Elite

A look at Pasquotank River 2026

Elites return to Albemarle Sound, site of Kyle Welcher’s record beatdown.

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Captions by
Mike Suchan
Stop No. 7 takes the 98 anglers on B.A.S.S.’s top circuit back to northeastern North Carolina this week for the Maxam Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. The Elites competed there last year for the first time, when Kyle Welcher won wire-to-wire and set the record margin of victory.
Predictions of 30-pound bags and 100 pounds came to fruition only for Welcher, who ending up calling himself “The Chosen One.” While others busted boats and backs traveling through Albemarle Sound for less congested rivers, Welcher had a key early bite near takeoff in Elizabeth City that made him forego long, bumpy trips.
Targeting spawning bass with his trusty Bronco Bug, the Alabama pro eclipsed 30 pounds each of the first three rounds, which included the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of 34-0 on Day 3 bolstered by a 10-8, the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the event.
Increasing his lead each day, Welcher won his first Elite title in style with 118-12, earning his first Century Club belt. He scored a whopping 45-7 margin of victory, blowing away Patrick Walter’s mark of 29-10 in the 2020 Lake Fork Elite.
Don’t expect another similar beatdown this time, with more knowledge and the event being two months later, but a local guide again expects similar totals on the massive tournament waters. The playing fields stretches about 150 miles north and south and anglers can fish for bass longer than 14 inches as far up the numerous rivers as possible without locking.
Visit Elizabeth City is event host. Founded in 1794, Elizabeth City, pop. 18,629, has a long history of shipping. Named after a tavern proprietress who donated much of the land, the city on a narrow bend of the Pasquotank River is known as the “Harbor of Hospitality.”
Waterfront Park at 508 S. Water St. in Elizabeth City is tournament central. The Elites launch June 11-14 at 6:30 a.m. ET with weigh-ins set to begin at 3 p.m. After two days, the Top 50 compete to determine the 10 who advance on Championship Sunday for the $100,000 top prize and blue trophy.
Local guide and tournament angler Matt Greschak again expects big things. “The way it is setting up, it is going to be good. There will be big weights caught again,” Greschak said. “If someone brings back 35 pounds one day, I won’t be surprised, and another bass over 10 pounds will be weighed in, I think. Someone should get a belt, if not a couple people.”
While Welcher caught 13 bass over 7 pounds and averaged almost 6 pounds per fish, the rest of the field averaged under 3 pounds, with second-place Brandon Lester next best at 3-10. Still, Greschak said anglers have flocked there since that derby. “So many more people have been coming to fish,” he said. “It gave it the exposure the city was looking for.”  
The area has experienced a dry spring, pushing brackish water further up the rivers. The forecast looks positive for travel, with winds remaining below 10 mph. Last year, whipping winds made for treacherous runs.
Recent events have required 30-pound weights, Greschak said, so the quality remains. Yet those results have come from certain areas, including the Roanoke River. “Everything to the west of Elizabeth City has been playing,” he said. “The Chowan has been putting them out and the Perquimans has been fishing really well.” Bluegill and crawfish are primary forage on the eastern side of the fishery while shad and herring prevail in the west.
The event allows forward-facing sonar, which will play in locating offshore hard bottom and wood cover. “The Chowan and the Roanoke have drains in them that pour fresh water in constantly,” Greschak said. “That helps keep the salinity lower, and the bass do better in those conditions. River herring are also in the Chowan like nowhere else.” 
Greschak said he expects urchin baits, jighead minnows as well as jerkbaits, swimbaits and glidebaits to play. Flipping and frogging bites should come in lily pads, but low water might hamper it. “The river doesn’t have a lot of current right now,” he said. “It is still good, but a lot of the lily pad fields I thought would be good are kind of dry right now. You’ll still see guys catch them on a frog, but I don’t think that will be the winning deal.”
Crowds came out in force last year, and this tournament is being held in conjunction with Elizabeth City Hooked on the Harbor Festival. There will be live music, local craft vendors and food trucks at Waterfront Park from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All B.A.S.S. events are free to attend.
Canadian Cory Johnston goes into the Pasquotank leading Trey McKinney by 20 points in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. Johnston’s younger brother, Chris, won the past two AOY titles with McKinney second both times. Caleb Hudson has a 58-point lead on Fisher Anaya in the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race.
The Pasquotank became the 11th venue to produce an Elite Century Club belt, and North Carolina now boasts the third-best total weight of any state, behind only Texas and California. Live coverage of the event will be available June 11 and 12 at 8 a.m. ET on Bassmaster.com and the Roku Sports Channel through 3 p.m. ET. FS1 airs weekend action June 13-14 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., then LIVE resumes on Bassmaster.com at 1:30 p.m. until the weigh-in.

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