Hickory, NC
There was certainly an interesting display of the power of nature at the beginning of the final stop of the 2023 spring season for the North Carolina BASS High School and Junior Series. Storms were moving quickly from West to East and there were reports of severe rain mixed with lightning. The tournament committee decided to delay allowing boats to be launched and that turned out to be a great decision. The storms arrived literally with a bang and there was a downpour mixed with severe lightning for about thirty minutes.
The committee allowed boats to be launched at around 8:00 am and due to the efficiency and skills of all 81 boat captains involved, we were able to launch and begin the tournament around 8:30 am. The blast-off was under cloudy but safe skies to start of tournament day. All of our anglers took off in search of big largemouth which inhabit Lake Hickory. Again, early that morning, we got word that the fish were biting despite the weather which passed through.
The Cleveland County Bass Anglers team of Weston Hamrick and Austin Buttrick led the way in the Junior Division (14 teams) with a solid 5-fish limit weighing 8.84 pounds. The left with big smiles and the 1st place plaques, Woods to Water cash ($200) and Skyline Marine/Shimano gift certificates. Finishing in second was the RoCo Anglers Team of Eli Pilkington and Chayd Freeze. They had four fish that weighed 7.98 pounds winning them $100 of Woods to Water cash, and Academy Gift Cards.
In the High School (67 teams) Division, the points champions Ty Allison and Brayden Padgett lapped the field with an impressive bag of five fish that weighed 16.70 pounds! Their catch included one of the three fish weighed in over five pounds. They were sight fishing and utilized a Senko for the big fish catch. They took home the high school champions plaques, the Woods to Water cash prize ($300), Water Wood Custom Baits, and Shimano gift certificates from Skyline Marine plus the Big Bag plaque and Academy gift cards! Great catch guys!
Continuing their second half of the season surge, Caldwell Anglers Tyler Eggers and David Stroupe brought in a nice five-fish limit weighing 13.95 pounds and another five-pound Lake Hickory largemouth! David and Tyler left with the second-place plaques, Woods to Water cash ($200) Water Wood Custom Baits, and a Shimano gift certificates from Skyline Marine. Finishing in third place was the Bandy’s High School team of Jon Luke Foster and Carter Simmons. Sight fishing expertise brought them in a limit weighing 12.61 pounds! For their nice catch, they received the third-place plaques, Woods to Water cash ($100), Academy gift cards, and Water Wood Custom Baits.
The RoCo (Rowan County) Anglers team of Garrett Christy and Cayden Moore used spinnerbaits to secure fourth place with a five fish limit of 12.60 pounds-only one hundredth away behind third place. They received the fourth-place plaques and Academy gift cards. Rounding out the top five was Coleman Self fishing by himself and finishing with five fish weighing 12.03 pounds. The Cleveland County angler landed the 5th place plaques and Academy gift cards for his day. Places 6-10 also were rewarded with gift cards from Academy.
We mentioned earlier that there were big fish biting and we weighed in three fish over five pounds! Walking away with the Big Bass plaque was Macey Allison of McDowell County. Her 6.06 giant bass was good enough to beat everyone and allow her and her partner, Cameran Young, to not only win the plaque but also the Academy gift cards for that accomplishment. Great job ladies!
To wrap everything up, we’d like to thank all of our sponsors and volunteers for making this tournament possible: Bryan Moore, Todd Bare, Deanna Garmon, Academy Outdoors, Skyline Marine, Shimano Fishing, Water Wood Custom Baits, and Woods to Water Outdoor Company.