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Tag Archive for: #kerrlake

TownTalk: Henderson City Council Opposes Specific Wording of SB 214

April 28, 2026/by John C. Rose

Too much opposition, and Senate Bill 214 has been removed from both the N.C. Senate and N.C. House calendars as of this writing April 28, 2026.

For the day, that is success, depending on who you ask.  It is a medium-sized battle victory in an overall water war.  Strong language, but the label does suggest aptly that it didn’t just start, and it is by no means over.

The latest controversy stemmed from part five of the conference report (Senate Bill 214) added last week by leaders in the House.  The controversy here is about water.  The controversy here and all over North Carolina is how vague the wording looked, felt and may have been applied.

The controversy of part five, for the moment, has wiped out the whole bill.  Yanked from the calendars.  Possibly not just because of part five, but for this area, part five has been the focus and it’s drawn the most heat.

It is likely that opposition is what stopped the legislation for now.  The formal opposition, the vocal opposition, the quiet opposition on phone calls and emails and texts flooding into Raleigh, along with possible future embarrassment for leaders, have all added up.

A conference report, as we understand it, intends to allow the House and Senate to have two readings, and as long as there are two passes by each chamber, the matter becomes law.  No Governor.  No amendment once it reaches the floor.  And a very powerful tool.  But typically used, apparently anyway, to make various adjustments to aid local governments around the state.

For Henderson this win, over the last week, now allows time to plan, talk, negotiate and bring partners and water customers to the table, plus hopefully finish the long overhaul of the Kerr Lake Regional Water System plant and bring its upgraded capacity online in a couple of months.

So, what is next?  Immediately? The overwhelming loudness that can come from quiet.  What are they doing now, both sides will ask.

Any leader sitting still in the quiet is no leader.  He or she is just a follower, waiting to react to the next thing.

(The audio below comes from TownTalk on 4-28-26 which occurred before the latest update above was posted.)

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WIZS Radio · TownTalk: Henderson City Council Opposes Specific Wording of SB 214
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kerr-Lake-Regional-Water-System.jpg 265 504 John C. Rose https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png John C. Rose2026-04-28 12:02:142026-04-28 19:53:12TownTalk: Henderson City Council Opposes Specific Wording of SB 214

TownTalk: How Franklin County Gets Water from Kerr Lake and the Kerr Lake Regional Water System Future

April 1, 2026/by WIZS Staff

Can the Kerr Lake Regional Water System grow and continue to be the biggest player for local and regional water needs?

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WIZS Radio · TownTalk: How Franklin County Gets Reallocation of Water from Kerr Lake
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/towntalk-560x294-1.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-04-01 13:14:532026-04-01 17:40:09TownTalk: How Franklin County Gets Water from Kerr Lake and the Kerr Lake Regional Water System Future

TownTalk: Franklin County Requests Reallocation Of Water From Kerr Lake

March 31, 2026/by WIZS Staff

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in response to a request from Franklin County, has started the process to consider a reallocation of water from Kerr Lake to address the county’s future water needs.

Among first steps in this process was a scoping meeting, which was held Mar. 26 in Warren County. USACE representatives fielded questions from the public at the meeting, which included an explanation of the process, which is expected to take years to complete.

The comment period remains open through April 10. Anyone interested in commenting can send an email to:

cesaw-jhkerr-reallocation-franklin@usace.army.mil

Speaking at the meeting, USACE’s David Connolly of the Wilmington District said he knew people were interested in impacts, including how docks would be affected, as well as hydroelectric power.

Connolly said these issues are among those that will be addressed throughout the study.

Franklin County wants to get 16.7 million gallons of water per day from Kerr Lake; with the anticipated growth in the area predicted to continue, county leaders want to take steps now to anticipate what they feel will be a water shortage in the next 50 years.

The goal of the scoping meeting is to inform the public about the process and to share information that will be considered.

With reservoirs and dams like Kerr Lake, the water is divided into three “pools” or areas – the sediment pool is at the bottom of the lake, the conservation storage pool is in the middle (that’s where the drinking water comes from) and the flood control storage pool is at the top (that’s what gets released to keep the Roanoke River basin regulated).

From the middle pool – the conservation storage pool – comes both drinking water and water that supplies hydro power and recreation uses.

