Tag Archive for: #kerrlake

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Kerr Lake Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration Moved to Labor Day Weekend

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-Information courtesy Vance County Tourism Development Authority

Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the Independence Day fireworks event was postponed from July 4 and has tentatively been rescheduled for Sunday, September 6, 2020. The ability to hold the event will depend entirely on local and state mandates and guidelines in place at that time.

The Labor Day Weekend Celebration will include fireworks over the water at Satterwhite Point at Kerr Lake in Henderson, NC. Events will be held from 3 until 10 p.m.

This family-friendly event will feature a DJ providing a wide variety of music, Boho the Clown, bounce houses and other activities for kids.

The NC State Parks 2020 interpretive theme is “The Year of the Fire.” Kids can learn about fire safety from Smokey the Bear.

Food vendors will be on-site, and t-shirts and glow sticks will be sold. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and a flashlight.

Enjoy music, food and fireworks under the stars! Come by boat or by car.

$7 per car gate fee charged by NC State Parks. Use of bounce house included in gate fee.

NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED!

Timberlake to Present ‘All Things Kerr Lake’ Lecture at Granville Senior Center

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-Information courtesy Frank Timberlake

Granville County native and Kerr Lake enthusiast Frank Timberlake will present a lecture, “All Things Kerr Lake” on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, from 1 – 2:30 p.m. at the Granville County Senior Center on Lanier Street in Oxford.

As a part of the Creative Life Learning Series, the lecture will focus on a little history but mostly public opportunities at the more than 30 recreational facilities around Kerr Lake.

Seating is available for nominal fees for adults of any age. Register by calling (919) 693-1930.

About Timberlake:

Timberlake manages the 850-member Kerr Lake Park Watch, is a co-founder of the Friends of Occoneechee, former Chairman of the NC State Parks board, and former governor’s liaison with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

He grew up in Stovall and Grassy Creek.

Walser Wins T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing Tournament at Kerr Lake

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-Press Release, FLW

Boater Robert Walser of Lexington, North Carolina, brought five bass to the weigh-in stage totaling 15 pounds, 10 ounces, to win Saturday’s T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) North Carolina Division tournament on Kerr Lake. For his efforts, Walser took home $5,718.

“I fished flooded bushes and trees, mid-lake, along an approximately 20-mile stretch,” said Walser, who logged his 12th career win in BFL competition – tied for second most all-time. “I used a spinnerbait early, and then I flipped.”

Walser said he used a ½-ounce white-colored Rush Lures double-willow-bladed spinnerbait with a chartreuse and silver glitter Zoom Split Tail trailer on 20-pound-test Berkley Big Game line. He flipped a green-pumpkin Zoom Baby Brush Hog with a 3/0-sized Berkley Fusion 19 EWG hook and a 3/8-ounce Eco Pro tungsten flipping weight. For flipping, he opted for 20-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100-percent fluorocarbon line.

Boater Robert Walser of Lexington, North Carolina, brought five bass to the weigh-in stage totaling 15 pounds, 10 ounces, to win Saturday’s T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) North Carolina Division tournament on Kerr Lake. For his efforts, Walser took home $5,718. (Photo courtesy FLW)

“I caught more than 30 keepers. It was hard initially, but after it warmed up it got easier,” said Walser. “We had a severe cold front come through Friday afternoon and the temperatures dropped rapidly – maybe 20 degrees in 30 minutes. It rained following the temperature change, so we had a few hours of cold rain. I think it had an effect on the fish I was targeting, but after noontime I caught four or five limits.”

Walser said he ended up weighing one off the spinnerbait, and the rest from the Brush Hog.

“Some of those spinnerbait fish in the morning were at those deeper bushes, and my Garmin Panoptix showed me the submerged bushes I couldn’t see, which really helped me out,” said Walser.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Robert Walser, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 15-10, $3,718 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus

2nd:         Dustin Clontz, Albemarle, N.C., five bass, 14-8, $1,909

3rd:          Jake Frye, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 14-0, $1,388

4th:          Scott Beattie, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 13-10, $898

5th:          Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., five bass, 13-8, $655

5th:          Randy Childers, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 13-8, $805

7th:          Jason Wilson, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 13-6, $990

8th:          Carson Orellana, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 13-0, $513

9th:          Michael Stephens, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 12-8, $456

10th:        Ryan Deal, Indian Trail, N.C., five bass, 12-7, $399

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

Wilson caught a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $420.

