Adams closes out wire-to-wire BASS win on Lake Norman

Wilkesboro pro finishes with margin of almost nine pounds in Southern Open

BASS Photo

Tracy Adams won the BASS Southern Open on Lake Norman, taking most cash and merchandise valued at better than $59,000, plus a spot in 2013 Bassmasters Classic.

Tracy Adams had the field covered in the Bassmaster Southern Open this past week on Lake Norman, and he sewed up the $52,360 first prize by 9 a.m. on Saturday’s final round.

Adams finished the 3-day tournament with a 5-fish limit that weighed 10 pounds, 12 ounces, for a total weight of 45-6 – almost nine pounds better than runner up Bradley Roy of Kentucky.

 

 

“When it’s your time, it’s your time,” said Adams, of North Wilkesboro.

 

 

The veteran pro opened the tournament with its biggest bag of fish, 20-13, then added a 13-13 bag on Friday’s second day. Leading by nine pounds on a lake where a 10-pound limit is a good day, Adams knew all he needed was a small limit to clinch his victory, and he had it early in the day, then culled up to almost 11 pounds before the weigh-in.

 

 

Adams’ victory brought him a fully rigged bass boat valued at $45,000 and $7,360 in cash. Almost as important, the win guarantees him a berth in the 2013 Bassmasters Classic – his second trip to the “World Series” of bass fishing.

 

Roy finished second with 36-12 after a closing limit that weighed 11-1. David Williams of Maiden was third with 35-2 after a 12-14 limit. One other North Carolina fisherman, Pete Bejte of Charlotte, finished in the top 10, taking ninth with 29-9 after a closing limit of 5-8. Williams had the biggest bass of the final day, a largemouth that weighed 4-1.

 

 

North Carolina anglers finished third and fourth on the co-angler side, which was won by Ohio’s Glynn Goodwin with 19-12. Ethan Cox of West End was third with 17-5, and first-day leader Tom Mcdermott of Madison was fourth with 16-14.