Water customers like the Kerr Lake Regional Water System would most likely be concerned about water availability; the Corps of Engineers is most concerned about how hydroelectric power would be affected.

The KLRWS is building up to a 20-million-gallon a day draw; Franklin County has asked for 16.7 million gallons a day. Franklin County also is a KLRWS customer.

Right now, about 3 percent of the lake’s middle layer conservation storage pool is being used.

These topics and more will be considered in the study process. Connolly said the study will help to confirm that the allocation request is a reasonable one and would identify possible alternatives that would have less impact.

A draft report is scheduled to be ready by September 2027 – a year and a half from now.

Connolly reiterated that part of the process is to look at other measures that could work, compare it with the reallocation to determine feasibility.

In addition to providing an environmental impact analysis, the study will include a hydroelectric power analysis and a demand analysis. Once the draft report is completed, the Corps will have another 30-day comment period and a meeting similar to the one held last week.

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WIZS Radio · TownTalk: Franklin County Requests Reallocation of Water from Kerr Lake
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/kerr-lake-112121.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-03-31 13:35:522026-03-31 17:44:08TownTalk: Franklin County Requests Reallocation Of Water From Kerr Lake

TownTalk: Kerr Lake RWS Plant Getting Upgrades

February 25, 2026/by WIZS Staff

Henderson Assistant City Manager Christy Lipscomb’s report to the City Council about progress being made at the regional water treatment facility included information about subterranean placement of valve and piping, installation of new equipment to create dry sludge and dynamite.

Yep, they’ve been blowing up stuff out there.

“We had to use some dynamite in some areas,” Lipscomb said. There’s a lot of rock underneath the soil here in Vance County, and it’s not soft rock. It’s granite.

There were three different “events” to blast the rock so the underground work could continue.

“It was kinda cool to see,” Lipscomb said, explaining to the council that it wasn’t a big explosion at all.

They put the chargers in “and everything went ‘poof’ and that was it.”

There’s still a massive pile of dirt and granite as a result, but it all was necessary for the upgrades to continue.

A tentative completion date is October, and so far, the project is right on track.

Council members referred to a packet of information to see images of the construction project, which includes a building addition that doubles the length of the existing building.

When complete, the new building will provide new restrooms, locker rooms and a conference room.

“That was one of the big deals, one of the things we absolutely wanted,” Lipscomb said of the conference room.  It will be used to host classes and continuing education training for employees.

There is some new equipment that employees will need to get training in, including a couple o  chemical pumps that have been installed.

Each holds 10 million gallons and is part of a “super pulsator” process. It’s not a complicated process, she said, but it will create a more efficient process that keeps the sludge from settling to the bottom of the tank.

There’s a new rollup door that will make it easier to remove pumps when they need maintenance and facilitate brining in equipment.

There are two new clear wells in place to help the aging well that was installed in 1974.

That one will stay on line along with the other two until a future upgrade to replace its sagging concrete top can begin.

“There’s a lot of concrete and a lot of piping,” Lipscomb said.

The new sludge handling facility is about halfway completed, but when it’s all on line, the treatment facility will be able to dry the sludge and either haul it off – the local landfill doesn’t accept it – or “land apply” it.

Land application is the more cost-effective approach since the closest facility that accepts the material is in Person County.

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WIZS Radio · TownTalk: Kerr Lake RWS Plant Getting Upgrades
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Kerr-Lake-Regional-Water-System.jpg 265 504 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-02-25 12:01:062026-02-25 17:40:10TownTalk: Kerr Lake RWS Plant Getting Upgrades

Army Corps Of Engineers: Kerr Lake Level Almost A Foot Lower Than 295.5-Foot Target

January 16, 2026/by WIZS Staff

Rangers and staff at John H. Kerr Reservoir have received several inquiries regarding the lake elevation and current low water condition. Right now, water levels at Kerr Reservoir have dropped because much of the Roanoke River Basin has had a lot less rain than normal. Because much of the basin has been dry, less water is flowing into the reservoir — and that means the lake elevation is slowly going down. We manage the reservoir for a target elevation of 295.5 feet above mean sea level (msl) in the months of January and February, per the guide curve, with the current elevation being 294.7 feet msl on Thursday, 15 January 2026.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers monitors lake levels, rainfall, and inflows every day. We work with state and local partners to manage water carefully, addressing both upstream and downstream water resource needs and impacts, and make sure any changes happen responsibly. If you have questions or concerns please call the Visitor Assistance Center at 434-738-6143.

