This is it. The turning point of the season. A fishery with very little history to begin with, during a distinctively different season than the first time the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series competed there.
A fishery so massive, a slight increase in wind direction and speed can make for a nightmare run. That is the Albemarle Sound, a collection of rivers that also happen to hold massive largemouth bass.
It’s a chance to separate and jump up the Angler of the Year standings before the weights tighten up at Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River. It provides the true summer largemouth anglers a chance to shine.
Here are the storylines heading into event number seven.
‘Scopers vs. froggers
Time is a flat circle.
Summertime fishing on this system is always a blast, according to local anglers. Two distinctive patterns have been unfolding over the last few years: forward-facing sonar offshore techniques, and frogging and flipping.
Which one will prevail? Early indications point to FFS. A drier-than-normal spring season has water levels below average. Some of the productive lily pad fields are dry, limiting the opportunities for power fishing techniques in that zone.
Other sections of the fishery, on the other hand, have been pumping out giant bags offshore. We are talking 28- to 34-pound stringers. There’s a chance a historically good ledge fisherman can contend for a blue trophy this week, too.
That doesn’t mean shallow power fishing can’t be productive, but there seems to be a ceiling on how good it can be right now.
What is the likelihood of a repeat?
Last year, Kyle Welcher blew the tournament away, landing over 30 pounds the first three days of the tournament on his way to 118 pounds and some change. That was during the spawn, and the area outside of takeoff in the Pasquotank River has been fished, no telling how many times since last March.
The fishing pressure, the time of year and the favorable wind forecast make it less likely that any sort of repeat can happen in that little area. What is repeatable is the 30-pound stringers. It happens all the time in local derbies, but how many anglers will land on that quality is yet to be seen.
Don’t be surprised if another Century Belt or two is claimed this week. Welcher finishing towards the top of the leaderboard is quite possible as well. There’s a lot about this place that sets up for how he likes to operate.
Unlocking the rest of the Sound
The Chowan and Roanoke Rivers are the crown jewels of the system, but during the 2025 events, those rivers did not shine as many had anticipated. A lot of that was due to the wind, which created some of the more treacherous conditions some Elite anglers had ever seen. Getting to the Roanoke and the Chowan from Elizabeth City ate up time and equipment.
If calmer conditions prevail, the true potential of the fishery could reveal itself. Right now, Thursday’s opening round looks the diciest. Winds are projected at 10-15 mph out of the WSW. Friday looks relatively tame, with winds out of the WSW at 5 to 10 mph. The winds shift to the north on Saturday at 5-10 mph before 10-15 mph winds out of the WSW return for Championship Sunday.
That entire forecast could change or be underestimated, but as it stands, it isn’t the nightmare forecast it could be.
Anglers to Watch
Trey McKinney: Obviously. He got his bad tournament of the year out of the way at Santee Cooper and finished third here in 2025.
Bryan Schmitt: It’s been a bit of an odd, roller coaster season for Schmitt, who currently sits in 61st in AOY. While not a tidal fishery, Schmitt is one of the best river fishermen on tour. In a tournament where finding isolated cover and structure elements will be key, expect the Maryland native to rebound in a big way this week.
Fisher Anaya: The Alabama rookie is as good as anyone with his FFS, and expect those skills to shine this week. He already won a tournament fishing isolated pieces of cover at Lake Martin.
Greg Hackney: Hackney created some positive momentum at Santee Cooper with a Top 10 finish, and if there is anyone who can unlock a shallow power fishing bite, it’s the Hack Attack.
John Garrett: There aren’t many competitors better at fishing offshore current than Garrett. While not the typical Tennessee River ledge derby, Garrett has all the tools to locate those offshore mega-bass.
