Simple approach helps Blaylock take the Day 2 lead at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Stetson Blaylock has never liked vast tidal fisheries like the Albemarle Sound. Success seems to find him anyway.
The Arkansas pro leads the 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound with a two-day total of 42 pounds, 4 ounces. Blaylock added 18-12 to his 23-8 Day 1 limit to take a 4-ounce advantage over Alabama’s Wesley Gore heading into Semifinal Saturday.
“Anytime you are in contention, it is a good thing. But you want to be in contention with bass you know are getting better, and I’m not sure if they are getting better. I have a lot of decisions to make before takeoff, but I’m in a good spot.”
Fishing was noticeably better across the system on Friday. Multiple bags over 24 pounds hit the scales, including one limit over 26 and another over 27 pounds.
Blaylock’s first Elite Series victory came at Winyah Bay in 2019, another coastal system along the Carolina coast. In that tournament, he was able to focus on one tactic most of the tournament. So far this week, the six-time Classic qualifier has been able to lock in on a pattern once again.
“I keep saying I don’t like these types of fisheries because there are so many things you can do,” Blaylock said. “There’s going to be someone tomorrow who scraps their plan, does something different and catches a big stringer. That is something I struggle with. At Winyah Bay, I was able to stay in one area all four days. That’s what has been best for me, not running around.”
One area far from takeoff in Elizabeth City has produced the bulk of Blaylock’s limit. With higher salinity across the system, Blaylock has tried to find the freshest water possible. Along with a good population of bass, there’s a plethora of baitfish in the area as well.
“It is a well-kept area,” he explained. “The trick here right now is finding fresh water. I’m going way way back in this river, and I feel the further back you get, the better opportunity you have to catch a big fish.”
He’s tossed one bait around cypress trees and other wood cover, utilizing his Lowrance ActiveTarget XL around 50 percent of the time. Most of the time, Blaylock can see the bass on his FFS before making the cast.
“I’m throwing at targets. I’ll use ActiveTarget when I need to see under logs and around the sides of cypress trees. But a lot of them are just fishing. That is a good thing when you can get bites just by fishing.”
Once he landed his Day 1 weight, Blaylock knew he had no choice but to make the long run back to his best area. He said he got more bites in the area, but the bigger bites were much harder to come by. Once he arrived, he caught several 3-pounders before rounding out his limit with 4 1/2 pounders.
“I got more bites, which is a good sign,” Blaylock said. “If everything goes perfectly, I think I can catch 30 pounds.”
Blaylock doesn’t have a true backup plan, which makes the dilemma of what to do on Semifinal Saturday even more difficult. Either way, Blaylock knows points are at a premium.
“I want to win just like the next guy, but this time of year, Top 10s are huge. If I can catch 17 or 18 pounds and stay inside the Top 10, it’d be fine.
“If I go somewhere else, it’s going to be totally new water.”
Gore, meanwhile, caught 20-1 on Day 2 to increase his two-day total to 42-0. He anchored his bag with an 8-pounder he said has had the body of a 10- or 11-pounder. The third-year pro has stayed in the Pasquotank River. In fact, he has only burned 5 gallons of gas.
“I practiced for 2 1/2 days here. I’m trying to optimize fishing time. I knew I needed a good tournament this week. It hasn’t been my year. This week, I bet on myself and it has worked out the last few days.”
Gore has targeted horizontal targets all week long in crowded sections of the Pasquotank. While there is plenty of pressure in the region, he feels he is doing something differently than other competitors.
“I’m not catching a whole lot of them,” Gore said. “I catch 2 or 3 pounders or great big ones.”
A drop shot and a HideUp Coike are his two most productive baits, but figuring out which one the bass wants to eat takes some time.
“I’ve seen it where they didn’t want to feed up and I had to throw a drop shot. Then there’s other times they want to feed up,” Gore said. “I read the bass, and unfortunately you have to mess a few up before figuring out what the right thing is. It can change. This morning they were wanting to feed down on the drop shot and then a light switch flipped. I came back through those places and caught them on a Coike.”