Before heading to Kerr Reservoir:

  • Check this John H. Kerr Reservoir Facebook page for current ramp and facility status
  • Slow down on the water
  • Watch for shallow areas and underwater hazards
  • Always wear a life jacket

Water Control Plan: https://www.saw.usace.army.mil/…/john…/JOHNHKERR_WCP.pdf

Lake Elevation & Guide Curve: https://epec.saw.usace.army.mil/

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/vance-county-tourism_kerr-lake_img5.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2026-01-16 10:47:442026-01-16 17:42:16Army Corps Of Engineers: Kerr Lake Level Almost A Foot Lower Than 295.5-Foot Target

TownTalk: Fourth of July Fireworks Coming to Kerr Lake

June 25, 2025/by WIZS Staff

Independence Day falls on a Friday this year, which give folks a chance to take part in more festivities over the long Fourth of July weekend.

Take the fireworks show at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point Park, for example, sponsored by Vance County Tourism.

The annual event will take place on Saturday, July 5 this year, and Pam Hester and Norman Dickerson are working like a well-oiled machine to make sure there’s plenty of food and fun for the whole community.

“The fireworks are going to be beautiful,” Hester said, adding that the pyrotechnics team creating the show does a “fabulous job” that will surely wow the audience.

The fun begins at 4 p.m., and there will be a wide variety of food vendors, as well as music provided again this year by DJ Jay.

“As always, DJ J has it down to a science,” Hester said. He plays patriotic music during the countdown to the fireworks show, which helps get the crowd really involved, she said.

It does take place in early July, so in addition to the fireworks and the fun, friendship and fellowship that will be served up, Hester adds one word to the description: HOT.

While there will be plenty to do during the afternoon and into the evening, the star of the show is the fireworks, so the tourism duo makes sure that all the permits are secured and helping agencies are on board with their role in making sure all goes according to plan.

“It takes roughly 16 different organizations to pull off this 20-minute affair each year,” Dickerson said. “We are indebted to these organizations. Without them, we could not do it.” Among the assisting agencies are the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the N.C. State Highway Patrol, Vance County Rescue Squad, Fire Department, EMS and the county commissioners.

In addition, permits are needed from the N.C. State Parks and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

And oddly enough, Dickerson said they have to seek approval from the U.S. Coast Guard, which has an auxiliary at the lake that assists the rescue squad to maintain safety along the perimeter of the shoot site.

Hester offered a shout-out to Kerr Lake Parks Superintendent Bill Stanley and his team. “Bill Stanley and his crew are just top of the line,” she said.

The shoot site usually takes place along the shoreline at Water’s Edge subdivision, Dickerson noted, but if the lake level remains as high as it is now (301.6 feet), the Plan B is to move across the lake near Shelter 3, which is more elevated.

“Anything over 301.6 and our shoot area is under water,” Dickerson said. The lake level may come down some between now and then, “but we’ve still got a backup, so we’re good,” he explained.

Here’s a quick rundown on some of the food and beverage options that are scheduled to be on site for the event:

  • Bun on the Run – burgers and hotdogs
  • King’s Southern Style Cooking – shrimp, fish, pork chops, fries, hush puppies
  • RJ’s Grill – Cheese steaks, chopped pork, chicken wings and fish
  • Kim Hudson’s loaded baked potatoes, nachos, lemonade and cold drinks
  • Frostbites – a variety of ice treat and ice cream to help keep you cool
  • DP and C – carnival treats like candy apples, funnel cakes and deep fried candy bars.
  • Kernel Craze – gourmet popcorn in all different flavors
  • De Tocho Morocho – offering Hispanic-inspired foods and drinks

The event is free, but there is a $10 gate fee to enter the park. And remember, alcohol is not permitted at any state park.

