87 teams hit the water this morning under cloudy skies and cool temps. Winds will not be a factor today, and temps are forecast to hit 59 degrees.

The river is not as high as usual this year due to low snow totals to the North over the Winter, and adjusting to the different conditions has been a challenge for some of the teams. The bite has been good for smaller fish (mostly males) and is reported to be pre-spawn. A couple teams WalleyeFIRST spoke to this morning were into a few bigger fish, so the general consensus is it will take 25# to 28# for the win.

Techniques include jigging, trolling, and hand-lining, generally accepted as standard operating procedure on the River. Berkley GULP! soft plastic worms and shad styles seem to be a universal presentation, and are reportedly out fishing live bait 4 to 1.

The weigh in will begin at 3PM, and given the field size should be complete by 5 PM.

Day One AM Images

Video

WalleyeFIRST coverage of the MWC is brought to you by Lund Boats !

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_0258.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_0337.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3892.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_0293.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3787.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_0266.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3836.jpg)

DSC_0258.jpg (52KB - 197 downloads)

DSC_0337.jpg (50KB - 207 downloads)

DSC_3892.jpg (52KB - 202 downloads)

DSC_0293.jpg (37KB - 189 downloads)

DSC_3787.jpg (32KB - 197 downloads)

DSC_0266.jpg (38KB - 204 downloads)

DSC_3836.jpg (37KB - 192 downloads)

The bite was absolutely stellar today, and according to most of the teams we talked to, looks to improve again tomorrow. Some of the teams 'lost' their fish due to the distance a school of fish can move on the river this time of year, while other stayed on the fish and smacked them around.

Weights were pretty much as predicted, with the Sandor's lead at 14-15. Meravy and Carr are just a bit back weighing 14.09. In third are Vivian and Pirnstill with 14.02. Fourth are Geitgey and Gullett with 14-01, and rounding out the top five are Plautz and Plautz with 13-13. It's crowded at the top!

Weather looks reasonably stable tomorrow. The teams leave the Boat Club at 7 AM and the weigh in begins at 3PM.

MWC Leaderboard

Day One Weigh In

Big Saugers of the Illinois River

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3905.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3959.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3938.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3951.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3941.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3961.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3903.jpg)

Zoom - | Zoom 100% | Zoom + | Expand / Contract | Open New window

(DSC_3962.jpg)

DSC_3905.jpg (66KB - 189 downloads)

DSC_3959.jpg (68KB - 176 downloads)

DSC_3938.jpg (81KB - 196 downloads)

DSC_3951.jpg (73KB - 193 downloads)

DSC_3941.jpg (65KB - 172 downloads)

DSC_3961.jpg (52KB - 180 downloads)

DSC_3903.jpg (53KB - 194 downloads)

DSC_3962.jpg (55KB - 179 downloads)