BassFan columnist Miles "Sonar" Burghoff compiled a 36-09 total for 2 days to win the BFL North Carolina Division Super Tournament at High Rock Lake over the weekend. For his victory, Burghoff earned $4,604.
It was the Orlando, Fla. resident's second win in a Super Tournament – he also captured one at Lake Okeechobee in 2010.
Targeting floating docks in Abbotts Creek with a combination of swimbaits and swimjigs, Burghoff said that moving fast was key to his win. He said he hit about 50 docks a day and didn’t spend any time waiting on the bass; they either bit on a fast retrieve or didn’t bite at all.
“I was using three primary baits,” Burghoff said. “Secret Lures' MVP Swim Jig in white and candy craw with a paddle-style swimbait trailer, a 5-inch Yum Money Minnow swimbait and the Berkley Split Belly swimbait, both in natural shad.
“This was my first time on High Rock Lake. I was basically looking for docks that fit my pattern. There seemed to be a big population of bluegill and gizzard shad hiding out around the floating docks that were about 20 feet deep and the bass were suspending underneath the docks, feeding on the baitfish."
He outdistanced runner-up Chris Baldwin of Lexington, N.C. by 3 1/2 pounds.
“I know this sounds cliché," he added, "but I really have to give thanks to Oakley for my polarized sunglasses. I had to set the hook so fast and without them I wouldn’t have been able to see the bass bite.”
Look for more details in an upcoming Sonar Sound-Off column.