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WIZS Radio · TownTalk: Fourth of July Fireworks Coming to Kerr Lake
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Vance-County-Tourism-Fireworks.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2025-06-25 18:00:572025-07-07 22:10:32TownTalk: Fourth of July Fireworks Coming to Kerr Lake

Reservation Fees Going Up At State Parks May 1

April 24, 2025/by WIZS Staff

If you’ve put off making that campsite reservation at one of the parks in the state parks system, you’ve got until Wednesday, April 30 at 11:59 p.m. to do so before prices go up.

Effective May 1, 2025, reservation fees at campgrounds and vehicle entrance fees at reservoirs will increase across the state parks system, the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ Division of Parks and Recreation announced. This marks the first major fee change for state park facilities since 2019. While some fees are increasing, most state parks are and will continue to be free to access for day-use year-round.

Fee changes will only impact entrance fees at the reservoir state recreation areas during peak season, most camping rates, and some boat slip rentals at Carolina Beach State Park. There are no changes to picnic shelter reservation fees, equipment rentals, and swim passes.

Beginning May 1, tent campsites will range from $20 to $30, and RV campsites with full hookups (electric, water and sewer) will cost $45. Campsite reservations made by 11:59 p.m. on April 30 will not be affected by the price increases.

The per-vehicle entrance fee, charged on weekends in April, May and September, and daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day at Falls Lake, Jordan Lake and Kerr Lake state recreation areas will cost $10. Senior citizens (62 years old or older), veterans, and active-duty military will continue to receive a discounted rate of $5 per vehicle. The 2026 State Parks Annual Pass — which covers entrance fees, equipment rentals and more — will also increase in price. The Annual Pass for Reservoirs will cost $70, the Annual Pass $100, and the Annual Pass with Four-Wheel-Drive Beach Access will be $200.

In addition to the May 1 changes, transient and monthly boat slip rentals at the Carolina Beach State Park marina will increase beginning July 1.

The increases reflect market adjustments and the higher costs to maintain these facilities.

For a full list of fee changes, please visit ncparks.gov/fees.

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/kerr-lake-112121.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2025-04-24 10:14:012025-04-25 16:43:39Reservation Fees Going Up At State Parks May 1

First “Catfish Drop” Planned For Dec. 31 at Satterwhite Point

December 19, 2024/by WIZS Staff

Vance County Tourism has planned a special New Year’s Eve celebration at Kerr Lake’s Satterwhite Point Park and is inviting everyone to come out to “test the waters” for the inaugural Catfish Drop.

The event will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

There will even be fireworks – a few hours earlier than midnight  as a crane courtesy of Fred’s Towing & Transport gently lowers into the lake a original metal sculture by local artist Christy Stainback.

Food trucks will be on site, as well as lots of children’s activities including bouncy houses and  face painting.

The event is free and open to the public. Come on out and see for yourselves the first-ever Catfish Drop to usher in the New Year, Kerr Lake style!

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/vance-county-tourism-560x294-1.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2024-12-19 23:09:562024-12-19 23:10:22First “Catfish Drop” Planned For Dec. 31 at Satterwhite Point

N.C. Fisherman Reels In Top Prize At Kerr Lake Tournament

October 11, 2024/by WIZS Staff

– Information courtesy of Vance County Tourism Development Authority and Phoenix Bass Fishing League

Boater Jake Monti of Mooresville caught a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 38 lbs., 12 oz., to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional on Kerr Lake last weekend.

The tournament, hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, finished up Saturday, Oct. Oct. 5.

Monti’s prize package – valued at $63,429 – included a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard, $10,000 and a $2,500 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus.

The field for the Kerr Lake event, served as regional championship for BFL Region 2, included the top 45 boaters and co-anglers based on point standings, plus each of the tournament winners, from the 2024 Buckeye, Northeast, Shenandoah and South Carolina divisions. The top six boaters and co-anglers in the Regional have qualified for the 2025 BFL All-American, which will be held on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, May 29-31.

It was an up-and-down … then-back-up-again tournament for Monti, according to information from BFL officials. He opened with a 21-pound limit that was easily the biggest stringer of the event. But on Day Two, Monti slipped, weighing just four bass for 6 lbs., 5 oz. Though Monti was able to hang onto his lead, Ohio’s Chris Martinkovic cut the distance, getting within two pounds of the leader.
On Day Three, Monti scrapped everything he’d been fishing to that point and was able to pull together 11 lbs., 7 oz. to close out a wire-to-wire win by a margin of 1 lb., 7 oz. over fellow North Carolinian Logan Anderson. Reflecting on the experience, the 21-year-old Abu Garcia MLF College Fishing competitor and local business owner admitted it was his own stubbornness that caused such a stressful swing on Day Two.

