ATHENS, Al. – Phillip McClung of Salisbury NC, won the Bass Pro Shops Open Series season opener on Lake Norman on 2/27/21. Running out of Pinnacle Wildlife Access in Mooresville NC, McClung weighed in a five bass limit weighing 13.53 pounds. McClung took home $2500.00 for the win. Also being in the Triton Gold program he qualified for contingency monies from Triton.
“It was a grind today,” said McClung. “I caught some of my fish on a crankbait in the 4-5 foot depth and some of my fish on the A-rig.”
Taking second for the boaters, Jerry Pruitt of Vale, NC weighed in a five bass limit weighing 12.74 pounds. His limit was anchored by a bass weighing 6.14 pounds which was the largest bass weighed in by a boater. Pruitt took home $1600.00.
“I caught all of my fish today on a crankbait in the 5-6 foot range,” said Pruitt. “I was able to cull out once.”
Taking third for the boaters Scott Beattie of Sherrill’s Ford, NC weighed in five bass weighing 12.63 pounds.
Beattie reported catching his fish on a Queen’s Tackle titanium 3/8-ounce jig with a zoom twin tail with the tail dyed in 1-2 feet around docks.
In fourth place for the boaters, Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, NC weighed in five bass weighing 12.57 pounds and rounding out the top five Scott Hamrick of Denver, NC weighed in five bass weighing 11.66 pounds.
In the co-angler division Steve Cannon of Wilkesboro, NC weighed in three bass weighing 7.51 pounds to take the win. His weight was anchored by a bass weighing 3.24 pounds. Cannon took home $1000.00 for the win.
“I caught six keepers today all on a crankbait in the 6-8 foot range,” said Cannon.
In second place for the co-anglers, Chris Anderson of Mooresville, NC weighed in a three bass limit weighing 6.93 pounds.
Anderson reported catching four keepers all on a jerkbait in the 2-12 foot range.
Taking third for the co-anglers, Anthony Petrella of Charlotte, NC weighed in three bass weighing 5.48 pounds.
“I caught six keepers today on a crankbait fishing the 6-8 foot range,” said Petrella.
In fourth place for the co-anglers, Mark Glende of Raleigh, NC weighed in three bass weighing 5.39 pounds and rounding out the top five, Stanley Jimson of Kings Mountain, NC weighed in three bass weighing 5.03 pounds.
Patrick Cotchen of Johnstown, PA took the co-angler big bass honors with a bass that weighed 4.75 pounds. Cotchen took home $265.00 for his catch.
About American Bass Anglers – American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler while offering an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and all their bass tournament trails visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
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