First, we would like to give a special shoutout to Skyline Marine for their generosity in hosting an open house complete with food, drinks, and tackle discounts. The Friday afternoon event kicked off our tournament weekend in style! A special thanks to Jeremy, Mitch, and the Skyline Marine crew!!
The final stop of the Spring season for the 2021-22 North Carolina BASS High School and Junior Series was held at scenic Lake James under excellent fishing conditions! The blast-off for our 64-boat field was on a nice, clear day. The young men and women took off in search of big largemouth and smallmouth bass that inhabit these clear waters.
Leading the field in the Junior Division (11 teams) were Jesse Lancaster and Fisher Lancaster from Lancaster Academy with an impressive five fish limit weighing 14.18 pounds. With that catch, they traveled back to Rocky Mount with 1st place plaques, Skyline Marine/Shimano gift cards, and Academy gift cards. Finishing second were Hunter Harris and Luke Oberman from the Riley’s Catch team. Their limit of fish weighed 8.32 pounds won them Academy Gift Cards as well.
In the High School Division, we can only describe it as a day dominated by the local McDowell County teams. The McDowell team of Ty Allison and Bayden Padgett edged out teammates Cole Weaver and Dawson Bartlett. Allison and Padgett took home the victory by weighing in an impressive 5 fish limit of 16.46 pounds of smallmouth bass! They took home the high school champions plaques, Water Wood Crankbaits, and Shimano gift certificates from Skyline Marine.
Close behind in second place with a limit weighing 16.32 pounds, Weaver and Bartlett also brought in the big fish of the tournament–a nice 4.32-pound smallmouth! They took home the second-place plaques, Water Wood Crankbaits, Academy gift cards, and a Shimano gift certificates from Skyline Marine.
Finishing in third place, the brother-sister team of Logan and Hannah Roberts brough in a nice limit weighing 13.00 pounds! The McDowell County team secured their second top 5 finish of the year and received the third-place plaques, Academy gift cards, and Water Wood crankbaits for their day’s of fun.
Breaking into the middle of the McDowell County party, Riley’s Catch anglers Sailor Whitehead and Luke Bramhall claimed fourth place. They weighed in a five fish limit of 12.44 pounds. They received the fourth-place plaques and Academy gift cards.
The all-female team of Macey Allison and Cameran Young secured fifth place with five fish weighing 11.91 pounds. They were the fourth McDowell County team to finish in the top 5! They also took home plaques and Academy gift cards for their limit of fish.
Next, we’d like to thank all of our sponsors and volunteers for making this tournament possible that include but are not limited to: Todd Bare, Deanna Garmon, Academy Outdoors, Skyline Marine, Shimano Fishing, Water Wood Custom Baits, Goosehead Insurance and Woods to Water Outdoor Company.