SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – Big winds can be bad out on the water. Throw in the threat of lightning, and you have a truly dangerous combination. Hence, the decision to cancel Day 1 of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Central Division opener on Lake Guntersville. With today’s action canceled, weather permitting, the entire field will fish Friday and Saturday in a two-day shootout, the second such event of the 2023 season.

“We have strong winds right now, with 25 mph gusts out of the south, which is the worst for this lake and is one concern,” said Toyota Series Tournament Director Mark McWha. “The bigger concern is the severe-weather threat this afternoon. All the schools around here are canceled because there’s such a real legitimate threat. And it’s unfortunate the timing is right at weigh-in.”

Meanwhile, for anglers, the decision was tough but seen as the right one.

“It’s disappointing because you want to go,” said local pro Casey Martin. “The weather right now doesn’t look too bad, but around weigh-in time it’s supposed to get really rough with the wind and storms. So, I think it’s the right call. There’s no reason to jeopardize people’s lives.”