Jeff Scism of Shelby, North Carolina, won the Co-angler Division and $1,709 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1st:          Jeff Scism, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 12-5, $1,709

2nd:         Larry Freeman Jr., La Crosse, Va., five bass, 12-3, $1,105

3rd:          Wayne Smelser, Rural Retreat, Va., five bass, 11-1, $620

4th:          Charles Wood, Thomasville, N.C., four bass, 10-15, $609

5th:          Maverick Canipe, Kings Mountain, N.C., five bass, 10-1, $342

6th:          Dwayne Parton, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 9-13, $413

7th:          Mark Murphy, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 9-12, $285

8th:          Barry Burford, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 9-11, $256

9th:          Grant McPeters, Marion, N.C., four bass, 9-10, $228

10th:        John Cook, Matthews, N.C., five bass, 9-9, $199

Wood caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $210.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina, presented by Navionics. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard.

The T-H Marine FLW BFL North Carolina Division tournament on Kerr Lake was hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority.

The 2019 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six 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 2019 BFL All-American will be held May 30-June 1 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, and is hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and the Commissioners of Charles County. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

RV/Cabin or Day Use Upgrades? Kerr Lake Park Watch Wants Your Opinion!

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-Information courtesy the Kerr Lake Park Watch’s Facebook page

Kerr Lake Park Watch is working on updating priorities for the seven NC State Recreation Areas on Kerr Lake – Kimball Point, County Line, Bullocksville, Satterwhite Point (JC Cooper), Nutbush, Hibernia and Henderson Point. (NORTH CAROLINA PARKS ONLY, we will poll on VA & US Army Corps of Engineers parks soon.)

We want to show state parks personnel how park attendees feel about park improvements.

Please visit the Kerr Lake Park Watch’s Facebook page (click here) and respond with which of the below two options you would prefer:

OPTION #1 – Do you want more campsites that are upgraded to RV status with 30/50 AMP, room for RV slides, 13.5 ft high, room for awnings and with a defined camping area? If so, respond – RV/Cabin Upgrades to camp.

OPTION #2 – Do you want more day-use areas, swimming beaches, hiking trails? If so, respond – DAY Use Upgrades.

NOTE: If you have other park suggestions, please send an email to info@kerrlakeparkwatch.org. YOU MUST INCLUDE your name, city of residence or where you receive mail, and your email; sending any other contact information is appreciated.

Kerr Lake Park Watch will never give or sell your information to any public or private entity.

Kerr Lake Park Watch: Upcoming 2019 Fishing Tournaments

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-Information courtesy the Kerr Lake Park Watch Facebook page 

From the US Army Corps of Engineers, here is a list of the permitted fishing tournaments according to the Corps’ Glenn Card:

John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir Special Events List

4/27/2019 – 4/28/2019 New Horizon Bass Anglers NHBA Kerr Tournament, 6 – 8 Occoneechee
4/27/2019 – Piedmont Bass Classics, 75 Flemingtown Road
4/27/2019 – Hope Baptist Church Charity Fishing Tournament, 15 Longwood Boat Ramp
4/27/2019 – FlW T-H Marine BFL NC #3, 150 Nutbush Bridge
4/28/2019 – Carolina Anglers Team Tra Kerr Spring Final, 30 Occoneechee
4/28/2019 – Meherrin Bassmasters Monthly Club Tournament, 15 County Line
5/4/2019 – 5/5/2019 VA BASS Federation Mr. Bass, 110 North Bend Park
5/4/2019 – Piedmont Bass Classics, 75 Flemingtown Road
5/4/2019 – 5/5/2019 – BASS Nation Of Va INC 2019 High School Champs, 70 Occoneechee
5/11/2019 – Halifax Vol. Fire Dept HVFD 18th Annual Tournament, 50 Staunton River State Park
5/11/2019 – Fishers of Men, Tournament FDM NC Central Legacy To, 20 Henderson Point
5/18/2019 – American Bass Anglers Bass Pro Shops ABA Open, 75 Nutbush Bridge
5/18/2019 – Region 8 Va Bass Federation Region 8 Tournament, 30 Eastland Creek
5/18/2019 – 5/19/2019 – BASS Nation Of Va INC 2019 Championship 90 Occoneechee
5/18/2019 – Region 1 Va Bass Federation Region 1, 25 Longwood Boat Ramp
5/18/2019 – Bojangles Pro-Am, 70 Henderson Point
5/18/2019 – 5/19/2019 – Ridgeway Bass Anglers Club Tournament, 20 Longwood Boat Ramp
5/25/2019 – Kerr Lake Bassmasters Tournament, 20 Ivy Hill
6/1/2019 – Carolina Anglers Team Tra 2019 CATT Championship, 100 Nutbush Ramp
6/2/2019 – Carolina Anglers Team Tra 2019 CATT Championship, 100 Nutbush Ramp
6/2/2019 – Bass Nation Of Va Reg 2 Region 2 Stop #2, 20 Rudds Creek

6/8/2019 – Anglers Choice Choice Invit Team 150-200, Occoneechee
6/8/2019 – Carolina Anglers Team Tra Old Noth Qualifier, 40 Flemingtown Road
6/8/2019 – Jon Boat Bass Club of NC JBBC Camping Tournament, 20 Nutbush Bridge
6/15/2019 – Kerr Lake Bassmasters Tournament, 20 Ivy Hill
6/22/2019 – 5 Alive Team Trail, 25 Ivy Hill
6/29/2019 – Southwestern VA Bassmaster Bass Tournament, 25 Ivy Hill
6/30/2019 – Pamunky River Mini-Series Bass Tournament, 21 Rudds Creek
8/31/2019 – Kerr Lake Bassmasters Tournament, 20 Ivy Hill
9/14/2019 – Kerr Lake Bassmasters Tournament, 20 Ivy Hill
9/28/2019 – 9/29/2019 – American Bass Anglers Bass Pro Shops ABA Open, 75 Nutbush Bridge
10/5/2019 – Jon Boat Bass Club of NC JBBC Points Tournament, 20 Longwood Boat Ramp
10/5/2019 – 10/6/2019 – BASS Nation Of Va INC 2019 Championship, 90 Occoneechee
10/5/2019 – Kerr Lake Bassmasters Tournament, 20 Ivy Hill
10/12/2019 – 10/13/2019 Anglers Choice Invit Team, 150-200 Occoneechee
10/19/2019 – Meherrin Bassmasters Monthly Club Tournament, 15 County Line
11/9/2019 – 11/10/2019 – Virginia Bassmasters Club Bass Tournament, 11 Rudds Creek
1/27/2020 – Kerr Lake Bassmasters Fishing Tournament, 20-25 Longwood Boat Ramp

Bait up, boat up and remember in the boat or in the water, practice the US Army Corps of Engineers water safety motto: “Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns.”

Let’s be safe out there.

Kerr Lake Set for T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League Tournament

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-Press Release, Fishing League Worldwide

WHAT:
The FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournament season will continue Saturday, April 27, 2019, with a T-H Marine FLW BFL North Carolina Division tournament on Kerr Lake. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing for top awards of up to $8,000 and $3,000 respectively in the one-day tournament.

WHEN:
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Takeoff: 6:30 a.m. EDT. Weigh-In: 3 p.m.

Nutbush North
115 Jack Wade Farm Road
Henderson, N.C.
Hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority

NOTES:
Kerr Lake is expected to host another excellent day of bass fishing for anglers competing in this late-April BFL tournament. A variety of patterns will likely be seen. This past weekend, fishing isolated buck bushes in the backs of spawning pockets with a shakey-head rig, and a buzzbait produced the winning limit for BFL boater Keith Joyce. Working along wind-blown points with a jig, and fishing flats with a crankbait have also produced quality bites in past BFL events held on the lake this time of year.

