Photo provided by Bassmaster Classic

By Ryan Moxon – Anglers from across the country will compete this weekend in the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open, set for April 30 through May 2 on Lake Norman.

The three-day event marks the third stop of the Division I schedule, with daily takeoffs at 6:30 a.m. from Blythe Landing and afternoon weigh-ins beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The winner will earn a berth in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, provided they compete in all four Division I events. The top 50 anglers in the season standings will advance to the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers.

Spanning more than 32,000 acres, Lake Norman offers a wider playing field for competitors compared to many lakes on the circuit. When the series last visited in 2021, Cody Hoyle, from Rutherfordton, won with a three-day total of 40 pounds, 4 ounces.

Matt Arey from Shelby said spring conditions should make for competitive weights, with anglers targeting post-spawn fish across different sections of the lake. He expects consistent daily catches to be key in determining the winner.

Spotted bass are the primary species in Lake Norman and don’t grow to the size of most largemouth.

“I can go out and catch 50 bass and I’d be lucky if four or five of them are largemouth,” Arey said. “Whoever wins will have to have some largemouth in their bag. If it was late summer or early fall, you could win with all spotted bass. But this time of year, you have to have some largemouth in your bag.”

The event is hosted by Visit Lake Norman.