Norman Scouting Report
Limit-Fish Biting, So Ounces Will Matter Again

Photo: FLW Outdoors/Jeff Schroeder Brent Long wants to power-fish and has been searching for shad-spawn activity.

Last year's Norman FLW Tour was a little different. That's because a few of the Top 10 stumbled the final day, and Larry Nixon caught an extra 2 1/2 pounds to win by a 3 1/2-pound margin.

But remember, too, that Nixon squeaked into the final Top 10 cut position by just 3 ounces. And 25th place on day 2 was only 1-06 in back of the cut.

The way it settles out at Norman this time of year is that about 75% of the field catches a limit of largemouths and spots (minimum length for both is 14 inches), then begins the quest for the cull. And culling often improves bags by only an ounce or two each time.

There are chances for kickers, of course – either a bed-fish, or a morning swimbait fish – and that can be the make-or-break bite. But alongside that, an angler needs a solid bag of slightly better-than-average fish to survive the cut and challenge for the win.

Before more about the bite, as well as BassFan's recommendations on the Top 10 anglers to watch (or pick) for this event, here's more about the lake itself.

BassFan Lake Profile

> Lake name: Norman
> Type of water: Lowland reservoir
> Surface acres: 32,510
> Primary structure/cover: Boat docks (by the ton), points, clay banks, humps, shoals, creek channels, stumps, brushpiles
> Primary forage: Crawfish, alewives, blueback herring, shad
> Average depth: 33.5 feet
> Species: Largemouths and spotted bass
> Minimum length: 14 inches
> Reputation: Good numbers lake but big bites are scarce
> Weather: Warm and fairly stable, but some possible thunderstorms and precipitation in the mix for the weekend
> Water temp: Low-60s
> Water visibility/color: Mostly clear/10 feet in some places
> Water level: About 6 inches above average
> Fish in: 2 to 30 feet
> Fish phase: A mix of pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn
> Primary patterns: Plastics (especially finesse worms), docks, sight-fishing, jigs, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, topwaters
> Winning weight: 27 pounds (final 2 days)
> Cut weight (Top 10 after 2 days): 25 pounds
> Check weight (Top 50 after 2 days): 21 pounds
> Fishing quality (1=poor, 5=great): 3 for Norman
> Biggest factor: A few big bed-fish, plus angling pressure on the fish
> Biggest decision: Whether to fish the creeks for largemouths or the main lake for spots
> Wildcard: The sight-bite

Options

The Norman layout is pretty much a classic. There are thousands of docks along the highly developed shoreline. Countless creeks and cuts offer an immense total of shoreline. And off the bank, stumps, brushpiles and humps add to the array.

But the preponderance of 14- to 16-inch fish means that power-fishing isn't always the best option – especially right now. The post-spawners have yet to begin gorging in predicable fashion – largely because the shad haven't started spawning yet (see below).

So as of now, there's a whole lot of shakin' going on.

It's a good bet that at least 50% of the field will rely on some type of worm for a limit. That's how Larry Nixon won it last year, and he's arguably the greatest worm-fisherman of all-time.

Look for other known finesse specialists – names like Luke Clausen and Shinichi Fukae – to finish well this week.

Long Looks to Power

Local Brent Long, who lives right in Cornelius, where the event will launch from, is a Tour sophomore. He finished 30th here last year.

"I'd say 70% of field will be throwing a shakey-head, or trick worms and stuff like that," he said. I'm still old-school. I can't throw it. I still throw a jig and spinnerbait.

Photo: FLW Outdoors/Jennifer Simmons Clay Dyer and Hank Cherry

The water's not yet warm enough for the major shad spawn. It could happen later this week, he said, if the water warms up enough. But as for now, he's not counting on it.

The shad spawn is key because it creates a strong, perhaps winning, morning bite in predictable spots. Shad spawn at night through first light, and the bass are active in and around such spawning areas.

Moving baits like topwaters, jig, spinnerbaits and cranks will catch those feeding bass, and they're the types of concentrated quality bites that can go along way.

But again, as Long said, that bite has yet to fully develop.

> He thinks it'll take 11 to 12 pounds a day to make the Top 10 cut.

