’s heaviest catch. Pro competition concludes on day four, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four.
The winning pro will earn an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger 519VX equipped with Lowrance electronics, a Minn Kota trolling motor and EverStart batteries plus $50,000 cash. If the winner is the original owner of a qualifying Ranger boat powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard that is used during the tournament, he will also receive a $25,000 bonus from Ranger and an additional $25,000 Evinrude/Yamaha bonus for a total award of $140,000.
The winning co-angler will receive a fully rigged Ranger 519VX plus $15,000 cash. If the winning co-angler meets Ranger and Evinrude or Yamaha contingency guidelines, he will also receive bonuses totaling $15,000 for a total award of $70,000.
Wednesday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:08 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 58 degrees
Expected high temperature: 70 degrees
Water temperature: 60 degrees
Forecasted winds: SW at 5 to 10 mph
Day’s outlook: mild with a 40-percent chance of rain