“In practice, I’d found a couple areas that had fish that were wolf-packing shallow,” Monti said. “Day one of the tournament, I went back there in those same areas, and they were there big time. I had 21 pounds in about an hour all within about a hundred-yard section.”

Monti caught those fish flipping a 1/2-ounce Queen Tackle jig. Assuming the fish would stay in the area, Monti left early, thinking he was preserving his best spot for Day Two.

“Day two, I go back, and I re-fished that area and didn’t have a single bite,” he said. “I caught one bass off a willow tree at like 10 o’clock. At 12, I was still sitting on one bass, and that’s when I went back into Nutbush (Creek) and just started flipping a little area that at the end of day one I found a couple bites in. I ended up putting three more in the boat.”
After weighing just the four keepers on Day Two, Monti decided he needed to make an adjustment. He swapped rods, tackle, areas and tactics.

“I ended up going out deep (Saturday), fishing schooling fish. I threw a bait in 30 feet with LiveScope, using a Queen Tackle Rollin head. And I caught a really big spot early that got me up to a little over 11 pounds. I stuck with that throughout the day and got what I needed.

“I wish I would’ve adjusted sooner and I wouldn’t have made it so stressful. I was just stubborn,” added Monti, who qualified from the South Carolina Division. “I thought there were fish in that area because I laid off them on day one. I caught what I caught and got out of there early and thought there’d be some left, but that was not the case.”

With a tough lesson behind him, Monti is now looking ahead to the 2025 All-American, grassroots bass fishing’s biggest event.
“It’s awesome,” he said of his shot at the All-American. “I don’t really have any words for it yet. It honestly hasn’t set in. I’m so tired from fishing so hard the last couple days, and my nerves are shot from yesterday. I’m ready to be there.”

The top six boaters who qualified to fish the 2025 Phoenix BFL All-American are:

1st: Jake Monti, Mooresville, N.C., 14 bass, 38-12, $63,429 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Logan Anderson, Sherrills Ford, N.C., 15 bass, 37-9, $10,929
3rd: Billy Shelton III, La Crosse, Va., 12 bass, 35-11, $5,967
4th: Tyler Campbell, Martin, Ga., 15 bass, 35-6, $2,979
5th: Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., 13 bass, 34-3, $2,111
6th: Brandon Pritchett, Goode, Va., 15 bass, 34-2, $1,787

Rounding out the top 12 boaters were:

7th: Chris Martinkovic, Hamilton, Ohio, 14 bass, 34-1, $2,589
8th: Jason Shipton, Muncy, Pa., 14 bass, 32-13, $2,390
9th:  Chuck Cunningham, Duncan, S.C., 14 bass, 32-6, $1,191
10th: Seth Fricke, Oxford, Ohio, 14 bass, 29-12, $1,092
11th: Mark Tornai, Fredericksburg, Va., 12 bass, 28-1, $993
12th: Rodney Bell, Salisbury, N.C., 10 bass, 26-11, $993

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Buckeye: Chris Martinkovic, Hamilton, Ohio, 7th Place, $1,000
Northeast: Jason Shipton, Muncy, Pa., 8th Place, $1,000
Shenandoah: Billy Shelton III, La Crosse, Va., 3rd Place, $1,000
South Carolina: Logan Anderson., 2nd Place $1,000

Monti caught a bass that weighed 7 lbs., 1 oz., and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.