Cherry Wants Sun

Despite a blown motor on day 2 last year, Hank Cherry (from nearby Maiden, N.C.) led the cut and went on to finish 4th.

He's followed pretty much the same tack at Long. He wants to power-fish, and has spent a lot of his practice looking for shad activity. In addition, Cherry's "not really a big bed-fisherman," but he's marked at least 50 bed-fish he can turn to if he must.

About his overall practice, Cherry noted: "During the few minutes of sunshine we've had each day, I've really been able to catch them pretty good on a jig. I hope the weatherman's right for once this week and we'll have sunshine on Thursday (day 1).

"Most of the fish are done spawning," he added. "We had that cold snap, which held the fish in the upper part of the lake back. Those have since come up, but if it's warm for a couple more days, they're off and gone. The main thing is that sunshine can take the water temp from 63 to 67 in a hurry. As soon as the sun hits, it makes all the difference for shad."

> About what he thinks it'll take to make he cut, he said: "I have mixed feelings, because it really depends on the weather. A lot of guys keep talking about 3-pound bed-fish they're seeing, but those are really just paper-thin males. Historically, 14 to 15 pounds on this lake is strong any time of year."

Baumgardner's Take on the Lake

Pro Chris Baumgardner, from nearby Gastonia, said his practice has "been going all right," but he's "not really happy with it."

BassFans may remember that he withdrew from last week's PAA-sanctioned Toyota Texas Bass Classic in order to concentrate on his practice here. He's currently 59th in the FLW Tour points, so he needs to hold the line or improve this week. Plus, he's fishing a double-payout "FLW Open" event on his home lake.

'I'm catching the right-size fish – I just don't really have a lot to go to," he said. "I'm just fishing and doing what everybody else is doing – running shallow pockets and stuff. I catch a fish here and there, and I've seen a bunch of bucks bedding. It's just April fishing."

April can be a difficult month on Norman, at least for size, so in all, the lake's fishing like it he expected it would.

About the potential for spotted bass to play a role, he said: "I've caught some good spots doing some things, but they're kind of scattered. I can't nail that bite down. They're not spawning, or at least I haven't seen any – they do spawn deeper where you can't see them – but I've caught some good ones. I've also caught a lot of little ones.

"I'm probably going to the bank. Sight-fishing's probably going to be my main deal."

Bennett Predicts Close Contest

California pro Michael Bennett's decidedly not a local. He's been fairly hot lately and is now ranked 12th in the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten.

He tends to fare well in these types of events – maybe because they resemble the ounce-battles of his home state – and he finished 7th here last year.

About his practice, Bennett said: "It's been okay. A lot of fish are going to be caught – the bite's fairly decent. So catching fish isn't a problem. But the guys who are going to get those golden 3-pound bites for 3 or 4 days are going to separate themselves from everyone else.

Photo: FLW Outdoors/Rob Newell Michael Bennett thinks the cut will be decided by ounces.

About differences between this year and last, he noted: "It's substantially different. I'm guessing the lake's a tiny but higher, and I really haven't caught them anywhere I caught them the last time.

"I'd like to think I can (make the cut) again," he added. "But I think this tournament's going to come down to ounces. There'll probably be 50 weights in the 22- to 23-pound range, so if I get lucky and get a 4-pound bite, or some nice 3-pound fish, it's possible to make the cut."

Lefebre: 'Hitting it Right'

Pennsylvania pro Dave Lefebre was upbeat about his practice. He's catching a lot of fish, which is refreshing, and he thinks it's "going to be a good tournament."

He's an accomplished and crafty bed-fisherman, so he has that to go to. But he's also deadly with a finesse jig – another technique that could play huge this week.

"I think we're hitting it right," he noted. "There's a lot of spawning going on, so that's going to play. My co-angler and I both had over 12 pounds by 9:00 yesterday, so I think it'll take more weight than last time."

Homers in the Hunt

A heavy contingent of North Carolina pros are fishing this event. While locals don't always have an advantage – the "local curse" is well known in fishing – the fact that Norman fish are in transition should help locals fare well. When things get tough, they should know a few spots that could spit out a kicker.

North Carolina pros appear below, in order of their World Rank. Their finish at last year's Norman event is shown in parentheses.

43. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, NC (48th at Norman)
65. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, NC (45th at Norman)
123. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC (81st at Norman)
149. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC (10th at Norman)
168. Alvin Shaw -- State Road, NC (111th at Norman)
202. Al Little -- Greensboro, NC (68th at Norman)
226. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, NC (170th at Norman)
240. Hank Cherry -- Maiden, NC (4th at Norman)
264. Brent Long -- Cornelius, NC (30th at Norman)
288. Robert Walser -- Lexington, NC (79th at Norman)
297. Rick Marsh -- High Point, NC (141st at Norman)
318. Tim Sisk -- Cherryville, NC (N/A)
334. Eric Weir -- Gastonia, NC (151st at Norman)
343. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC (N/A)
477. Scott Hamrick -- Denver, NC (195th at Norman)

Last Year's Top 20

For reference, here's a look at the Top 20 from last year's Norman event.

1. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, AR
2. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, OR
3. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, OH
4. Hank Cherry -- Maiden, NC
5. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, AR
6. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, MN
7. Michael Bennett -- Roseville, CA
8. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, AL
9. Gabe Bolivar -- Ramona, CA
10. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC
11. Mark Hardin -- Jasper, GA
12. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, TN
13. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, CA
14. Bud Pruitt -- Houston, TX
15. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, TN
16. John Sappington -- Willard, MO
17. Jeremiah Kindy -- Benton, AR
18. Craig Powers -- Rockwood, TN
19. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, MO
20. John Devere -- Berea, KY

Note that both Nixon and Yelas also fished the Norman Bassmaster Tour in March 2005. Nixon finished 61st in that event, while Yelas limped in at 136th.

Top 10 To Watch

With the above in mind and more, here in no particular order is BassFan's recommendation for the Top 10 to watch at the Norman FLW Tour.

Photo: FLW Outdoors Andy Morgan's red hot and there's no reason to think Norman will cool him off.

2. Hank Cherry – He's fished the lake for 25 years, finished 4th here last year, and there's no reason to think he won't make the cut again.

3. Larry Nixon – Yes, he won last year, but his worm magic puts him on the watch list once again. And in general he's been fishing well – lots of Top 20s with a win and a 2nd mixed in the past few years.

4. Luke Clausen – Spotted bass? Finesse-fishing? That's Clausen all the way. He comes off a 4th at Lewis Smith and is fishing well after elbow surgery.

5. Shinichi Fukae – Another guy who tends to smoke 'em when it's all about the shakey. Currently ranked 9th in the world and has made one of two cuts this year.

6. Jay Yelas – The defending Angler of the Year isn't as hot as he was last year. Maybe that's because everyone's caught onto the Basstrix. But note that he finished 2nd here last year, is currently ranked 7th in the world, and is due for a cut.

7. Michael Bennett – Seems to have a good handle on the lake after a 7th-place finish last year, and generally excels in these types of events. And he's coming off a win at Lewis Smith.

8. Andy Morgan – He's red-hot and ranked 3rd in the world. Missed the cut here by two spots last year, and there's no reason to think he won't do as well, or better, this time around.

9. Craig Powers – Right now is the time when Powers begins to shine. He's probably the most accurate caster on the Tour, which will be critical this week. Finished 18th here last year.

10. Greg Pugh – A tough angler to predict with finishes that tend to swing wildly from one month to the next, but a solid pick this week given the conditions and his 8th-place finish here last year.

Launch/Weigh-In Info

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. each day from Blythe Landing (15901 NC Highway 73, Huntersville, N.C.)

The Thursday and Friday weigh-ins will also be held at Blythe Landing beginning at 3 p.m. The Saturday and Sunday weigh-ins will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center (501 S. College St., Charlotte), beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Notable

> Jay Yelas opted out of last week's Toyota Texas Bass Classic, so he got a full practice in at norman. The verdict? He thinks it'll play out a little like last year in terms of weight, but the fish are decidedly in a different stage. For his full report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.

> Because this event is the "National Guard Open," it offers an increased purse, and 1st place pays $200,000. Points in the FLW Outdoors fantasy fishing game are also doubled.

> Long noted that boat traffic shouldn't be too heavy this weekend. It doesn't really ramp up until Memorial Day.

> BassFan's daily coverage will be published shortly after weigh-in each day.