“The weather could play a big part in the tournament,” said Andrew Helms, UNCC Junior from Monroe, N.C. “They are calling for rain towards the end of the week and that could change things up a little bit.”

Not to mention a drastic drop in local temperatures from spring-like high 70s on Thursday, the first day of the tournament, to a high in the low 50s and overnight temperatures below freezing by the last day of the tournament on Saturday.

“But, right now the fish are biting good,” said Helms, who teamed with senior Jake Whitaker of Fairview, N.C., to win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship on Georgia’s Lake Chatuge last August and followed that title by winning the 2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic on Lake Keowee Feb. 22 in conjunction with the Bassmaster Classic which was held on Lake Hartwell.

“We got to weigh in before the pros on the biggest stage in bass fishing,” Helms said. “This was huge for us as there were thousands in attendance and also many more watching live online.”

While the weather may play a role, the lake itself will probably play a larger role because of the variations in temperatures in different parts of the lake due to the nuclear facilities there, Helms said.

“Some parts of the lake are warmer than other parts. There are some fish wanting to get on the bed, some fish already on the bed, and some fish that are nowhere close to the bed,” he said. “I think you can do whatever suits you best because there are so many different options, so many ways to catch fish.”

Helms said the UNCC Bass Rats have 10 teams entered in the Carhartt Regional on Lake Norman.

“We hope to do well in the tournament, especially with it being so close to home. We think we have a good chance of making a good showing for our school.”

 

CARHARTT EASTERN B.A.S.S. CONFERENCE REGIONAL

Mar 26-28, 2015

Lake Norman

Blythe Landing

www.bassmaster.com