Anybody’s game
Day two will prove pivotal in four-day Central Division opener
BULL SHOALS, Ark. – If nothing else, day two of the Stren Series Central Division event on Bull Shoals should prove to be a good learning tool. Yesterday, crankbaits and jerkbaits dominated as warm, windy conditions graced the Ozarks. Those who attempted to fool deep, suspended bass likely returned empty-handed.
The Thursday forecast calls for thunderstorms early, then a complete clearing with chilly temperatures. The strong winds and occasional showers sound like perfect shallow-water jerkbait conditions. But what about later in the day when the skies clear? If yesterday was the perfect jerkbait day, then today might be the perfect finesse day. The wildcard is the wind. Too much of it could blow a finesse fisherman off his deep hole and make boat control a nightmare. On the other hand, stiff winds could create enough chop to cut down light penetration – making the jerkbait bite viable once again.
Anton Silvester was one of the few pros who caught fish yesterday without the use of hardbaits. Using a small finesse jig with a twin-tail grub on light line, Silvester caught three keepers that weighed 3 pounds, 7 ounces. Interestingly, he did not fish extremely deep water, instead targeting the 15- to 20-foot zone.
“I think the jig bite is going to turn on,” said the Staunton, Ill., pro. “A lot of guys who couldn’t catch them yesterday will have some opportunities today.”
The good news is that the weights were so low Wednesday that everybody has a realistic chance at making Friday’s top-10 cut. On the pro side, 10th place currently sits at 10 pounds, 14 ounces. On the co-angler side, just 3-15 is the current cutoff weight.
“It’s anybody’s tournament,” added Silvester. “We’ve still got at least two full days left.”
The day-two weigh-in will begin Thursday at 3 p.m. Central time at the Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock.
On the Web
For those who can’t catch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, an online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results, streaming video and audio.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:41 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 54 degrees
Expected high temperature: 56 degrees
Water temperature: 43 to 48 degrees
Wind: WSW at 26 mph
Maximum humidity: 57 percent
Day’s outlook: scattered strong storms early, clearing late