Carolina course correction
FLW Tour anglers hope strategic shifts, weather changes will assist in effort to locate elusive ‘big bites’ on Lake Norman
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After Wednesday’s round of tournament action, plenty of FLW Tour anglers were left scratching their heads as to exactly what happened to the largemouth bass bite. While largemouth bass were there to be had in practice, yesterday’s conditions appeared to temper the feeding patterns of the “winning” species on Lake Norman.
So as the full field of FLW Tour pros and co-anglers departed Blythe Landing shortly after 7:15 a.m., they were hopeful that the increasing cloud cover and predicted steadier winds would aid them in their quest for those one or two big bites it takes each day to remain in contention.
“I hope they bite a little bit better today,” said FLW Tour pro Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., who currently sits in 76th place after landing a total catch of 9 pounds, 2 ounces during the first day of competition. “It was weird yesterday. The largemouth bass never really showed up. In practice we had no problem catching largemouths. I didn’t think I was going to catch 20 pounds yesterday, but I thought I’d have at least 12 pounds. But that didn’t happen.”
National Guard pro Scott Martin agreed that the bite was tough during the opening round of competition. However, he argued that today’s changing conditions might provide the spark that’s needed for a turnaround during Thursday’s action.
“Today is going to be totally different than yesterday,” said Martin. “Basically what’s happened is that the fish have held back (from coming up to the banks to spawn) because of all of the cold weather we’ve had. But it’s warming up and I think the bass are ready to move up. Yesterday, it was also very calm. We had very little wind and the lake was like glass. And that made the fish real spooky. But with the wind picking up today, I think the fish are going to bite a lot better.”
Martin also predicted that the warming weather will serve as a boon for both spectators and anglers alike going forward.
“Normally the catches go down after the first day because all of the easy fish have been picked off,” said Martin. “But I think this tournament will be just the opposite. So many fish are starting to move up that there are going to be a whole lot more fish to catch. You might see the weights go up exponentially today. It should be exciting.”
FLW Tour pro Dion Hibdon argued that a combination of weather and fishing pressure served to keep weights lower during the first day of competition.
“Yesterday was a complete turnaround from everything we experienced in practice. And I think the weather had something to do with that,” said Hibdon. “This is a big lake but there are only so many places where the tournament can be won. So you’re seeing a lot of fishermen in the same areas. And over the past few years, those good spots have experienced a whole lot more fishing pressure than what the fish are used to. And I think that’s made the fishing tougher. The FLW Tour has come to Lake Norman four years in a row so all the anglers know where the winning fish are. So now you have to fish the fishermen a little bit as well.”
However, despite the many obstacles anglers faced during the opening day of competition, Hibdon said that he sees the potential for a major shift in the fishing landscape going forward. But the real trick, he said, is getting those big bites.
“I’m kind of excited about going back out there today,” said Hibdon. “Hopefully there will be a little more breeze and the fish will bite better. But the key is getting those 4-pounders. Just catching one 4-pounder makes the difference between bringing in an 8-pound sack and a 10-pound sack. And if you can catch two of those, you’ll be right in the hunt.”
Tourney format and event logistics
The entire FLW Tour field will compete for three days with the top-five pros advancing to the fourth and final day of competition based on their overall accumulated weight. At the end of day three, a co-angler champion will be crowned. After the conclusion of Saturday’s weigh-in, the tournament title will be awarded to the pro who has recorded the most combined weight over all four days of competition.
Each morning, anglers will take off from Blythe Landing, located at 15901 N.C. Highway 71 in Cornelius, N.C. The first three weigh-ins – Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – will also be held at Blythe Landing beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, located at 4751 Highway 49 North in Concord, N.C., beginning at 4 p.m.
Fans will be treated to a Family Fun Zone & Outdoor Expo at Cabarrus Arena and Events Center on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday prior to the final weigh-in from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a drawing for a Can-Am ATV, compliments of 99.7 the Fox, and rod-and-reel combos will be given to the first 300 kids under 14 in attendance on Saturday. The Family Fun Zone & Outdoor Expo includes Ranger boat simulators, the opportunity to interact with professional anglers, interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by sponsors. It also provides visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities. All activities are free and open to the public. For a full schedule of events, additional information and to register for the ATV, visit FLWOutdoors.com/NationalGuardOpen.
In addition to a tournament title, FLW Tour anglers also will be vying for valuable standings’ points in hopes of qualifying for the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. This year’s Cup will be in Atlanta Aug. 5-8 on Lake Lanier.
Coverage of the Lake Norman tournament will be broadcast in high definition (HD) on VERSUS May 2 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to approximately 500 million households worldwide.
FLW Tour action continues at today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. at Blythe Landing, located at 15901 N.C. Highway 71 in Cornelius, N.C.
Bass-fishing fans take note
Want to watch the weigh in live but can’t make it in person? Then tune into FLW Live on FLWOutdoors.com shortly before 3 p.m. Central Time to watch live streaming video and audio of today’s opening-round weigh in.
Vital statistics:
Sunrise: 7:20 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 50 degrees
Expected high temperature: 69 degrees
Water temperature: 55-63 degrees
Wind: From the ssw at 14 mph
Maximum humidity: 55 percent
Day’s outlook: mostly cloudy