Ryan Sykes of Fairfield, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division Saturday, after bringing a three-day total of 10 bass to the scale that weighed 22 pounds, 7 ounces. His $50,400 prize package included a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200hp Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The top six Strike King co-anglers who now qualify for the 2025 Phoenix BFL All-American are:
1st: Ryan Sykes, Fairfield, Ohio, 10 bass, 22-7, $50,400
2nd: Riley Smallwood, Shallotte, N.C., 11 bass, 22-4, $5,471
3rd: Richard Williams, Sutherland, Va., nine bass, 21-13, $3,482
4th: Shaquille Freeman, Farmville, Va., nine bass, 21-1, $1,491
5th: Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., 11 bass, 20-11, $994
6th: Scott Standafer , Felicity, Ohio, 10 bass, 20-5, $1,395

Rounding out the top 12 Strike King co-anglers are:

7th: Thomas Pennell III, Boiling Springs, S.C., nine bass, 19-8, $795
8th: Mekye Barnes, Knightdale, N.C., eight bass, 17-6, $696
9th:  Jeff Bender, Glenshaw, Pa., eight bass, 16-15, $596
10th: Kevin Walton, Norfolk, Va., seven bass, 16-8, $547
11th: Tony Toombs, Drakes Branch, Va., six bass, 16-6, $497
12th: Todd Huntley, Inman, S.C., six bass, 14-4, $497

The top four Strike King co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Buckeye: Scott Standafer, Felecity, Ohio, 6th Place, $500
Northeast: Michael Bell, Ogdensburg, N.Y., 17th Place, $500
Shenandoah: Richard Williams, Sutherland, Va., 3rd Place, $500
South Carolina: Riley Smallwood, Shallotte, N.C., 2nd Place $500

Richard Williams of Sutherland, Virginia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $500, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, AR, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/vance-county-tourism-560x294-1.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2024-10-11 11:44:452024-10-11 19:03:17N.C. Fisherman Reels In Top Prize At Kerr Lake Tournament

Anglers Hit Kerr Lake Thursday For 3-Day Tournament In Hopes Of Landing $60K Grand Prize

October 3, 2024/by WIZS Staff

-information courtesy of Vance County Tourism Development Authority

Anglers are taking to Kerr Lake beginning today to take part in the final tournament of the season as the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine sets sail for a three-day run.

Hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority and presented by T-H Marine’s Buckeye, Northeast, Shenandoah and South Carolina divisions, the tournament features the top 45 boaters and co-anglers – plus tournament winners from all four divisions – who will be battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, according to information from the local tourism office.

Additional prizes include a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 42nd annual BFL All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

“This regional tournament is going to be a good one to follow, because I think MLF is hitting at just the right time,” said local pro Derik Hudson of Concord, VA who has eight top-10 finishes on Kerr Lake – including a victory in last year’s 2023 BFL Super-Tournament. “This past weekend the water temperatures was still very high – 77 to 79 degrees. But we’re at that time of the year where the fall transition is coming soon. I think in this one the fish are going to be spread out – shallow and deep – and guys are going to be able to catch them fishing their strengths.”

Hudson said that he expects forward-facing sonar to play a large role in this tournament, but he does think that an angler can compete to win strictly by fishing shallow.

“There is a ton of shad in the lake right now, and out deep those fish are going to be keyed in on the shad,” Hudson said. “The majority of fish seem to still be out offshore, but lately it seems like the bigger fish are moving shallow and being caught on transition banks, stumpy points and on rock. That’s what makes this one so interesting – they’re going to hit it right in the middle of the fall transition and it’s still really anybody’s ballgame.”

When Hudson won the BFL Super Tournament on Kerr Lake last year, he weighed in limits totaling 16- and 15- pounds and his 31-pound total won by nearly a 5-pound margin. He expects weights to be down a little bit in this regional tournament due to the fall transition.

“I feel like if you catch 13 to 14 pounds a day, you’re going to be sitting really good,” Hudson went on to say. “But, like we just saw this last weekend in the Super Tournament, if you get on that right roll offshore or on the bank, the lake has 18 or 19 right around the corner. So, I would say to shoot to stay right in the middle. If you shoot for 15 a day, that’ll be a great day for anybody. But know that 18 to 19 (pounds) is still out there somewhere.”

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Nutbush Bridge Access at the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, located at 115 Jack Wade Farm Road, in Henderson, North Carolina. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5 on social media.

https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/vance-county-tourism-560x294-1.jpg 294 560 WIZS Staff https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.png WIZS Staff2024-10-03 13:45:462024-10-04 20:03:23Anglers Hit Kerr Lake Thursday For 3-Day Tournament In Hopes Of Landing $60K Grand Prize
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