Strader camped on a rock pile

Just when it looked like Wesley Strader might be ready to leave the Lookout Shoals Dam area, he caught the 4-pounder reported earlier, and now it appears he’s going to...

Strader adds a 4-pounder

The area below Lookout Shoals Dam hadn’t produced for tournament leader Wesley Strader nearly as well as it did yesterday. He told photographer Andy Crawford that he was thinking about...

Strader adds another 2-pounder

Wesley Strader is pounding the current seams below Lookout Shoals Dam with his signature Stan Sloan Zorro Bait Co. spinnerbait. He moved to another seam near the bank and added...

Strader has No. 1

Wesley Strader has broken the ice with a 2 1/2-pounder. It came shortly after the current started ripping below Lookout Shoals Dam. Photographer Andy Crawford is following Strader this morning...

Water is on the way

Wesley Strader heard the horn sound at Lookout Shoals Dam, looked to photographer Andy Crawford and gave the thumbs up sign just minutes before 9 a.m. Water is on the...

Strader’s game plan today

Wesley Strader’s got only one seven-hour practice day on Lake Norman after winning the Elite Series event Monday at Kentucky Lake. The first cast he made was in the tailrace...

Walters, Pike with little limits

The Day 1 leaders – Patrick Walters (15-12) and Cody Pike (15-6) both have small limits so far today – 5 bass weighing a total of 7 or 8 pounds....

Pike has four keepers

Cody Pike has four keepers now, as he continues to bide his time productively, waiting for the start of what has been prime time for him this week – 11 a.m....

Walters has two squeakers

Read “sarcasm” in the photo above. Patrick Walters provided an overly dramatic display of his second bass of the day. That’s not one he hopes to have in his bag...

Pike on the board – twice

Cody Pike just caught his first keeper – a 15-incher, according to photographer Andy Crawford. Then he added a second one, which barely touched the 14-inch minimum. Pike is still...