The water dropped 8 inches in his area today, and the bass moved out to the deeper ends of the horizontal targets. If it drops anymore, Gore isn’t sure the bass will stay put.
Day 1 leader Chris Zaldain dropped to third with a two-day total weighing 40-10. The California native caught 25-8 on the first day of the tournament but only landed 15-2 on Day 2. A 4-pounder in the afternoon saved his day.
A lack of current, he feels, was responsible for a slower swimbait bite.
“After two days of a southwest wind, the current is totally backed up,” he said. “Being a California Delta guy, I know exactly when high tide and low tide are. This place is a totally different beast. The wind dictates what the water is doing.”
Zaldain has been tossing a 5-inch Bass Mafia Daingerous Swimbait around bridges and docks in the Pasquotank River. That swimbait matches the menhaden swimming around those pieces of cover.
Tomorrow, the wind is supposed to blow from the north, a welcome shift for Zaldain.
“When I found those fish, the wind was blowing out of the north, and it was almost too easy,” he said. “So, the wind switch is exactly what I need.”
Mississippi’s Cliff Pace caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, an 8-9 largemouth that lifted him into the Day 3 cut. Oklahoma’s Luke Palmer holds the overall Phoenix Boats Big Bass, an 8-14 he caught on Day 1.
JT Thompkins caught the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament on Day 2, a 27-8 stringer.
Carbondale, Ill., pro Trey McKinney reclaimed the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year lead with 548 points. Tennessee’s Cole Sands is second with 545 points while Canadian pro Cory Johnston is third with 537 points. Drew Cook is fourth with 535 points and Brandon Cobb is fifth with 521 points.
The Top 50 anglers will launch from Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City beginning at 6:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. At the end of Semifinal Saturday, the Top 10 anglers will advance to Championship Sunday and compete for the $100,000 first-place prize and a blue trophy.
Bassmaster LIVE will begin at 8 a.m. ET on FS1 on Semifinal Saturday and continue until 12:30 p.m. before moving to Bassmaster.com at 1:30 p.m. Live weigh-ins will be streamed on Bassmaster.com each day at 3 p.m.
The Elizabeth City Hooked on the Harbor Festival will be held in conjunction with the final two days of the Elite Series event. A number of local vendors and food trucks will be showcased at Waterfront Park from Noon to 5 p.m.
Visit Elizabeth City is hosting the tournament.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
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2026 Maxam Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound 6/11-6/14
Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound , Elizabeth City NC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 42-04 101
Day 1: 5 23-08 Day 2: 5 18-12
2. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 42-00 100
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 5 20-01
3. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 40-10 99
Day 1: 5 25-08 Day 2: 5 15-02
4. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 40-10 98
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 17-09
5. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 39-15 97
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 20-09
6. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 9 39-09 96
Day 1: 5 24-01 Day 2: 4 15-08
7. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 39-06 95
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 19-11
8. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 39-02 94
Day 1: 5 22-07 Day 2: 5 16-11
9. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 38-11 93
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 21-04
10. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 37-09 92
Day 1: 5 23-06 Day 2: 5 14-03
11. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 10 36-09 91
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 17-09
12. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 8 36-00 90
Day 1: 3 09-07 Day 2: 5 26-09
13. Tyler Williams Barnett, MO 10 35-14 89
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 19-05
14. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 10 35-13 88
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 18-07
15. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 10 35-10 87
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 14-11
16. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 9 35-07 86
Day 1: 4 11-11 Day 2: 5 23-12
17. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 35-07 85
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 21-05
18. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 35-03 84
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 18-06
19. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 7 34-00 83
Day 1: 2 09-15 Day 2: 5 24-01
20. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 10 33-09 82
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 15-13
21. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 32-14 81
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 24-10
22. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 9 32-13 80
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 4 08-13
23. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 10 32-11 79
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 14-13
24. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 8 32-09 78
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 5 27-08
25. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 32-04 77
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 19-05
26. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 31-10 76
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 13-10
27. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 31-09 75
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 19-00
28. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 31-08 74
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 11-14
29. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 8 31-00 73
Day 1: 3 09-12 Day 2: 5 21-04
30. John Garrett Union City, TN 9 30-13 72
Day 1: 4 13-06 Day 2: 5 17-07
31. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 9 30-11 71
Day 1: 4 16-04 Day 2: 5 14-07
32. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 30-04 70
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 13-02
33. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 30-03 69
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 19-04
34. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 8 30-02 68
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 5 21-13
35. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 30-01 67
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 11-03
36. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 29-12 66
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 11-00
37. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 8 29-10 65
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 3 07-05
38. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 29-07 64
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 12-06
39. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 29-00 63
