Lunkers abound as spring arrives

Knowledgeable bass anglers understand late February and early March are the best times to seek lunker largemouths.Big females add weight for the rigors of the upcoming spawn during late March and April by eating 24/7. This activity gives anglers seeking a big bass a distinct advantage, even though the air and water temperatures still may contain a hint of winter.

The first event of the season for Phil McCarson’s Boats Unlimited-Piedmont Bass Classics 2012 Spring Bass Tournament Trail at Shearon Harris Lake proved the point.

“We had 74 teams show up for our first qualifying tournament,” said the Durham-based McCarson. “It was a great turnout for a day that featured 25-35 mph sustained winds out of the northwest with air temps never reaching above 55 degrees.”

The bass chasers landed 137 fish for a total weight of 433 pounds.

“Most fish were caught in 6 to 10 feet of water on a variety of baits, including jerk baits, plastic worms, crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps for the most part,” McCarson said. “Water temps were around the 50 to 52 degree area.”

McCarson chose Harris to kick off the season because it’s the state’s premier lunker factory, regularly giving up 8- to 12-pounders, especially during early spring.

Bryce McClenney (Raleigh) and his partner Michael Christie (Fuquay-Varina) landed five bass weighing 28.23 pounds to win the event and earn $1,305.

Jesse Soles and Ron White, both of  Aberdeen, also caught a limit (five bass) for 19.32 pounds and $800.

Mitch Hargrove (Dunn) and Ashley Ivey (McGhees Crossroads) sacked a limit totalling 18.83 pounds and won $575.

Jamie Fijardo (Rougemont) and Phillip Eakes (Fuquay-Varina) put five in the boat weighing 18.51 pounds and collected $520.

K.C. Choosakul (Cameron) and Michael Allen (Sanford) rounded out the top five with five bass at 16.75 pounds and took home $463.

First-place big fish went to Vinston Nettles (Pittsboro) and Jimmie Spencer (Asheboro) for an 8.38-pounder that won them $1,008.

The next Piedmont Bass Classics event is March 10 at Shearon Harris. For more information or to contact McCarson, call 919-471-1571 or 919-971-5042, email philsflags@msn.com or visit www.piedmontbassclassics.com.