Schoonveld seeks first victory
Stren Series veteran appears to have found winning formula
ZAPATA, Texas – With nearly identical conditions and a 7-pound lead, pro Dan Schoonveld appears to be in prime position to get the monkey off his back and claim his first Stren Series victory. In the past four years, he’s finished second three times – including a devastating runner-up finish at the 2007 Stren qualifier on Lake Amistad.
But this tournament looks different for many reasons. Schoonveld has located an extremely productive area that has churned out over 33 pounds both tournament days in less than three hours.
“I love these conditions,” Schoonveld said shortly before takeoff. “This is very similar to the past few days. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
Schoonveld is excited to see what his spot is truly capable of. After hitting 33 or 34 pounds in the opening round, he sat on his spot without fishing the rest of the day to protect it. Today there is no reason to hold anything back.
“I think it’s mainly a morning bite but you never know. It usually takes a little while to relocate them and follow them a bit. They get on the edges of the creek channel instead of the creek channel itself.”
Schoonveld once again plans to use a combination of Zoom Brush Hogs and Hag’s Tornados on Carolina rigs as he attacks his area, which he calls a transition zone for both prespawn and postpawn females.
“The Tornado is more my alternative bait. My primary bait is the Brush Hog. They’ve been it eating it up all week and I hope they don’t stop now. I won’t feel comfortable leaving for the community center today unless I have 35 pounds.”
Shortly after the 10 Stren finalists took off, the 40 teams competing in the first National Guard FLW College Fishing event ventured out onto Falcon Lake. If the previous two days were any indication, these young anglers will find it quite a treat.
The winners in both Stren Series divisions are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all three days.
Logistics
Pros are fishing for a top award of $25,000 plus a 198VX Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $7,500 to the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant in the contingency program.
Co-anglers are competing for a top award of a 177TR Ranger powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard and trailer. If the co-angler meets the Ranger Cup guidelines, they will earn an additional $5,000. If the winner is not a Ranger Cup participant, Ranger will award $2,500 to the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant in the contingency program.
The final Stren weigh-in will be held at the Zapata County Community Center located on Highway 83 at 4 p.m. The college weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at the Zapata County Boat Ramp.
On the Web
For those who can’t catch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, a free online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results, streaming video and audio.
Both the final Stren weigh-in and the college weigh-in will be streamed live.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7:28 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 54 degrees
Expected high temperature: 68 degrees
Water temperature: 60-64 degrees
Wind: SE at 7 mph
Maximum humidity: 71 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly cloudy