Kentucky-Barkley back up

Third Stren Series event of Central Division revisits Kentucky Lake

MURRAY, Ky. – The Stren Series Central Division began its third event of the 2008 season this morning at 5:30 a.m. on the banks of Kenlake Resort near Aurora, Ky.

If you are thinking that the Stren Series Central has already visited Kentucky Lake once this year, you are right. In fact, the last Stren Series Central Division event was held on Kentucky Lake back in May out of Moors Resort in Benton.

So why is the Central Division back on Kentucky Lake again?

Actually, this Stren Series event was scheduled to be held on the Mississippi River in Ft. Madison, Iowa this week. But due to catastrophic floods along the Mississippi last month, the tournament was forced to a new a location and Kentucky Lake was the back up plan.

As 170 boats filed out of Kenlake Marina this morning, there were few complaints among the anglers about the change in venues. The massive Kentucky-Barkley lakes complex is a popular stop among tournament anglers at all times of the year. Whether you like to fish shallow or deep, power or finesse, run far or stay close, these two huge impoundments have something for every kind of fishing style.

“What’s not to like about Kentucky Lake?” chuckled Yamaha pro Terry Bolton who is probably the most excited about the change in venues. Bolton now lives in Arkansas but used to live near the lake and has fished it all his life.

“It’s the dog days of summer and it’s hot, but on a lake like this that has so many fish in it, it’s still going to be a good tournament,” Bolton offered. “It might not take as much weight to win as it did back in May or June when the deep fish were more predictable, but guys are still going to catch some decent sacks of bass.”

In May, Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo., won the second Central Division event with a four-day total of 64 pounds, 7 ounces and it took 45 pounds, 5 ounces to make the top 10 after three days.

“The fish are not as grouped up on the ledges as they were back then,” Bolton said. “There has not been as much current running through the lake the last few days and that really has the fish scattered. Instead of being positioned nice and neat on the key ledges and breaks, they’re kind of roaming around all over in packs. I’ll see a few on the graph and try to catch those, but then a little school will surface up on the flat and I’ll go chase those. Then I’ll run over another little group of fish on the depthfinder trying to get to the schoolers, so they’re just kind of all over the place and it can be like chasing ghosts.”

Bolton also mentioned that the sheer number of tournaments that Kentucky Lake has hosted over the past few months has educated the fish immensely.

“They’re a lot smarter than they were two or three months ago,” he laughed. “They know the make and model of every plastic worm and jig that comes by them now. Heck, I think they’ve even wised up to the old shakey head here.”

Another unique twist to this event are the tournament hours. FLW Outdoors’ normal 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours have been amended to 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to respect the resource and help keep the fish alive in the summer heat.

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Kenlake Marina located at 888 Kenlake Marina Lane in Hardin, Ky., at 5:30 each morning. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins also will be held at the marina beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 809 N 12th St. in Murray, Ky., beginning at 3 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

The Kentucky-Barkley lakes Stren Series tournament is hosted by the Marshall County Tourist Commission.

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.

Wednesday’s conditions

Sunrise: 5:53 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 76 degrees

Expected high temperature: 85 degrees

Water temperature: 81 degrees

Wind: NNE 5 to 10 MPH

Day’s outlook: 20% chance of thunderstorms