ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 21, 1997 TAG: 9704220003
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
The Kerr bass are confused, but look for hefty catches when the Wal-Mart FLW tour arrives at the Virginia-North Carolina impoundment April 30.
The cold fronts whistling across Kerr Lake have ruffled the water and confused the bass, sending the fish toward the shallows one day and back into deep water the next. But by April 30-May 3 they should be on their beds and the fishing should be impressive.
Those are the dates when the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, professional bass fishing's most lucrative circuit, comes to Kerr. The tournament is called the Kerr Lake Pepsi Open.
The cash purse of $368,400, which includes $100,000 for first place in the pro division, will be big enough bait to attract many of the top-name tournament fishermen in the country. The field will feature 150 pros, who will be paired with 150 amateurs.
``There should be a good catch,'' said Jim Abers, a veteran Kerr fishing guide. ``I hope the guys will handle them nicely.
``The lake is at 302 [feet elevation], which puts the water into the brush and into the trees. The bass are just now moving into the shallows. They haven't started nesting. The cold fronts are moving them back and forth.''
While 50,000-acre Kerr is claimed by Virginians, the southern side of the Corps of Engineers impoundment dips into North Carolina, and that's where the four-day tournament will begin and end.
Indoor weigh-ins the first two days are set for 2:30 p.m. at Satterwhite Point. The weigh-ins for the final two days will be at the Henderson, N.C., Wal-Mart store. The tournament will be shown on ESPN2.
The tournament has an elimination format. On the final day, the five top fishermen compete for the $100,000 first-place money.
David Fritts won the most recent FLW tournament, and the Lexington, N.C., angler will be on home water at this one.
LENGTH: Short : 43 linesby CNB