After not being on the water fishing for the last couple of weeks I’m looking forward to 4 days on Kerr Lake starting next Thursday. Joseph Sharpe and I will fish as a team in the CATT tournament on 10/22, launching from Occoneechee Landing in Clarksville. With the water low bass should be easier to find since there are fewer places for them to hide. Fishing has been good on Kerr recently based on weights recorded in tournaments, and with the weather going from “summertime hot” to “late fall cool” this week the fish should be feeding up for winter.
The BFL regional championship tournament on the James River that I’d hoped to be in but missed qualifying for almost became a reality. While driving to Henderson Wednesday at 2:24 PM to visit with my dad, a call came in from the tournament organizers at FLW. One of the qualifiers had dropped out at the last minute for some reason and I was next on the list to take his place at 7:00 AM the next morning. Making a quick mental list of what would need to be done to prepare and the travel required, I passed up the chance. If only they’d called just a little sooner.
Last week I mentioned a plan to do some hiking on the Appalachian trail with some friends in early November. Well that plan may need to be adjusted, considering an email the hike organizer sent out titled “Bear Notice.” Turns out park officials have closed a 5 mile stretch of the trail that we (they?) will be passing thru to camping due to “bear activity.” The notice mentions things like being “bear proof” and using odor proof plastic bags to carry food in. Since I’d like to be here for Ruth’s (our baby girl Laura’s daughter) fourth birthday party next year I may just take a pass on “the hike” too.
Local fishing reports and top tournament finishers — Bass and stripers are headed shallow behind schools of small shad on Kerr Lake as the temperature drops. Hamza Alashmali reported catching some nice bass this week in shallow water using a green pumpkin colored lizard. Adam Richardson won the NC BASS Federation Nation Wildcard qualifier tournament on Gaston last weekend with a two day total of 28.54 pounds after leading on day one.
Rodney Sorrell and Gerald Beck won the Anglers Choice Marine Team tournament championship on Kerr Lake after leading day one with a 22.23 pound limit that included a giant bass weighing 6.93 pounds. This earned them a new Ranger boat package valued at over $35,000. The team of David Wright and Jeff Coble took second place after suffering a penalty due to one dead fish. One quarter of a pound was subtracted from their total creel weight, pushing them out of first place and a new boat by under two tenths of a pound.
John Thomas caught a 27.4 pound king on day two in the US Open King Mackerel tournament, just missing the money in his first king tournament. Team “Keep it Reel” won the $25,000 first place check with a 49.75 mackerel.
Info on upcoming tournaments — CATT tournament on 10/22, launching from Occoneechee Landing in Clarksville.
Next week’s report — BFL regional results from the James River, NC / VA mountain leaf report, and a fishing report from Kerr Lake.
Tip of the week — Just wanted to report that I followed my own advice and chose a new dish at the Mexican restaurant Susan, John II and I went to last week. The “Loco Burrito” with shrimp chicken ham beef pineapple jalapeños cheese mushrooms and more was delicious, enough for two meals, and much better than a plain chicken enchilada.
