Queen is king for a day
Local angler takes over TBF Southern Divisional lead on Lake Norman
CORNELIUS, N.C. – Local knowledge handed North Carolina angler Joshua Queen the day-two lead at The Bass Federation Southern Divisional on Lake Norman, as Queen’s 11-pound, 5-ounce catch Thursday edged him past day-one leader Craig Fredrychowski on the overall leaderboard. Moving into first with one day of competition remaining, Queen gave himself a nice 1-pound, 12-ounce lead on the North Carolina team.
Seven states – North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and Florida – each sent 12 competitors to this week’s divisional, all gunning for a slot in the 2009 TBF National Championship. Each state’s No. 1 angler at the end of this week’s event will advance to the nationals as a boater, and each state’s runner-up will advance as a co-angler.
Although the overall winner of this week’s divisional receives a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer, the competition for cash prizes is among the states, with the North Carolina team currently reigning supreme with 150 pounds, 13 ounces of bass caught by their 12 competitors over two days. That puts them out in front of No. 2 Tennessee by 15 pounds, 4 ounces, as Tennessee brought in 135-9 the past two days. Behind them in third is South Carolina with 134-3. The top state team on Friday earns $15,072 for the win.
Queen has his sights set on not only the national championship but also the Castrol Maximum Performer prize, as his two-day catch of 20 pounds, 14 ounces put him in front of Fredrychowski on the overall list by 11 ounces. Not only does Queen now have the momentum, but he’s also armed with valuable local know-how.
“I live about 10 minutes from this lake,” Queen said. “I fish it almost twice a week, but I had company today on some of my spots.”
Even so, Queen managed to better his day-one catch of 9-9 by almost a pound. For the final day, Queen is pretty much looking for more of the same, though he did admit he had some honey holes saved.
“I am going to keep making my milk run on the lake,” he said. “I have some good spots that I am trying not to burn until the last day. I will also stick with a jig because it has been working great for me.”
Fredrychowski hits the brush for second
Day-one leader Fredrychowski of Lexington, S.C., fell to second overall but maintained his South Carolina team lead with his day-two catch of 9-5 that brought his combined weight to 20 pounds, 3 ounces. He currently leads the South Carolina squad by a 1-pound, 9-ounce margin.
“I have been focusing in on boat docks with a lot of brush,” Fredrychowski said, adding that he has relied on a shaky-head Zoom trick worm on Berkley line to land his bass. “Finding brush has been the key, because the fish have been holding out really well in (the brush) in both the sun and the shade.”
Queen may have the local advantage, but Fredrychowski may have a trick or two up his sleeve as well that could launch him back to the top spot tomorrow.
“I have 10 good spots that I haven’t hit yet this tournament,” he said. “I have a good pocket that has a lot of fish, including two bedding fish I found that I am going after again. Tomorrow I am going all out.”
Burroughs, Boggs lead Alabama, Kentucky
In fourth overall, behind No.2 North Carolina angler Ronald Tuck, is Alabama leader Russell Burroughs, who caught 18-13 over two days to lead his state by a solid 3 pounds, 5 ounces.
Michael Boggs leads the Kentucky team and sits in seventh overall thanks to his two-day haul of 18 pounds, 1 ounce. That catch gave him a 1-pound, 3-ounce lead in Kentucky.
“My fish all came out of fairly deep water,” he said, estimating the depth to be 15 to 20 feet. “I was catching them on a finesse rig really slow. It was almost a reaction bite instead of them wanting to feed.”
Boggs is competing this week as a nonboater, and his day-two partner, Justin Lanier of Macon, Ga., sits two spots behind him on the overall leaderboard. Boggs said Lanier had a limit by 10:30 and handed the reins over to Boggs. Should he hold on to his lead or even finish second, Boggs would be making his first trip to the nationals.
“I’m trying not to think about it right at the moment,” he said. “I’ve got one more day to go.”
Rest of the best
In eighth overall is Tennessee leader Daniel Ellis with 17-14, who leads his team by 2 pounds, 11 ounces. He is followed on the overall list by No. 9 Lanier, who leads the Georgia squad by 2 pounds, 13 ounces thanks to his combined weight of 17-13.
Rounding out the state leaders is Chris Crossan of Florida with 14 pounds, 10 ounces, good for a 1-pound, 6-ounce lead on his team.
Competition concludes tomorrow
Southern Divisional contenders will head out for the final day of competition tomorrow with a 6 a.m. EST takeoff from Blythe Landing, located at 15901 N.C. Highway 73 in Huntersville. Tomorrow’s final weigh-in will also take place there beginning at 1:30 p.m., with trophies and cash awards presented following the weigh-in.