It has been nearly 4 months since my last fishing tournament due to starting the guide business, remodeling the house and vacations. They have pulled me away from trying my luck at winning some money from the bass club boys. Saturdays event was held on Tuckertown Lake in central North Carolina. This is the second lake on the Yadkin river chain, just below High Rock Lake and above Badin Lake. The lake has not been kind to me in the past, but that all changed last Saturday.
Locally Tuckertown Lake is not known for being a great fishery. The lake is unfortunately infested with a odd vegetation that is similar to thick black mats of dead weeds. It is on most of the banks and humps in the lake and can fowl a lure on almost every cast. Last years event on Tuckertown I was only able to bring in one keeper, which I caught on my last cast near the launch ramp. That type of finish can put a mental damper on anyone that fishing tournaments. However, I got some great advice from a friend that really cleared my mind the day of the event.
![]()
Another thing that cleared my mind on tournament day was keeping the attitude of having a fun fishing day. After fishing tournaments almost every weekend last year you can easily get burnt out. Of course I missed it, but I also needed the break to reestablish my fishing style.
The day brought 5-10 mph winds and cloud cover for most of the day. Around 1pm the clouds cleared and brought the hot sun heat that we have been experiencing in North Carolina. The baits of choice were simple a Gamakatsu size 3/0 hook with a Gary Yamamoto Senko rigged wacky style, a Strike King Sexy frog in Tiger Black and a Norman little N crankbait.
The reason I keep it simple was to really focus on the area I was planning to fish rather than the bait I would be throwing. As well, a whacky rig can be one of the easiest and fastest way to get a big fish in the boat in the morning. The crankbait was used as a search bait on the weed edge and the frog was of course for the water donkeys chilling under the mats.
![]()
Just as I had thought, I was able to trick a nice 4lb plus fish into biting the whacky rig within the first 30 minutes. The fish came on the outside edge of the river channel on a deep bank near a rock ledge. A thing to remember when fishing a whacky rig is, dont slam the hook back for your hook set. It is more like adding pressure and a quick wrist snap. You don't want to pull the lure right out of its mouth. A few hours went by with a few small keepers on the wacky rig. My partner and I ran up into a creek that is known to have some great mats. I was rewarded by our choice with a FAT 5.63lb monster that engulfed the frog near a laydown. This fish wanted nothing more than to make that frog disappear like a magic trick.
I was only able to end the day with three fish due to a few short hits on the Norman crankbait but it was good enough to put the team in 2nd place and win big fish. It was a great way to come back to the club tournaments after being MIA for a few months. As well, it really gave me a confidence boost in my tournament fishing skills and decision making. Next month is at one of my favorite lakes..... Badin Lake.
Locally Tuckertown Lake is not known for being a great fishery. The lake is unfortunately infested with a odd vegetation that is similar to thick black mats of dead weeds. It is on most of the banks and humps in the lake and can fowl a lure on almost every cast. Last years event on Tuckertown I was only able to bring in one keeper, which I caught on my last cast near the launch ramp. That type of finish can put a mental damper on anyone that fishing tournaments. However, I got some great advice from a friend that really cleared my mind the day of the event.
Another thing that cleared my mind on tournament day was keeping the attitude of having a fun fishing day. After fishing tournaments almost every weekend last year you can easily get burnt out. Of course I missed it, but I also needed the break to reestablish my fishing style. The day brought 5-10 mph winds and cloud cover for most of the day. Around 1pm the clouds cleared and brought the hot sun heat that we have been experiencing in North Carolina. The baits of choice were simple a Gamakatsu size 3/0 hook with a Gary Yamamoto Senko rigged wacky style, a Strike King Sexy frog in Tiger Black and a Norman little N crankbait.
The reason I keep it simple was to really focus on the area I was planning to fish rather than the bait I would be throwing. As well, a whacky rig can be one of the easiest and fastest way to get a big fish in the boat in the morning. The crankbait was used as a search bait on the weed edge and the frog was of course for the water donkeys chilling under the mats.
Just as I had thought, I was able to trick a nice 4lb plus fish into biting the whacky rig within the first 30 minutes. The fish came on the outside edge of the river channel on a deep bank near a rock ledge. A thing to remember when fishing a whacky rig is, dont slam the hook back for your hook set. It is more like adding pressure and a quick wrist snap. You don't want to pull the lure right out of its mouth. A few hours went by with a few small keepers on the wacky rig. My partner and I ran up into a creek that is known to have some great mats. I was rewarded by our choice with a FAT 5.63lb monster that engulfed the frog near a laydown. This fish wanted nothing more than to make that frog disappear like a magic trick. I was only able to end the day with three fish due to a few short hits on the Norman crankbait but it was good enough to put the team in 2nd place and win big fish. It was a great way to come back to the club tournaments after being MIA for a few months. As well, it really gave me a confidence boost in my tournament fishing skills and decision making. Next month is at one of my favorite lakes..... Badin Lake.