“I think it will probably be one of the toughest tournaments on High Rock this year,” said veteran tournament angler David Wright of Lexington, N.C., who calls High Rock his home lake. “Last week I saw quite a few bass guarding fry and that tells me the majority have spawned and it might be pretty tough to catch them. It’s usually that way after they spawn – they get kind of finicky. They just swim around the banks and don’t want to bite.”

Wright, who has won nine FLW Outdoors tournaments and placed in many others for more than $367, 500 in win money, said the lake is down about 7/10 of a foot and may be down even more by the weekend. With the current level borderline for fishing shoreline buck bushes, by Saturday that pattern probably will not be available.

In fact, he said, a specific pattern probably will not come into play Saturday.

“I think whoever wins it probably will just go down the bank and catch fish,” said Wright who is fishing the Anglers Choice North Carolina Division. “In the last few years one of the most stable things has been to fish the docks on High Rock.”

As tough as the fishing is expected to be, however, Wright said somebody will catch them.

“Somebody will probably catch 20 pounds. Somebody will catch five good ones.”

Chris Lucas, tournament director, said registration will start about 5:15 a.m. Saturday at the Southmont Wildlife Area Access.

“Pre-registration is looking pretty good,” he said. “It’s not going to be one of our biggest tournaments, but it is getting on up there.”

Noting that the Anglers Choice season is in the second half, a double-header will be held on Kerr Reservoir June 7-8 with anglers able to fish the Virginia Division qualifier on Saturday and the North Carolina Division qualifier on Sunday.

“Our anglers really like this opportunity because fishing a trail is an investment and it helps cut down on expenses for the fishermen,” Lucas said..

Beginning last year the Anglers Choice Team series was split into two divisions, one for Virginia and one for North Carolina, with four qualifiers in each division.

“The other aspect of out trail this year is that we are going to have two separate Classics, with a Ranger Boat for the winners on the Virginia side and a Triton for the winners on the North Carolina side. So, with the opportunity to fish both Classics, guys have two chances to win a boat.”

 

Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail NC Division

Sat, May 24, 2014

High Rock Lake

Southmont Wildlife Area Access

Call Chris Lucas 276-358-0844

www.anglerschoicemarine.com