A five-bass limit nearing 20 pounds should be enough to take top honors at this BFL North Carolina Division derby.

The 2019 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six regional tournaments where they will compete 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 2019 BFL All-American will be held May 30 – June 1 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, and is hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and the Commissioners of Charles County. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets:  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

DeGrandcourt Wins T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League Opener on Kerr Lake

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-Press Release, FLW Fishing

Boater R.J. DeGrandcourt of Clarksville, Virginia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Shenandoah Division opener on Kerr Lake. For his catch, DeGrandcourt took home $2,585.

According to post-tournament reports, DeGrandcourt caught his bass fishing flats on the upper end of the lake with a Bomber Speed Shad crankbait.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

 

1st:          R.J. DeGrandcourt, Clarksville, Va., five bass, 18-7, $2,585

 

2nd:         Ben Dalton, Keeling, Va., five bass, 16-5, $1,175

 

3rd:          Travis Lugar, McGaheysville, Va., five bass, 15-9, $784

 

4th:          Jack Dice, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 15-0, $759

 

4th:          Thomas Svec, Chesapeake, Va., five bass, 15-0, $509

 

6th:          Curtis Talbott, Forest, Va., five bass, 14-15, $631

 

7th:          Michael Delvisco, Dandridge, Tenn., five bass, 14-1, $392

 

8th:          Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., five bass, 13-11, $752

 

9th:          Rick Hawkins, Roanoke, Va., five bass, 13-10, $313

 

10th:        Craig Wright, Rustburg, Va., four bass, 13-1, $150

 

Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.

DeGrandcourt also caught a 6-pound, 9-ounce bass – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – and earned the day’s Boater Big Bass award of $235.

Kyle Richardt of Raleigh, North Carolina, won the Co-angler Division and $1,175 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

 

1st:          Kyle Richardt, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 12-7, $1,175

 

2nd:         Trey Grow, Mechanicsville, Va., five bass, 11-6, $587

 

3rd:          Louis Britos, Disputanta, Va., five bass, 10-10, $393

 

4th:          Jamie Newton, Falls Church, Va., four bass, 10-9, $254

 

4th:          Timothy Kinder, Manassas, Va., five bass, 10-9, $354

 

6th:          Brandt Thompson , Richmond, Va., five bass, 10-7, $215

 

7th:          Gregory Chuhta, Germantown, Md., five bass, 10-5, $196

 

8th:          Danny Crickenberger, Charlottesville, Va., four bass, 10-0, $293

 

9th:          Billy Brown, Dahlgren, Va., five bass, 9-13, $157

 

10th:        Al Berkley, Madison Heights, Va., five bass, 9-12, $50

 

Crickenberger caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $117.

The tournament was hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority.

Boater R.J. DeGrandcourt of Clarksville, Virginia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Shenandoah Division opener on Kerr Lake. For his catch, DeGrandcourt took home $2,585. (Photo courtesy FLW Fishing)

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional Championship on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina, presented by Navionics. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518L with a 200-horsepower outboard.

The 2019 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six 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 2019 BFL All-American will be held May 30-June 1 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, and is hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and the Commissioners of Charles County. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Fishing University to Re-Air Vance Co. Episode April 8-14!

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-Information courtesy Vance County Tourism Authority

It’s time for the Fishing University episode featuring Vance County to air again, April 8 – 14, 2019!

Fishing University, an internationally televised, Emmy award-winning television show, filmed an episode in Vance County this past fall featuring Kerr Lake as well as local restaurants, activities and attractions.

Featuring hosts/fishing legends Charlie Ingram and Ray Brazier, the show has a viewership of more than 63 million households, airing in all 50 states as well as in 51 additional countries.

The Vance County Tourism Development Authority served as point-of-contact for the project, viewing it as a strategic marketing opportunity to reach a target audience of potential guests seeking an outdoor travel destination.

