Huntersville, N.C. — Lake Norman will serve as the venue for the kickoff of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine North Carolina Division season on Feb. 14. The popular fishery has become a traditional starting spot for the division, hosting the first event of the season for nearly two decades, and this year’s edition should offer a true wintertime bite for the anglers thanks to a massive cold snap that hit the region in late January.
What to expect
Last year, North Carolina’s Kaden Buchmann had a stellar BFL season with four wins, two of them coming on Norman. He’ll again be in the field for this event and says the fishing quality will be up in the air because of the frigid temperatures in the region.
“The weather is going to be the biggest wild card, because up until recently, we’ve had a pretty warm winter, and now we’ve had snow and ice,” he said. “That warmer weather made things a little tougher than normal, with clearer water and lower water levels. There have been some good bags caught, but it can also be hard to get a bite some days. But that could change now.”
The snow and ice could help the bite after it thaws, raising the lake level and improving clarity, but Buchmann is also hoping for windy conditions in the event.
“If we have some wind during the event, the bite will be much better,” he said. “Whether the water is clear or dirty, it always makes the fishing better out there.”
Spotted bass have really taken off on Lake Norman in recent years, and Buchmann believes they will be the dominant species in weigh-in bags, but largemouth will also be a big factor.
“Spotted bass are the main species right now, but I’ve been catching a lot more largemouth recently, and one or two big largemouth bites can go a long way in this one,” he said. “The hard part about this time of year is that you never know what you’re going to catch. It becomes a little easier to ‘fish for largemouth’ as it gets closer to spring, because they all seem to mix in together in the winter.”
Baits to bring
Many lures work well on Norman, and a jig around docks has been a staple for many years. Buchmann says to always have one tied on. Aside from that, he says that a wacky rig, Neko rig, crankbait and A-Rig could all be players and contend for the win.
What will it take?
Buchmann won the season opener last season, an early March event with 19 pounds, 6 ounces. He expects that to be the high mark for a winning weight, as most recent local events have taken less than that.
“Seventeen pounds has been pretty solid lately,” he said. “If we get some wind during that event, it could be higher, but if it’s calm, it will be somewhere around 16 to 18 pounds and will likely take around 12 pounds to get a check.”