LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. (March 26, 2009) - Tim Klinger of Boulder City, Nev., caught a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 15 ounces Thursday to retain the lead in the FLW Series bass fishing tournament on Lake Havasu with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 33-4.
Today, the National Weather Service issued a severe wind advisory starting at noon, anglers faced winds 20 to 30 mph, with wind gusts as high as 40 mph.
"It was really tough today," said Klinger, who is looking to win his third FLW Outdoors tournament. "I had my limit by 11:30 a.m. and didn't upgrade the rest of the day."
Klinger caught all of the fish he weighed in sight-fishing. He is targeting beds that he found in practice. "Today, I caught my fish on a little worm and flipping," he said. "I can't really say where my key spot is but there is plenty of fish to be caught. I can see some 6-pounders but I haven't been able to catch them. Maybe in the next few days I can get one of those.
"I am going with the same game plan tomorrow," he said. "I left a 4-pounder that I tried to catch for 20 minutes but couldn't because the water was low. The water fluctuates every day where I am fishing. It's a wonder that I make it to my key spot and back each day. It's dangerous but it will pay off."
Klinger now holds a slim 11-ounce lead over second place pro Mike Folkestad of Orange, Calif., who managed to haul in a total of 10 bass weighing 32-9 during the first two days of competition.
Rounding out the top five pros are Shaun Bailey of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. (10 bass, 31-10); Cody Meyer of Redding, Calif. (10 bass, 30-7) and Zack Thompson of Orinda, Calif. (10 bass, 30-3).
Ron Johnson of Chandler, Ariz., earned the day's $370 Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass.
Overall there were 432 bass weighing 979 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 105 pros Thursday. The catch included 63 five-bass limits.
Lester Albury of San Marcos, Calif., leads the Co-angler Division with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 23-2 followed by Hideki Maeda of Sakai-City, Osaka-Japan, in second place with 10 bass weighing 23-0.
"This feels really good," said Albury, who is fishing in only his second FLW Series tournament. "It wasn't an easy day though. I have never fished in weather this rough."
Albury had his limit by noon today throwing four different baits in 10-15 feet of water.
"Tomorrow, I will have my work cut out for me," he said. "I talked with my partner and he wants to fish the river and I didn't even practice there. I guess we will see what happens. My plan is to keep casting and never give up."
Albury caught five bass weighing 13-1 while fishing with Folkestad, Wednesday and five bass weighing 10-1 while fishing with pro Shinya Uesasa of San Mateo, Calif., Thursday.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Debbie Carnahan of Flagstaff, Ariz. (seven bass, 21-3); JR Wright of Truckee, Calif. (nine bass, 20-15) and Taylor Parsons of Sutter Creek, Calif. (eight bass, 19-6).
Carnahan earned $246 for the Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass she caught on a drop-shot while fishing with pro Michael Free of Milton, Wash.
Overall there were 188 bass weighing 398 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 77 co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 10 five-bass limits.
Co-anglers are competing this week for a top award of more than $20,000 as well as a shot at the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup.