Former Elite Series angler Shane Lineberger is as good a source as anyone for what to expect on Lake Norman this week in the Bass Pro Shops Eastern Open #2. Lineberger finished sixth in 2014 in the Bass Pro Open at Lake Norman. He lives in nearby Lincolnton, N.C.
“You’re going to see a lot of worms getting thrown around,” Lineberger said at Wednesday’s anglers’ meeting. “You’re going to see a lot of 8- to 10-pound limits that are going to get caught on the ned rig, wacky worms, shaky heads, things like that. The difference is going to be getting a 4-pound topwater bite in the morning, and being able to ride it for two days. That’s the difference between finishing 60th and getting in the top 12 (on Day 3).”
The spawn has mostly come and gone on Lake Norman. Lineberger is seeing plentiful bass fry. The adults are thin, coming off the spawn.
“I think the weights are going to be down for this tournament because the fish have spawned and they’re skinny,” he said. “You catch an 18-inch fish and it weighs two pounds, where usually it weighs 2 1/2 or 2 3/4 pounds.
“I don’t think it’s going to take a really big weight to win here – 43 to 45 pounds. It’s going to take 10 1/2 pounds a day to get you paid, get you in the top 40, and it’s going to take 12 to 12 1/2 a day to get you in the 12 cut (on Saturday).”