Starting shallow

Powroznik, Baumgardner looking to take advantage of early topwater bite on Kerr Lake

HENDERSON, N.C. – As bass chased shad around the floating docks of Satterwhite Point Marina early Friday morning, Stren Series Northeast Division semifinalists Chris Baumgardner and Jacob Powroznik were like two kids peering into a candy store that was not opened for business.

“Man, I’d like to throw a (Super)fluke over there and catch that one,” Baumgardner said, as a large bass splooshed a shad at the dock’s edge.

“Did you see that one?” Powroznik pointed, as another shad lost its life.

But this candy store is closed, since the marina dock is off limits to anglers in the tournament.

“Ma-an,” Powroznik lamented. “I’ll bet there’s 20 pounds of bass right here under this dock.”

Even though they have to go elsewhere to start their fishing day, both Baumgardner and Powroznik plan to start fishing shallow this morning.

Powroznik will rely on a big Pop-R P-70, and Baumgardner is going with a weightless Superfluke.

“My partner caught some pretty good ones on the fluke yesterday,” Baumgardner said. “I put one on and caught a couple of decent keepers, too. I’m going to give it more of a chance today.”

Powroznik will start shallow, but finish deep.

“I’ve been catching a few in 20 to 25 feet of water on an Ol’ Monster,” he said. “If I can’t get them going on the Pop-R this morning, I’m moving out.”

The top 20 pros and 20 co-anglers will weigh in this afternoon at the Henderson Wal-Mart starting at 4 p.m. Eastern

Friday’s conditions

Sunrise: 5:56

Temperature at takeoff: 61 degrees

Water temperature: 75-80 degrees

Expected high temperature: 86 degrees

Wind: NE at 5 to 10 mph

Day’s outlook: sunny and warm