North Carolina angler George Hirapetian, who has fished 100 FLW tournaments before this week – all as a co-angler – is the day-1 leader at the Lake Norman FLW Tour Invitational after catching 14-07 out of the front of the boat today.
The 77-boat field saw 19 anglers crack the 10-pound mark on the sprawling North Carolina lake where Hirapetian has loads of experience. He mixed a Texas-rigged worm skipped around docks with a dropshot rig fished in grass. The docks and grassy areas are scattered all over the lake, including stretches near Governor’s Island and Mountain Creek.
“Lake Norman is a lake that I’m confident on,” said Hirapetian, who has two career wins as a co-angler, including one at Norman. “It doesn’t matter what season it is, I can come here and catch a lot of fish.”
Wesley Strader is 2nd after catching 13-00. Forrest Wood Cup winner John Cox caught 12-12, good enough for 3rd.
Here’s how the Top 10 looks after day 1:
1. George Hirapetian: 14-07
2. Wesley Strader: 13-00
3. John Cox: 12-12
4. Jason Meninger: 12-3
5. Scott Beattie: 12-0
6. Scott Canterbury: 11-15
7. Todd Hollowell: 11-12
8 (tie). David Dudley: 11-10
8 (tie). Tracy Adams: 11-10
10. Ronald Farrow: 11-7
