On Dec. 26, guide and angler Eric Weir, from nearby Belmont, landed a state-record spotted bass on Lake Norman. Weir's fish weighed 6.5 pounds, and in his words was "the best Christmas present he received this year."  The previous spotted bass record was shattered by 6 ounces, a huge amount considering the species and waters.  The old state record was 5.15 pounds caught in 1992 on Lake Chatuge.
Eric quickly called a State Biologist to verify the catch.
Eric Weir is no stranger to me, having roomed and traveled together, both on the FLW and B.A.S.S. trails.  And it comes to no surprise that he could break a state record, he and I have shared a boat fishing before, along with fellow friend and pro Chris Baumgardner.  Eric has limited his tournaments to local events since becoming a fulltime fishing guide on Lake Wylie and Lake Norman for the past seven years.  I recently had a chance to sit down and talk with Eric about the catch.  Eric begins by saying he and Chris started out the day just as any other day fun fishing together.  
"Me and Bump (Chris Baumgardner as we all call him) had been fishing when we decided to try a point in Ramsey Creek late in the afternoon, around 2:30.  I just tied on a new what-cha-ma-call-it, on a thing-e," he said laughing.

"But seriously," he added, "I caught the fish on a Zoom Finesse Worm with a slider jig head. There was a brushpile there in about 15 feet of water."

"When I set the hook, the fish took off, and at first I thought I had a catfish on," he continued, "then I thought maybe it's a carp, it was just too strong to be a spot, but I just couldn't tell!" 

"The fish really never did more than pull and head for deeper water, and never jumped at all!" he said.

"Chris kept saying jokingly that I had either hooked a carp or a record spotted bass".   He added "I really think we both thought it was a carp but a few seconds later he hand landed the bass, and it was no a carp!"
After realizing that the fish may actually be a new state record, they decided to trailer the boat.  Since it was the day after Chrismas, Eric and Chris spent the next three hours searching for a set of certified scales and trying to get in touch with the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. They were lucky enough to find Mike Jones, of Jones Brothers Supermarket in Mt. Holly open, who allowed them to use his scales. After the holidays had passed, agents from the NC Wildlife Commission, Winthrop Taylor and Laurence Dorsey, visited Eric's home for inspection of the suspected spotted bass. After separate inspections of the fish, they both agreed that he had indeed caught a 6.5-pound "Alabama strain" spotted bass, and awarded him with the new North Carolina state record last week.
"Lake Norman is a great spotted bass fishery but are not native to Lake Norman" said Eric. "they where put here by anglers, not State Officials and have exploded in numbers and size in the past two to three years.  I have been chasing these fish year round for about five years."

I ask Eric if we could expect to see him soon back on the tournament trail and he comments that he plans on returning as soon as possible.  Not only is he guiding fulltime on Lake Norman, but has recently purchased a bait company, Lakeland Lures.

"Its mainly a saltwater plastics company, but also produces crappie and striper baits.  Its keeping me busy getting production going.  But don't count me out not returning to the National scene, like FLW ."

For more info on Lakeland Lures or to book a guide trip with Eric, he can be reached at 704.825.2827

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Lake Norman produces new record Spotted Bass