Calling all standouts

Anglers picking through Lake Norman’s homogeneous masses

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It’s not a social protest thing, but anglers taking to Lake Norman for day two of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour event will be looking for nonconforming bass – the ones with weights that don’t match 1,000 others.

Clearly, there’s no lack of fish – 185 pros caught limits on day one. However, weeding through the cookie-cutter masses to find those a little thicker in the middle is the real trick.

Stover, Mo., pro Dion Hibdon, who placed 71st on day one with 10 pounds, 10 ounces, said, “It’s amazing the numbers of fish you catch here, but it’s also amazing how one fish can make such a huge difference.”

Fresh off a second-place finish at the FLW Tour event on Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake that concluded April 6, Scott Canterbury of Odenville, Ala., leads the pro field with 18 pounds, 5 ounces. Catching most of his heaviest bass – including a 5-1 that took the Snickers Big Bass award – by sight-fishing, Canterbury brings a whopping 3-pound, 5-ounce lead into day two.

Noting that a stumble on his part could quickly erase even this sizeable advantage, Canterbury said he anticipated having to work hard at locating more fish, as he had burned through what he located in practice.

Tied for ninth with 13-14, Spokane, Wash., pro Luke Clausen said he has found plenty of fish, but he’s working on segregating them by quality: “I can catch fish pretty much anywhere in the lake. I’m just looking for those 2 1/2-pounders rather than the pound-and-a-half fish. I think I’ve found where they are.”

The second day of competition will likely see a divergence of tactics, with some sight-fishing for spawning bass, while others work docks for postspawners chewing on shad. Chris McCall of Jasper, Texas, was hoping to knock out a big limit with bed fish he found during practice, but his bass must have had HMO health coverage because their time in the maternity ward was brief.

“They leave the bank pretty quickly on this lake,” McCall said. “I had some good ones located. I had one that was 6 or 7 pounds that I was going to start on, but she was gone. I’m going to go find where some shad are spawning around the docks and maybe swim a jig and throw a swimbait.”

Land O’Lakes AOY points leader Koby Krieger of Okeechobee, Fla. – currently in 36th place with 12-4 – said he’ll focus on the shallow game. Many reported the bed fish they had located in practice had done their thing and vanished. However, Krieger said he was confident that he had sufficient fuel for his game plan.

“I’ll be spawning it up all day,” he said. “There’s still enough fish for me, and I know where they are.”

Logistics

Anglers will take off from Blythe Landing, located at 15901 NC Highway 73, Huntersville, NC., at 6:30 each morning. Friday’s weigh-ins will also be held at Blythe Landing beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center, located at 501 S. College St. in Charlotte, beginning at 4 p.m.

Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the Charlotte Convention Center from noon to 6 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.

On Saturday and Sunday, children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone will also receive a free rod and reel combo while supplies last. On Sunday, April 27, during the final 4 p.m. weigh-in, one lucky member of the audience will win a new Ranger boat. Admission is free, and you must be present to win.

The total purse for the Lake Norman event is $1.5 million, including $10,000 through 75th place in the Pro Division.

Friday’s conditions

Sunrise: 7:22 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 63 degrees

Expected high temperature: 77 degrees

Water temperature: 68 degrees

Wind: SSW at 9 mph

Day’s outlook: partly cloudy