Back to work
FLW Series on Lake Champlain resumes for fourth, final day of action
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Thanks to Mother Nature, the Wal-Mart FLW Series pros fishing the BP Eastern Division on Lake Champlain got a day off work on day three.
After seeing what Lake Champlain looked like at about 10 a.m. Friday morning, few doubted that FLW Outdoors tournament officials made the right call.
Even Kellogg’s pro Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas, who finished just out of the top-10 cut by tie-breaker, commended FLW Outdoors on the decision.
“I was the first man out, and I didn’t even want to be out there,” Tutt said. “I’ll take 11th with the peace of mind in knowing that I didn’t have to be out there and that everyone in the tournament field remained safely on the bank.”
Gain pro Koby Kreiger added, “Anyone who thinks we should have fished yesterday does not need to be fishing tournaments.”
Most pros used yesterday’s time off to rest their aching bones after getting punished by big waves on Thursday.
“I iced my back down and gave it a good rest,” Kreiger said.
Several in the top 10 felt the canceled day did not hinder their chances for improvement. Most agreed that the day off not only let them rest but also let their fish rest.
“I think it probably worked to my advantage,” said tournament leader Danny Correia of Marlborough, Mass. “It alleviated a day of pressure on my fish and hopefully let my areas replenish. Just knowing my area got a break yesterday makes me want to get back out there today.”
Correia’s only concern was the wind staining up his best water.
“My best spinnerbait spot is right in that wind,” he said. “Wind is good to a certain extent in terms of roughing up the surface, but several days of it pounding into one area can color the water and kill the bite. But I don’t think the wind will impact my best drop-shot spot; it’s out deeper.”
Kellogg’s pro Clark Wendlandt had no reservations about his missed day either.
“I purposely saved a whole lot of water on day two for two more days of fishing,” he said. “Now with just one day left, I can’t possibly fish all the water I left alone. Other than that, I’m not too concerned about missing yesterday. I’ll just have to keep from getting too overwhelmed with the water that I’ve saved.”
As far as the conditions for today, the wind is still going to blow, but it’s forecasted to take more of a westerly turn, which makes a huge difference on Champlain in terms of having at least a bit of protection for running the big water.
The day-four weigh-in of the top 10 pros will begin at 4 p.m. at the Plattsburgh Wal-Mart.
Thursday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:24 a.m. 
Temperature at takeoff: 76 degrees
Expected high temperature: 79 degrees
Water temperature: 70 degrees
Forecasted winds: WSW at 15 to 20 mph
Day’s outlook: chance of rain 50 percent