EDENTON, N.C. — Seven North Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation anglers have advanced to the 2018 B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern and a chance at qualifying for a berth to the GEICO Bassmaster Classic.
The North Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation hosted its Eastern Qualifier May 19-20 at Bayside Marina out of Pembroke Creek on the Chowan River with 110 anglers vying to represent the NC Nation at the 2018 B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Regional. The tournament qualified the top four finishers on the boater side and the top three non-boaters for the NC state team that will compete in the regional.
Adam Richardson of the Hog Snatchers Bass Masters weighed in 18.42 pounds of bass the first day and followed up with a 13.75-pound bag the second day to earn boater champion honors. Richardson qualified once before for the state team, but this was his first championship win. Richardson’s two-day catch anchored his Hog Snatchers team, which won its first team championship with a total weight of 92.50 pounds and edged out the Sandy Creek Bass Masters team that had 90.86 pounds.
Richardson was challenged by several anglers bringing in big bags on Day 2. Mike Lanier of Pender County Bass Masters brought 19.29 pounds of bass to the scales on Day 2 to finish second with a two-day total of 31.66 pounds. David Ward of the Outer Banks Bass Masters weighed in 18.07 pounds on Day 2 to finish third with 29.65 pounds. Ed Collier of Five County Bass Masters placed fourth with 26.98 pounds. Mark Lamb brought in the largest bag of the tourney (20.04 pounds) on Day 2 to jump from 27th place on Day 1 to fifth place on Day 2 with 26.89. The top four anglers punched their ticket to the B.A.S.S. Eastern Regional with Lamb serving as the first alternate if one of the four qualifiers is unable to make the event.
Danny Hayes of 5 County Bass Masters won the NC B.A.S.S. Nation non-boater championship with 20.11 pounds. The victory was his first NCBN championship title and his first time advancing to the state team. Lance Kornegay took second place on the non-boater side with 19.55 pounds. Third Place went to NC Nation Conservation Director Bill Frazier who weighed in 18.64 pounds to advance to his first B.A.S.S. Regional.
The Triton Big Fish Honors for Day 1 went to boater Jeffrey Davis with a 7.27-pounder and non-boater Scott Rock with a 5.49-pound bass.
The Day 2 Lowrance Big Bass award winners were boater Mike Lanier, 7.05-pounder; and non-boater Bill Frazier, 4.20-pounder.
Working the tournament for the NC Nation were Lenny and Vicky Smathers, Chuck and Lori Murray, Jason Tew, Roger Thomas and Jeffrey Davis (NCBN website designer/manager).
