CHARLOTTE (March 25) -- Like most professionals in attendance, GEICO angler Christiana Bradley was wearing a few extra layers of clothing when she departed Blythe Landing and headed out on Lake Norman Friday morning for the second day of the Bassmaster Southern Open bass fishing event.
Her goal was clear -- no matter how cold it was on the water, she needed things to heat up if she hoped to make the cut and continuing fishing for the big money up for grabs to the top 12 anglers on Saturday.
Armed with several days of knowledge from fishing on the popular body of water just north of Charlotte, and already on the scoreboard with a mid-pack Day 1 total of 6 pounds, 7 ounces, Bradley went to work.
She hit the shorelines, tried the deeper areas, hovered around spawning beds, and drew a myriad of lures past boat docks and other structures, fishing as hard as she could. The systems engineer was as methodic as she'd ever been, even as the waters crowded with anglers from two other local tournaments.
By day's end, although the temperatures had risen to a comfortable level, the fish remained mostly illusive, and despite her best efforts and a slight upward movement in the tournament standings, Bradley's four bass weighing 5 pounds and 13 ounces weren't enough to earn a paycheck
The only female in the field of 176 anglers ended up 115th overall.
Fortunately for Bradley, she'll be on the water again very soon, this time on her native Potomac River in Maryland when she competes April 10 in the LAPR Bass Series.