Flats and roamers

Cherry said a key to success around marinas is identifying flats along the banks.  “Those fish are just roaming,” he explained. “They’re moving up and down the banks, and then...

Smith’s slow start

We just pulled up on Day 1 leader Blake Smith, and the angler was having a slow day.  Apparently he lost a good keeper first thing in a marina, and...

An afternoon flurry has begun

Co-angler, David Deciucis from Chester, Virginia, has had a strong day leading up to his afternoon flurry. With bites coming fairly often, he seems to be picking through the small...

Where is everyone?

“I can’t believe no one is here,” Cherry murmured over and over. We pulled into one cove in which schooling bass blew up several times in the 10 minutes during...

Timing docks

Hank Cherry said another great option for tournament-winning stringers is focusing on docks. “Fish will be under the docks for shade, but they’re looking for one thing: bait,” Cherry said....

Spots vs. largemouth

The fishery at Lake Norman currently is weighted toward one species of bass.  “I’d say the lake right now has 70% spotted bass,” Cherry said.  That might seem to indicate...

Ghost bass

We pulled up on Joey Nania just in time to see him catch his fourth keeper off a brush pile.  Nania caught one more throwback, but confirmed Cherry’s assessment of...

Changing conditions

Cherry said one major hurdle faced by this week’s competitors is the change in the weather.  “They’ve had three days of rain and low pressure, and that will make activity...

Marinas could play

Cherry said marinas could play a role in this event. “Bass are utilizing that shade,” he said. “ They’re just cruising that shade looking for bait.” The great thing about...

Key spots on Norman

Hank Cherry said one key to success this week could be locating a number of brush piles holding schools of bass.  “Usually the first fish or two you catch will...