Craig Daily Press

Reservoir — A body of water collected and stored for future use in a natural or artificial lake.

Beginning today at Elkhead Reservoir, it’s what’s collected and stored inside the water that becomes a priority.

At least for the members of the American Bass Anglers fishing tour.

The five-weekend tour caps off its regular season today and Sunday at Elkhead — the closet venue to Craig this year.

Twenty-five anglers have participated in the season’s first eight events on Lake Powell, Pelican Lake, Starvation Lake, Steinaker Lake and Red Fleet Lake, each in Utah.

At the completion of the regular season Sunday, points will be added up and — like every other sport — the playoffs begin.

That’s what makes this weekend — “moving week” as ABA Tournament Director Steve Drake calls it — so important.

“As far as the regular season goes, this is it,” he said. “We have 10 events during the year, 12 including the (district) championship, and you only have to fish in seven of them. So, if you have a bad day, or take a weekend off, you can still make it.

“But, the guys who only have four or so events need to fish this weekend if they want to stay in the running.”

Seventeen are signed up.

To claim the District 92 championship, anglers must have seven events under their belt and have accumulated enough points.

To advance to the ABA regional event Oct. 11 and 12 in Kentucky, anglers must finish in the top four of their respective districts.

“The main goal is to go to the regionals,” Drake said. “It’s going to be a haul to Kentucky from here, but it’s always been a fun trip.”

Craig resident Alex Medrano Sr. currently sits in the top spot with 1,527 points and a district-high 46.55 pounds at the scales.

When considering this weekend’s two-day tourney, and the Aug. 16 and 17 district championship, points are at a premium.

If the current top-10 anglers compete in the final four events, the D92 Angler of the Year award is pretty much a two-man race between Medrano Sr. and Chris Baker.

Baker trails Medrano Sr. by six points, which on a descending point scale beginning at 200, isn’t a large amount.

Drake, who’s sitting in third, 24 points behind Medrano Jr., said the likelihood of one of the top-two anglers failing to accumulate any points this weekend is slim.

“For one of the top guys to come up with nothing, the chances are pretty small,” Drake said. “But, if you have a really good couple of days, technically there are 17 people still in it.”

Jesse Atwood is the dark horse.

Sitting in the ninth spot, Atwood has competed in only half of the season’s events but has reeled in 35.35 pounds — third highest in the district — to go along with three “Big Bass” awards in his four appearances.

Any slip-up by No. 8 Bob LeBleu or No. 7 Rod Thurgood opens the door for Atwood — who trails LeBleu by 14 points and Thurgood by 176.

But, in order to make a move on final weekend, you’ve got to catch the fish first.

John Vandelinder can be reached at 875-1793 or jvandelinder@craigdailypress.com