Network codes: ODC= Outdoor Channel; SPM= Sportsman Channel; WFN=World Fishing Network

Monday, April 8

9 a.m. – ODC
10:30 a.m. – SPM

Wednesday, April 10

3 a.m. – WFN
6 a.m. – ODC
9 p.m. – WFN

Friday, April 12

4 p.m. – WFN

Saturday, April 13

8 a.m. – ODC
11 a.m. – SPM

Sunday, April 14

4:30 a.m. – SPM
10 a.m. – WFN

Kerr Lake Set for T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League Opener

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-Press Release, Fishing League Worldwide

WHAT:

The FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournament season will continue Saturday, April 6, with the T-H Marine FLW BFL Shenandoah Division tournament on Kerr Lake. Up to 400 boaters and co-anglers will be competing for top awards of up to $8,000 and $3,000 respectively in the one-day tournament.

WHEN:

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Takeoff: 7 a.m. EDT. Weigh-In: 3 p.m.

Nutbush North

115 Jack Wade Farm Rd

Henderson, N.C.

Hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority

Kerr Lake is set to host a great day of bass fishing for Shenandoah Division competitors. According to recent local fishing reports, quality bass are being taken on crankbaits on main-lake points. The area of the lake between Clarksville and Eastland Creek is said to be fishing strong. If your boat needs repairs, then you have to get it to a repair shop (you can check it out).

In past BFL events held on Kerr Lake this time of year, spinnerbaits on main-lake points near Nutbush Creek, flipping bushes for spawning bass and running bushes with a crankbait has produced winning bites. Working a Carolina-rig for bass on deeper points could be a good choice as well. A five-bass limit nearing 19 pounds should be enough to take the grand prize at this early-April BFL derby.

The 2019 BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six 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 2019 BFL All-American will be held May 30  – June 1 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland, and is hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism and the Commissioners of Charles County. Top performers in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the FLW Tour.

For complete details and updated information, visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Walt Bowen Talks Fishing on Kerr Lake

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Walt Bowen, a name often associated with Kerr Lake fishing, was on Tuesday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to discuss the lake’s vast potential and to provide a fishing “tall tale” or two.

Bowen, a Henderson native and retired IT executive for Sara Lee and Hanes, said he and his son started fishing on Kerr Lake approximately 25 years ago and have been hooked ever since. “It’s a competition that’s almost like an addiction,” said Bowen.

Participating in numerous fishing and angling tournaments over the years, Bowen almost reached the professional level in 2018. “I’m not quite at the professional level yet, but I’ve gotten very close,” Bowen said.

When not on the lake fishing, Bowen enjoys writing about fishing. As the author of “On the Water,” a weekly fishing column that runs in the Sports section of The Daily Dispatch on Sundays, Bowen is able to share his experiences and suggestions.

“I’ve been writing that column for 13 years now and I’ve really enjoyed it,” Bowen said. “I was reading the paper one day and I thought ‘they don’t have a fishing report.’ I contacted the sports editor about starting a fishing column, and that’s how it got started. That column has helped me develop many new relationships.”

Bowen has also written several magazine articles for the North Carolina Sportsman.

In addition to the enjoyment of fishing on Kerr Lake, Bowen said he sees the financial potential of the area. “Angling and tournament fishing are financial generators. A lake like Kerr Lake that has nice, open and plentiful parking and boat ramps like you find at Nutbush should attract people.”

Bowen said the return of bigger fishing tournaments like the ones held in the 1970s would be a huge boost to the local economy. This sentiment was shared in WIZS’ recent interview with the Vance County Tourism Development Authority who stated attracting larger tournaments was a high priority.

“We need to get the word out that this is a world-class fishery, which it is, so we can draw folks here. The recent Fishing University show helped to get the word out, but we need to continue to spread that message,” said Bowen.

As far as good fishing stories, Bowen chuckled and said he has plenty of those. One of the best ones he has heard about Kerr Lake involves a high school teacher and football coach catching a “world-record 143-lb. blue catfish” in the lake in 2011.

“You always hear the stories of catfish as big as men; turns out they’re true,” laughed Bowen.

To hear the Town Talk interview with Walt Bowen in its entirety, click here.