Cold front covers Sam Rayburn
Temperature drops as Stren Series Texas Division heats up on cut day
JASPER, Texas – As the temperature sank significantly Friday, so likely did the hopes of many Stren Series Texas anglers that bass would move up to spawn in Sam Rayburn Reservoir today. But don’t expect that to have a cooling effect on competition, as Friday marks the cut, meaning only the 10 pros and 10 co-anglers with the heaviest three-day cumulative weights by day’s end will survive to fish the finals tomorrow.
Several pros said at Thursday’s weigh-in that Sam Rayburn’s largemouth population seemed on the verge of moving up to spawn, a process which might have begun as early as today with the right weather. But with temperatures only expected to reach the mid-60s today and partly sunny skies in the afternoon being the best-case scenario, it seems unlikely this four-day event will turn into a sight-fishing contest.
In fact, the shallow-grass bite that proved so effective for many during practice and through day one could be in jeopardy with the arrival of the cold front and a complete change in wind direction. Anglers were pulling bass from as shallow as 2 feet or less with Rat-L-Traps and other kinds of crankbaits along with certain soft-plastic presentations. The changing weather could mean that those who found success Carolina rigging deeper water, or those who can adapt to some type of deep-water pattern, may have an advantage today.
Pro leader Phillip Walker of Spring Branch, Texas, accumulated his two-day total of 37 pounds, 7 ounces fishing both deep and shallow, so he seems ideally suited to advance regardless of what Mother Nature sends the field’s way. Only 1 1/2 pounds out of the lead, local pro James Stricklin Jr. is one who had hoped for the fish to move up today; but he’s been moving to multiple sweet spots all over the lake this week, so if anyone can find a solid shallow bite Friday, he’d be a good bet.
Co-anglers must be adaptable to be successful since they fish with a different pro each day. So it comes as little surprise that the current leader – Rich Dalbey of Greenville, Texas – has amassed his impressive two-day total of 34-3 by adroitly fishing a Carolina rig in water as deep as 20 feet or a Rat-L-Trap as shallow as 2. With nearly a 5 1/2-pound lead, Dalbey is almost a shoo-in for the cut.
But as yesterday’s random and frequent weather swings illustrated, conditions can change on a dime at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The bite can be just as capricious, meaning anything can still happen here, and many still have a shot at victory.
Tournament logistics
Pros will fish for a top award of $25,000 plus a $40,000 198VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics if contingency guidelines are met. Ranger will award another $3,000 to the winner if he or she is a participant in the Ranger Cup program. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $1,500 to the highest-finishing participant in the contingency program. Yamaha or Evinrude will match 50 percent of Ranger Cup earnings if “Powered by Yamaha” or “Powered by E-Tec” guidelines are met.
Co-anglers will cast for a top award of $5,000 plus a $30,000 Ranger boat and trailer if contingency guidelines are met.
In 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. The full field competes on days one, two and three, with the top 10 pros and 10 co-anglers advancing to day four based on their three-day accumulated weight. Winners are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.
Event information
Anglers will take off from Umphrey Family Pavilion located at 5438 RR 255 W. in Sam Rayburn, Texas, at 7 each morning. Friday’s weigh-in also will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 800 W. Gibson St. in Jasper, beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
The Sam Rayburn Reservoir Stren Series tournament is hosted by the City of Jasper.
On the Web
For bass-fishing fans unable to attend the festivities in person, you can catch all the weigh-in action live at FLWOutdoors.com with FLW Live. Show time starts at 3 p.m. Central today.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:50 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 52 degrees
Expected high temperature: 64 degrees
Water temperature at the ramp: 56 degrees
Wind: NW at 9 mph
Maximum humidity: 100 percent
Day’s outlook: patchy drizzle or fog in the morning, becoming partly sunny; highs in the mid-60s with light and variable winds becoming N around 10 mph in the afternoon