Bass (And Shad) Spawning Just In Time For Oakley Big Bass Tournament On Lake Norman
The really neat thing about the Oakley Big Bass Tournament Trail is that the big bite in a tournament can come at any time – in the last few minutes of fishing, or, in the case of Louie Hull of Casar, N.C., first thing in the morning.
“I don’t know if there is any advantage, early or late. You are liable to catch the big fish of the tournament any time during the day,” said Hull, a veteran Lake Norman angler and creator of custom painted and hand-tied Shooter Lures.
In the Oakley Big Bass Tournament on Lake Norman last year, Hull caught the big fish of the tournament a half hour after the tournament began. He landed a 6-pound, 2 ounce largemouth that fell for a black and blue Shooter Jig.
He and fishing partner Andy Bailey drove away that day with a $30,000 boat, motor and trailer rig for the biggest fish in the Oakley Big Bass tournament.
Anglers in the tournament on Lake Norman Saturday and Sunday should find the fishing excellent at all hours of the tournament day.
“Lake Norman has been on fire lately,” Hull said. “I think it will be mostly shallow fishing. The spawn is a little late so there should be some fish on the bed, and it’s about time for the shad spawn, so there could be a good bite on fish feeding on shad.”
Hull said he plans to concentrate on largemouths because, “you have to catch a big fish to win,” and he will key on the shad spawn with either a white Shooter Jig or a swim bait, in addition to throwing a topwater bait.
The Oakley Big Bass series is open to amateur anglers only. Professional anglers and guides on the tournament waters who have guided professionally for a fee in the last 12 months are not eligible.
Entry fees are $100 for a one-day entry, $150 for both days. The winner with the overall big bass of the tournament will take home a 2014 Nitro Z7 with Mercury 150HP Pro XS, valued at $30,000.
Hourly payouts have been increased this year with a total two-day hourly purse of $35,000. Hourly payouts will go to seven places each hour: 1st $1000, 2nd $500, 3rd $300, 4th $250, 5th $200, 6th $150, 7th $100 (based on 400 total entries). Weigh in Times: 8-9 a.m., 9-10am, 10-11 a.m., 11-12 a.m., 12-1 p.m., 1-2 p.m., and 2-3 p.m.
The rest of the schedule for the Oakley Big Bass Tournament series this year includes: May 17-18, Table Rock Lake, Mo.; June 14-15, Grand Lake, Okla.; Sept. 27-28, Lake Murray, S.C.; Oct. 4-5, Lake Douglas, Tenn.; Oct. 18-19, Lake Guntersville, Ala.; and Oct. 25-26, St. John’s River, Fla.
Oakley Big Bass Tournament Trail
May 3-4, 2014
Lake Norman
Queen’s Landing
Call Mark Jones 214-605-4600
