The Lake Shasta snow show
Stren Series Western Division anglers brave frosty conditions in opening event of 2008 season
REDDING, Calif. – Although the full field awoke to less-than-ideal fishing conditions and a shiver in their collective spines on the first day of tournament action of the 2008 season, Stren Series Western Division anglers could hardly argue with the scenery at hand. With gorgeous snow-draped hillsides and a thick blanket of clouds forming an eerie, low-hanging atmospheric ceiling, the vista at Bridge Bay Resort marina was nothing short of remarkable at opening-day takeoff.
However, with a total purse of $275,000 on the line during the course of the four-day event – scheduled to run from Jan. 9-12 – anglers had little time to relax and soak in their surroundings. Bundled from head to toe and battling the stinging chill in the air, anglers frantically finished their pretourney prep work and departed the marina shortly after 7:30 a.m. PST.
“We’re going to go after the big ones first thing in the morning with some of our larger baits,” said Stren Series angler Tony Thomasy, who argued that swimbaits will likely be the bait of choice for most of the field. “If we have to slow it down as they day goes on, we’ll do that.”
Despite the less-than-stellar conditions, many anglers said it could have been a lot worse. “Yesterday it snowed here very heavily,” said Thomasy. “You could barely see 100 yards at times. There was snow everywhere. Yesterday there was about 6 inches of snow on the dock we’re standing on.”
Although the northern California area is still reeling from a series of massive storms that brought 50-mph wind gusts, torrential rains and plenty of snow, the National Weather Service is calling for a gradual easing of conditions throughout the week. By Saturday’s Stren Series finals, the temperatures should be heading into the mid-60s with plenty of sun mixed in.
“The weather has changed quite a bit over the last few days, but we should see some gradual improvement as the tournament progresses,” said Thomasy.
According to Thomasy, stringers in the range of 15 to 16 pounds are still a distinct possibility on Lake Shasta even with the current conditions.
“If you can catch 30 pounds (total) after three days of competition, you should be able to make the (top-10) cut,” he said.
Tourney format
During Stren Series competition, pros supply the boats, fish from the front deck against other pros and control boat movement. Co-anglers fish from the back deck and compete against other co-anglers. Anglers are permitted to weigh in their best five bass each day. Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points that determine angler standings. Two hundred points are awarded to the winner, 199 points for second, 198 points for third, and so on. The full field competes on days one, two and three, with the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers advancing to the finals based on their three-day accumulated weight. Winners are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.
Pros will be fishing for a top award of nearly $70,000, assuming contingency guidelines are met, while co-anglers will be angling for a first-place prize of $30,000.
In addition, competitors will be vying for valuable points that could earn them a berth in the $1 million Stren Series Championship, slated for Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8.
Stren Series Western Division action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. PST at Bridge Bay Resort, located at 10300 Bridge Bay Road in Redding, Calif.
Can`t make the weigh-in in person? Then watch it on FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com beginning at 3 p.m. PST.
Wednesday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7:33 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 41 degrees
Expected high temperature: 50 degrees
Wind: NE at 5 mph
Maximum humidity: 82 percent
Day’s outlook: cloudy