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 12-13
40. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 28-14 62 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 19-06
41. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 28-00 61
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 16-05
42. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 7 27-14 60
Day 1: 2 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-12
43. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 27-12 59
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 12-15
44. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 26-08 58
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 16-09
45. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 26-08 57
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 10-04
46. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 9 26-08 56
Day 1: 4 12-00 Day 2: 5 14-08
47. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 26-07 55
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-11
48. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 26-06 54
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 15-15
49. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 8 26-05 53
Day 1: 3 13-02 Day 2: 5 13-03
50. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 26-04 52
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 10-13
51. John Cox Debary, FL 10 26-04 51
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 13-02
52. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 10 25-09 50
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-11
53. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 9 25-08 49
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 4 15-13
54. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 25-03 48
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 15-11
55. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 25-03 47
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 14-13
56. Jacob Foutz Philadelphia, TN 10 24-11 46
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-03
57. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 9 24-09 45
Day 1: 4 12-15 Day 2: 5 11-10
58. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 10 24-05 44
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 11-11
59. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 7 24-03 43
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 5 19-15
60. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 24-02 42
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-02
61. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 23-15 41
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-08
62. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 23-12 40
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-11
63. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 23-11 39
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 11-12
64. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 9 23-00 38
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 4 07-11
65. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 22-13 37
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 14-05
66. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 9 22-13 36
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 5 14-03
67. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 8 22-09 35
Day 1: 3 09-05 Day 2: 5 13-04
68. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 8 22-04 34
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 5 15-05
69. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 9 22-01 33
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 4 07-14
70. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 7 22-00 32
Day 1: 2 06-02 Day 2: 5 15-14
71. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 9 22-00 31
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 5 15-04
72. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 6 21-15 30
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 1 01-08
73. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 8 21-14 29
Day 1: 3 09-03 Day 2: 5 12-11
74. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 8 21-10 28
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 3 10-08
75. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 8 19-12 27
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 5 14-07
76. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 9 19-10 26
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 4 07-15
77. Austin Cranford Oklahoma City, OK 8 19-01 25
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 5 11-07
78. Beau Browning Hot Springs, AR 7 18-15 24
Day 1: 2 06-08 Day 2: 5 12-07
79. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 8 18-05 23
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 5 13-05
80. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 9 18-05 22
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 4 09-08
81. Luke Palmer Atoka, OK 5 18-02 21 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 12-03 Day 2: 2 05-15
82. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 9 17-15 20
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 5 09-13
83. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 16-13 19
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 09-15
84. Brock Reinkemeyer Warsaw, MO 5 16-09 18
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 3 13-11
85. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 16-09 17
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 08-05
86. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 6 15-05 16
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 09-08
87. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 7 15-04 15
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 5 10-14
88. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 9 14-15 14
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 4 06-01
89. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 6 14-07 13
Day 1: 3 09-13 Day 2: 3 04-10
90. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 9 14-02 12
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 4 05-05
91. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 6 13-15 11
Day 1: 4 09-13 Day 2: 2 04-02
92. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-06 10
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-06
93. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 12-11 9
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 2 06-05
94. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 3 11-07 8
Day 1: 2 09-15 Day 2: 1 01-08
95. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 10-07 7
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 2 03-05
96. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 08-07 6
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 07-06 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 07-06
98. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 2 04-04 4
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-04
——————————
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Luke Palmer Atoka, OK 08-14 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 08-09 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 62 410 1224-12
2 76 443 1336-09
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138 853 2561-05
