For the 3^rd time in the last 4 years Lake Norman is set to host a Bassmaster Southern Open. Norman can be a tough nut to crack. Right now the bass are in 25 feet of water as well as right on the bank and anywhere between those extremes on the grassless reservoir.

That’s not to say there aren’t good stringers of fish waiting to be caught. Recent reports indicate that those targeting Norman’s abundant spotted bass are finding plenty of them. The heavier largemouth are a different story.

Largemouth played a huge role in in the last 2 Opens on Norman because the anglers visited during the spring when largemouth were shallow and in some cases, spawning.

Largemouth will factor into this event, but in a limited capacity. While harder to find, a kicker fish will likely anchor the winner’s weight each day.

“Whoever wins will need at least one kicker largemouth every day,” said Carolina-based Elite Series Pro Hank Cherry. “Depending on the weather conditions, 12 1/2 to 14 pounds will be a big limit.”

Among the challenges facing anglers is a relatively high water level. Cherry lives minutes from the lake and says it is only a foot-and-a-half below full pool instead of the usual 5 feet below that anglers see this time of year. This prevents fish from ganging up on predictable spots.

The timing of this event is about 2 weeks too early for the fall shad blitz that would have made for faster action.

And then there is the dreaded fall turnover. Oxygen-depleted waters have risen from the bottom and mixed with the upper layers to present contestants with one of bass fishing’s toughest riddles.

Cherry says, “the bad water is as black as night.” He advises anglers to avoid this situation which happens first in the upper reaches of the lake. Of course, that’s also where it clears up first. “Part of the lake is cleaning up from turning over, part is turning over and part of it will turn over soon,” Cherry said.

As with a mud line that forms after a rain, those fishing downstream may find their bite trashed at some point during the multi-day event. Those who fall-in above it will find that conditions improve each day in their areas.

For this reason, up-lake may be the way to go during this event. Plus, that’s where those kicker largemouth tend to live on Norman.

Cherry says contestants need to be ready to roll with the punches this week. “The fall turnover makes the bass move around more. You’re not going to catch them in the same places or the same way every day.”

Cherry also expects the lake to fish small as anglers crowd into prime water.

The good news:  “Norman has so many bass it’s ridiculous,” Cherry said. “We don’t have lots of 4- to 6-pounders, but there are bunches of bass that weigh 2 1/2 pounds.”

Competition begins Thursday as the anglers take off from Blythe Landing at 7 a.m. ET. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the same location — Blythe Landing — and will begin at 3 p.m. ET. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Concord, N.C., and begins at 4 p.m. ET.