New fish, new beginnings
Final round of National Guard Open begins under warm, sunny skies
HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – With weights zeroed across the board and new fish moving up to the bank each night, any of the 10 pro finalists have a shot at winning the National Guard Open on Lake Norman and taking home the $200,000 first-place purse.
According to the anglers, the first wave of spawning bass have already come and gone. The second wave is at its tail end and the third and final wave will happen when there is a new moon.
“We’re in the second wave right now where there are a lot of fish, but the size isn’t all that great,” said sight-fishing aficionado Koby Kreiger. “The final wave won’t bring the numbers, but there will be some good ones.”
Kreiger mainly uses a white pearl Zoom Super Hog to catch bedding bass. It’s his go-to bait, not just because the bass the like it, but because he can see it himself.
“I can see it and they can see it. That sounds simple, but it’s very important. If I’ve got to stay off them a ways because they’re acting skittish I can still see my bait.”
Many of the finalists agreed that whoever wins this tournament will win it either fishing new water or fishing a shad spawn.
“I have no destination or waypoints for today, but I like fishing that way,” said Andy Morgan, who made the top-10 after finishing 11th and 12th the last two years on Norman. “I think doing well all depends on what happened last night. Whatever came up is primed to be caught today.”
Morgan thinks a shad spawn is a definite possibility today. In fact, he will spend 15 minutes first thing this morning looking for it.
“It always happens about this time of year and if you can find it, it’s something to take advantage of as an angler.”
Jim Moynagh is making his third consecutive top-10 appearance on Lake Norman. Instead of being at the top of the leaderboard, Moynagh has managed to stay under the radar. With everyone starting at zero today, the BP pro has a chance to announce his presence.
“I feel like I haven’t really tapped into this lake like I know I can,” said the Carver, Minn., native. “The plan is to throw the (Salmo) Skinner a lot this morning.”
Instead of mainly looking, Moynagh is dissecting docks thoroughly. Yesterday the result was a limit that consisted of solely spotted bass.
“The backbone of my tournament so far has been spots, which is a little surprising.”
Stetson Blaylock is making his first top-10 appearance as a pro on the FLW Tour. He did it with a jig and craw, something that isn’t supposed to work on Norman once the spawn begins.
“I guess I’ve proved that theory wrong,” he said. “Making my first cut is a big deal, but I’m not nervous, I’m excited. I think that whoever wins it will find new fish. The fish that are here today won’t be tomorrow. You’ve got to come across the right five and get them to bite.”
Logistics
Anglers take off at 7 a.m. each day from Blythe Landing located at 15901 North Carolina Highway 73 in 
Huntersville, N.C. Today and tomorrow’s weigh-ins will be held at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center located at 4751 Hwy. 49 North in Concord, N.C., beginning at 4 p.m.
In conjunction with the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The Family Fun Zone offers fans a chance to meet their Fantasy Fishing team anglers face-to-face and review the latest products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other sponsors while children are treated to giveaways, fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. Children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone on Sunday will receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. One lucky member of the audience will even win a new Ranger boat during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in Sunday, April 26. Admission is free, and you must be present to win.
On the Web
For those who can’t catch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, an online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results, streaming video and audio.
Saturday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:38 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 62 degrees
Expected high temperature: 87 degrees
Water temperature: 66-72 degrees
Wind: S at 13 mph
Maximum humidity: 44 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly sunny