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Kerr Lake
The Daily Dispatch
Friday, May 25, 2012
Long hiatus to end soon for EverStart at Kerr Lake
R
eturning to Kerr Lake, North Carolina, for the first time since 2008, this year’s EverStart Northern Division Bass Tournament on Kerr Lake June 14-16 will be the area’s largest tournament of 2012. Anglers from all over the east coast will begin arriving in early June to prepare to take their shot at the top prizes. The middle of June is one of the best times of the year to catch these fish on Kerr Lake, as the bass will have recuperated from the spring spawn and rearing of their young. They will be hungry and ready to fill up on shad, blue herring, and crawfish, so anglers will be focusing their efforts on mimicking those food sources with artificial lures to catch the winning stringers. These tournaments last for three days, with the full field of anglers competing on Days 1 and 2. Only the top 25 anglers will make the cut to compete on the final day. Winners are determined by the total weight
of bass caught from all three days, with each day’s catch consisting of a five-fish limit of either largemouth or smallmouth bass. Each must measure at least 14 inches long. Typical weights at this time of year recently are around 14-15 pounds per day, so a two-day Walt total near 30 pounds Bowen On the Water will likely be needed Special to have a chance at fishing on the last day for the top spot. The first place finishing professional fisherman (or woman) will pocket $35,000, plus a brand new Ranger Bass boat with a 200 HP engine, if they are competing from a Ranger boat during the tournament. Alongside the professionals, co-anglers fish from the back
of the boats, competing against all the other co-anglers. The co-anglers are randomly paired each day with a professional, and the co-angler winner is chosen at the end of Day 2 of competition. The co-anglers first place prize consists of $5,000 cash, as well as a Ranger Bass boat with a 90 HP engine, if they are a qualified registered Ranger Boat owner. Anglers will be blasting off from the Nutbush Park ramp daily at 6 a.m., with the Day 1 and 2 weigh-ins at 2 p.m. at the Nutbush Park North facility. The final weigh-in on Day 3 will be take place at 3 p.m. at Wal-Mart No. 2256, 200 North Cooper Road, Henderson. Most recently conducted on Kerr Lake in September of 2008, this event should draw at least 300 anglers between the professionals and coanglers, so you can count on seeing some exciting take offs and thrilling weigh-ins from the new tournament facility recently dedicated at the
Kerr Lake Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 252-492-7021
1245 Park Avenue, Henderson, NC
Voted Best Nursing Home in Vance County
Dispatch photo/Dylan Shawn Wilson
Trophies await the winners of the 2012 BFL Piedmont Fishing Tournament, which took place at the new Nutbush Ramps facility on Kerr Lake in Nutbush Park on March 17. It will be the site of the EverStart Northern Division Bass Tournament June 14-16. This will be the first time since 2008 that this tourney has been staged on Kerr Lake.
Nutbush campground. The 2008 winner, Michael “Ike” Iaconelli weighed just over 45 pounds of fish during four days of competition. To participate in this event as a professional or co-angler, go to flwoutdoors.com for more information. For any
other questions, contact the host Vance County Tourism Department, 946T West Andrews Avenue, Henderson, NC 27536; phone: (866) 4384565; kerrlake-nc.com. Contact the writer at waltbowen@yahoo.com.
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