Chris Bullock, 2010 Angler of the Year for the Virginia Division of the Bassmaster Weekend Series, has been crappie fishing instead of practicing for the first BWS tournament of the year on Kerr Reservoir, but the fish he caught over the weekend has him excited about his prospects Saturday.

“I have not been bass fishing. I’ve been crappie fishing and I finished second in a crappie tournament Saturday. But something happened during that tournament that is kind of special to me,” Bullock said.

“I’ve been fishing the lake for the past 28 years or so and in that time I’ve only caught maybe a dozen smallmouth, most of them up the river. I was tight-lining for crappie Saturday and I caught a smallmouth that weighed between 3 and 4 pounds.”

The Fountain, N.C., angler said the fish hit about 5 feet deep in 10 feet of water off a little secondary point. Dealing with some health issues, he will only get in one practice day this week – on Friday, he said.

“The water has really risen in the past week. I’ve not checked it the past couple of nights, but I think it will be close to 305 feet by the time we get there and the fishing will be the usual Kerr Lake patterns, I’m afraid – spinnerbaits, jigs and plastics in the bushes. There are a lot of bushes and trees in the water now.”

Bullock said the main lake from Grassy Creek up the river towards Clarksville is muddy.

“The main channel is muddy and there is a lot of trash and debris out in the main river, but the creeks have started clearing up.

And, while he is looking forward to the first BWS tournament Saturday, Bullock said he will not be able to defend his 2010 title.

“I’ve committed to fish another trail with my dad this year and one of those tournaments interferes with one of the weekend tournaments. I won’t be points champion this year, but that time with my dad is more important.”

Bullock has also launched a guide service for catfish and crappie on Kerr and several years ago he organized a winter catfish tournament that has grown to 58 boats this year.

“It’s held the last Saturday in January when everybody has cabin fever, so we call it the Ice Bowl,” he said. “We compete between North Carolina and Virginia teams and we welcome fishermen from all over. Just pick a side you want to fish for. We are in it for the fun of it.”

BWS Tournament Manager Gary Conner said that, based on previous years and the input so far with anglers, he expects around 65 boats for Saturday’s BWS tournament.

“Our numbers seem to grow slowly each year and that has been the case this season across the country,” Conner said. “Right now, with $4 a gallon gas I am anticipating our numbers will be up. If it stays this way much longer, however, I anticipate as we caw a couple of years back when gas prices went up the numbers will drop.

The Virginia Division BWS schedule includes: March 19, Kerr Lake, North Bend Park Special Use Area; April 9, Gaston, Americamps; May 21, Smith Mountain Lake, Parkway Marina; July 16, Kerr Lake, North Bend Park SUA; Aug. 20-21, Kerr Lake, North Bend Park SUA.

 

Bassmaster Weekend Series Virginia Division

Sat, Mar. 19, 2011

Kerr / Buggs Island Lake

North Bend State Park

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