CORNELIUS, N.C. — Thirteen was a lucky number for Tracy Adams today during the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Norman.
The Wilkesboro, N.C., angler caught a 13-pound, 13-ounce limit today to retain the lead in the pro division of the Open. The 2011 Bassmaster Classic qualifier has a two-day total weight of 34-10 to take a commanding lead in his bid for a return to the Classic.
The local favorite expected to catch 12 pounds a day during this event, and today he once again sacked up more than he anticipated. “I didn’t know if I could catch 7 pounds or 10 pounds,” Adams said. “I was hoping for 12.
“I didn’t bed fish any today,” said Adams, who caught a 6-pounder and a 4 1/2-pounder off of beds yesterday. I just went around doing my thing throwing a little worm and it just worked out again today.”
Adams bagged a limit by 9:30 a.m. today, but he estimated he had only 8 1/2 pounds. Sticking with one pattern the whole day he culled out fish throughout the day to reach his Lucky 13 limit. “I caught fish all over the lake,” he said. “I ran from the dam all the way up to the bridge and back. I have fished this lake a long time and I know places that generally hold them, but that doesn’t always mean they are going to be there. I just have to go out there and get what I can.”
A light wind is predicted for tomorrow, which could be a problem for Adams. “I need a little bit of wind for what I am doing, but maybe I will figure something else out if what I am doing is not working.”
Sunshine and wind later in the day helped Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bradley Roy catch a 13-4 limit to move into second place with 25-11. “The cold rain really hurt things and it took me a long time to catch one this morning,” said Roy. “It was very slow but once the sun got back out it was the same conditions that I had been practicing in and I started catching them again. So hopefully tomorrow it will be sunshine and blowing a little wind.”
The Lancaster, Ky., pro caught his limit by 1 p.m. “Then I made two important culls with about an hour to go,” said Roy, who caught 11 keepers and 25 fish throughout the day. “I am catching one here and then running and catching one there, so I will try to do it again tomorrow.”
Rounding out the top five in the pro division are Pete Bejte, Charlotte, N.C., in third place with 24-1; Kevin Hawk, Guntersville, Ala., fourth, 23-11; and Gerald Swindle, Warrior, Ala., fifth, 23-3.
Glynn Goodwin of Marietta, Ohio, moved into first place in the co-angler division by catching a three-fish limit weighing 9-9. “We fished the same kind of stuff today as I did yesterday,” said the 30-year-old pipefitter who has 15-10 for two days. “I just got really blessed with two big bites and landed both of them. I caught one on a shaky head and caught the other one on a Carolina rig.”
The other top five co-anglers are Tom McDermott, Madison, N.C., second, 12-13; John Hembree, Blue Ridge, Ga., third, 11-11; Ethan Cox, West End, N.C., and John Kunze, Parkersburg, W.Va., tied for fourth, 11-10.
Visit Lake Norman is hosting the Open. Tomorrow’s launch will be held at Blythe Landing at 15901 NC Highway 73. The final day weigh-in will shift to the Bass Pro Shops at 8181 Concord Mills Blvd., in Concord.