The Carhartt Bassmaster College Series heads for the east coast where collegiate anglers will take on North Carolina’s Lake Norman April 12-13 in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Eastern Regional Championship.
After spending last weekend on the west coast, the Carhartt College caravan made the trek across country for the fourth stop of the season. East coast anglers eagerly await Day One of competition.
Schools set for competition include UNC Charlotte, UNC, NC State, Georgetown College, Centenary College, Clemson, Appalachian State, CNU, Virginia Tech, Radford, WVU and more.
Anglers are competing for a coveted Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship berth and their shot at the Bassmaster Classic. Each two-angler team will compete for two days on Lake Amistad with the goal of finishing in the Top 10. The Top 10 teams will then advance to the Carhartt College Bassmaster National Championship. The 10-team qualification is based on a field of 50 boats. With each additional 10 boats, an additional championship berth is provided.
Shane Lehew from UNC Charlotte is one angler with particular interest in the Eastern Regional. Lehew and his fellow teammates from UNC Charlotte fish Norman almost every weekend and are heavily favored in the event.
“We fish here about every weekend,” said Lehew. “There are a few on bed but mostly everything is still prespawn.”
Lehew expects that prespawn fish will win the Eastern Regional.
“The winners may mix a few sight fish in but for the most part it will be won fishing docks,” said Lehew. “It’s going to take mostly largemouth to win. There are some 3- and 4-pound spots in the lake but for the most part, largemouth will win.”
Lehew predicts that it will take 15 pounds a day to win.
A huge front is currently making its way across the country. It may die down as it makes its way towards the east coast but if it doesn’t Day One is bound to be a wet one.
“It’s 80 degrees right now,” said Lehew. “But it’s supposed to be cloudy and rainy the first day of the tournament.”
In regards to changing how the lake will fish, he says “It might put them off the docks in the morning but later in the day it’ll go right back to dock fishing.”
We’ll have to see what the weather holds. Daily coverage of this week’s event will feature a live video stream from the weigh-in, photo galleries, BASSCam videos and stories on Bassmaster.com.
Teams will launch at Blythe Landing daily at 7 a.m. ET, with weigh-ins also at Blythe Landing starting at 3:10 p.m. ET. For more information about the event, visit the event page.