High Rock striper event produces one overall winner

Layne Beck (left) and Ronnie Beck of Thomasville with two High Rock stripers, one weighed 10.05 pounds; the other, 8.40 pounds.

Becks are only team to catch fish out of 15-boat field

The Tarheel Striper Club typically awards cash prizes for the top three finshers, plus a cash prize for the big fish of the day. First place and big fish winners also receive trophies.

At the club’s March 16 Open tournament on High Rock Lake, the Thomasville team of Ronnie Beck and Layne Beck swept all the cash prizes and trophies by being the only team in the 15-team field to weigh in a striper.

The Becks had two stripers. One fish weighed 10.05 pounds; the other 8.40 for a total of 18.45 pounds. They received $362 in cash for taking the top three spots, a trophy for first place plus $115 and a trophy for catching the big fish of the day.

Unlike many teams that chose to fish the clearer waters of Flat Swamp Creek, the Becks trolled the muddy main river channel with lead-core line rigged with Sassy Shad lures. Their only two bites accounted for their two fish.

Lexington’s Jerry Hill witnessed one of the stripers coming on board.

“Maybe I didn’t catch any fish, but at least I got to see one,” said Hill.

The poor fishing at the Rock didn’t surprise anyone. The largemouth and striped bass fishing has been slow throughout March because of high winds, cold weather, and rain.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

FLW TourSmith Lake, Ala., March 7-10

1. Brent Ehrler (Redlands, Calif.), 60-9, $125,000; 2. Jacob Powroznik (Prince George, Va.), 53-5, $35,000; 13. David Fritts (Lexington), 34-0, $12,500; 43. Bryan Thrift (Shelby), 20-6, $10,000; 45. Chris Baumgardner (Gastonia), 20-0, $10,000; 69. Brent Long (Cornelius), 16-12, $4,000; 75. Matt Arey (Shelby), 16-7, $4,000. Co-angler: 1. Hoyt Tidwell (West Point, Tenn.), 34-1, $20,000; 39. Justin Jones (Apex), 10-4, $1,100; 52. Bryan New (Belmont), 8-10, $700.

Carolina AnglersTeam Trail, Old North Division

Shearon Harris Lake, March 9

1. Jeremy Sabo-Dale Campo, 25.15, $1,265; 2. Billy West (Raleigh)-Tracy Sykes (New Hill), 22.78, $640; 3. Jamie Fajardo (Fuquay-Varina)-Josh Hooks, 21.00, $402; 4. Chad Craven (Raleigh)-Ben Cannon (Apex), 19.69, $175; 5, Dennis Reedy (Siler City)-Jeffrey Thomas (Broadway), 17.39; 6. Steve Bishop-Robin Bowen, 15.25, $100. Big fish: Tony Woodard (Four Oaks)-Scott Smith (Apex), 9.04 pounds, $238.

Carolina Anglers Team Trail, Lake Wylie Division, March 9

1. Gene Webster, 16.49, $625; 2. Roger Hoover (Mooresville), 4.95, $660; 3. Matt Queen/Todd Garner, 14.54, $250; 4. Matt Hayes-Hunter Hicks, 14.54, $130; 5. Rob Sledzewski-Ricky Elliot, 13.89, $200; 6. David Winters (Rock Hill, S.C.)-Brian Huskins, 13.71, $100. Big fish: Chad Taylor-Matt Frazier, 5.75 pounds, $210.

CBS Quality Cars Mini Trail, Jordan Lake, March 16

1. Mark Herndon (Bahama)-Jay Garrard (Durham), 22.11, $940; 2. Michael-Steve Hatley (Chapel Hill ), 14.91, $525; 3. K.C. Choosakul (Cameron)-Michael Allen (Sanford), 12.99, $415; 4. Will Howard (Raleigh)-Ken Carnes (Apex), 12.86, $310; 5. Randy Fisher (Hillsborough)-Donnie Lowe (Mebane), 12.12, $222; 6. Phillip Johnson (Durham), 11.27, $195; 7. Jim-Trey Nichols (Chapel Hill), 10.31, $168. Big fish: Fisher-Lowe, 8.10 pounds, $259.

Fishers of Men East Division, Pasquotank River, March 16

1. John Kellett-Adam Baldwin, 12.60, $1,632.50; 2. Derek Smithson-Chad Pernell, 12.55, $752.50; 3. Gerald Murray-Kevin Jones, 12.01, $532; 4. Darren Saunders-John Duncan III, 10.37, and big fish 6.83 pounds, $410; 5. Patrick Seigh-Scott Mummert, 9.72, $198; 6. Charles Goff-Bobby Clarke, 8.83, $150.

Bassmaster Elite Series, Sabine River ChallengeSabine River, Orange, Texas, March 14-17

1. Todd Faircloth (Jasper, Tex.), 49-6, $100,000; 40. Hank Cherry (Maiden), 14.7, $10,000.

Collins Bass for Cash Series Open Division

Jordan Lake, March 10

1. Randy Fisher-Donnie Lowe, 21.83, plus 7.67-pound big fish, $1,065 and merchandise; 2. Jonathan Phillips-Rusty White, 10.20; 3. Tommy Rutledge-Dale McCoy, 7.01; 4. Billy Vierra-Harry Smith, 6.90; 5. Jeff Staton-David Glen, 6.69; 6. Trey Nanney, 6.05.

115 hp and under Division

1. Emmanuel Leanu, 13.45, and big fish, 5.27 pounds, $192 & merchandise.

Carolina Coach & Marine Monday Night Trail

Lake Norman, March 18

1. Alfred Kiesling Senior (Mooresville)-Butch Holder, $570; 2. Scott Hamrick-Roger Hoover (Denver), 15.40, $285; 3. Scott-Dwight Beattie (Lincolnton), 14.25, $115.

Fontana Classic Bass Tournament

Fontana Lake, March 16-17

1. Kevin Parton-Jamey Beck, 32-14, $2,000; 2. Darren Lail-Kyle Garland, 31-10, $1,000; 3. Kep Biggs-Randy Parton, 30-15, $500; 4. Chris Gillespie-Dusty Williams, 27-10, $400; 5. John Bailey-Roy Bailey, 25-11, $200; 6. Ray Elliott-Mike Cope, 24-05, $200; 7. Bo Coats-Clint Conner, 22-10, $200; 8. Scott Orr-Sam Orr, 22-09, $200. Biggest largemouth bass: Scott Orr-Sam Orr, 5-0, $100. Biggest smallmouth bass: Jim Ballwin-Mark Rhyne, 4-05, $100. Biggest spotted bass: Briggs-R. Parton, 3-02, $100.