While a chill-down often hurts fishing, the drop to 40 degrees Monday night could actually help the fishing, McCullough said.

“Temperature that low is unheard of in May and it might put the fish in more of a springtime pattern rather than a summer pattern,” McCullough said. “And that introduces a wild card factor, if the weather stays fair and sunny – the possibility of sight fishing. There are still some bedding fish around.”

The tournament could be won in a variety of places and in a variety of ways, he noted.

“It could be won on the north part of the river or somebody could get on bedding fish down in Lake George, or they could go to Rodman and fish the way they want to. It’s going to be interesting.”

Rodman, he noted, is back to full pool this year after last year’s draw-down

“It did not get back up in time for the Wolfson last year, but this year it is full and fishing is outstanding over there.”

Out on the river, he said, if the fish are out where they should be this time of year anglers could find some post-spawn schooling and catch the fish on the moving tide on the sandbars, throwing a Bomber in fire tiger colors or a Carolina rig..

“And you can never discount somebody like Preston Clark just junk fishing, putting together a little piecemeal pattern, a milk run, and winning it that way,” he said.

McCullough said almost 500 boats have entered the tournament which has a guaranteed purse of $45,000 in cash and prizes. First place pays $10,000, with a $4,000 for second and $3,000 for third, with places paid all the way down to 21^st through 40^th place at $150 each.

The entry fee of $100 per boat also includes big fish,which pays $3,000 for first big fish and $1,000 for second big fish, plus $1,000 for Dash for Cash.

“We also have the Lads and Lassies Tournament on Thursday with an $80 entry fee and the VIP Tournament on Friday,” McCullough said. The 15^th annual Lads and Lassies Tournament, open only to male-female teams, will pay $1,000 for first place and $1,000 for big bass.

Proceeds from the tournament, which is the largest single-day bass tournament in Florida, help fund programs at the Wolfson Children’s Hospital. The tournament was begun when the director of Plant Facilities Department of Baptist Medical Center Downtown, along with several outside contractors, wanted to play a major role in funding capital improvements and technological advancements for the Children’s Hospital.

They created this tournament with the goal of making it the largest in the state raising money for kids. The tournament beneficiary, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, provides specialty care for sick and injured infants and children.

Wolfson Children’s Hospital Charity Tournament

Sat, May 18, 2013

St. Johns River

Palatka City Docks

http://www.wolfsonchildrens.org/ways-to-give/bass/Pages/default.aspx