By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

Troy Morrow's visits to North Carolina's Lake Norman have been infrequent, but quite memorable.

When he won the BFL All-American in 2010, he'd gained his spot in the field via his performance in a Regional there. A decade passed before he returned last week and won the Eastern Division Toyota Series derby.

The FLW Pro Circuit competitor from Eastonollee, Ga. averaged less than 11 pounds per day en route to his initial triumph at the triple-A level. While most in the field were pounding the shoreline, he stayed away from the banks and caught fish from as deep as 40 feet.

"I didn't want to get caught up in what everybody else was doing," he said. "I'm not a shallow fisherman, so I just stuck to my strengths."

He compiled bags weighing 10-06, 12-06 and 9-07 for a 32-03 total. His winning margin over runner-up Todd Walters was 4 ounces.

Seeing was Believing

Morrow fished a lot of stumps and a few docks, focusing on water that was at least 15 feet deep. His Garmin LiveScope unit was a major part of his program, as he used it to not only locate fish, but also gauge their mood and monitor their movements.

For instance, on multiple occasions LiveScope showed him that if he caught one fish that was part of a small group, the others would depart the scene. If a fish showed no interest in the shaky-head he was offering, he'd immediately move on.

"I caught quite a few roamers that were just out swimming around," he said. "If they were next to a stump a lot of times I couldn't see them (on LiveScope) at first, but then it would look like the stump moved.

"Sometimes there were pairs of fish on one stump, but I never could catch the second one."

A shaky-head rig featuring a Zoom Finesse Worm accounted for 12 of the 15 fish he took to the scale. He caught two on an underspin tipped by a Zoom Boot Tail Fluke and one on a Carolina rig.

"I did not have a good morning bite – I might as well have just gone out and goofed off for 2 hours," he said. "I couldn't catch a fish before 9 o'clock and it didn't really get going until 11.

"I thought I could catch 12 pounds a day, but the weather changed and we got a lot of high pressure. When we got some wind, I thought that would make the bite better, but it didn't. I'd caught a couple of 4-pounders really deep in practice and I just didn't connect with those in the tournament."

He entered the final round with a 6-ounce lead and didn't think he'd done enough to hang on with a 9 1/2-pound stringer.

"I figured I'd blown it, especially after I broke off a big one on the last hump I pulled up on. You get that feeling that you need one more quality bite, then it breaks off. I told my co-angler that was it."

Winning Gear Notes

> Shaky-head gear: 7' medium-heavy Duckett Fishing Micro Magic Pro rod, Duckett Fishing Paradigm 2500 spinning reel, 12-pound Sunline SX1 braid (main line), 8-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon (6' leader), 3/16-ounce Gambler Giggy Head, Zoom Finesse Worm (green-pumpkin).



Final Standings

1. Troy Morrow -- Eastanollee, Ga -- 10-6 (5) -- 12-6 (5) -- 9-7 (5) -- 32-3 (15) -- $24,795

2. Todd Walters -- Kernersville, NC -- 9-12 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 10-4 (5) -- 31-15 (15) -- $9,608

3. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC -- 10-8 (5) -- 10-6 (5) -- 9-11 (5) -- 30-9 (15) -- $7,438

4. Martin Villa -- Charlottesville, Va -- 11-11 (5) -- 10-10 (5) -- 7-3 (5) -- 29-8 (15) -- $6,233

5. Jason Wilson -- Lincolnton, NC -- 8-11 (5) -- 10-6 (5) -- 9-14 (5) -- 28-15 (15) -- $5,579

6. David Williams -- Maiden, NC -- 8-2 (5) -- 13-6 (5) -- 6-3 (5) -- 27-11 (15) -- $5,493

7. Michael Stephens -- Gastonia, NC -- 12-9 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 6-1 (5) -- 27-5 (15) -- $4,339

8. Cole Huskins -- Gastonia, NC -- 9-11 (5) -- 9-10 (5) -- 7-13 (5) -- 27-2 (15) -- $3,919

9. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, NC -- 11-7 (5) -- 9-0 (5) -- 4-10 (3) -- 25-1 (13) -- $3,099

10. Cody Pike -- Powhatan, Va -- 9-15 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 2-14 (2) -- 21-11 (12) -- $3,479

The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 3.

11. Scott Beattie -- Sherrills Ford, NC -- 8-8 (5) -- 10-4 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 18-12 (10) -- $2,324

12. Alvin Shaw -- Camden, SC -- 11-9 (5) -- 6-12 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 18-5 (9) -- $2,370

13. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, NC -- 9-6 (5) -- 8-3 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 17-9 (10) -- $1,860

14. Scott Hamrick -- Denver, NC -- 8-4 (4) -- 9-2 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 17-6 (9) -- $1,860

15. Cameron Lineback -- Mount Airy, NC -- 9-7 (5) -- 7-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 17-1 (10) -- $1,860

16. Johnathan Crossland -- Chapin, SC -- 8-5 (5) -- 8-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-15 (10) -- $1,860

17. James Maupin -- Stanardsville, Va -- 8-1 (5) -- 8-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-14 (10) -- $1,860

18. Drew Montgomery -- Maiden, NC -- 8-8 (5) -- 7-11 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-3 (9) -- $1,860

19. Adam Haithcock -- Butner, NC -- 8-14 (5) -- 7-3 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-1 (10) -- $1,860

20. Jamey Caldwell -- Carthage, NC -- 8-13 (5) -- 7-4 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-1 (10)

21. Chad Cook -- Cross, SC -- 8-13 (5) -- 7-1 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-14 (9)

22. Michael Crocker -- Pasadena, Md -- 8-4 (5) -- 7-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-14 (10)

23. Danny L. Shanz -- Summerton, SC -- 7-15 (5) -- 7-7 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-6 (10)

24. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, NC -- 8-15 (5) -- 6-3 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-2 (9)

25. Gary Isgrigg -- Mt. Washington, Ky -- 8-4 (5) -- 6-14 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-2 (8)

26. Danny Kirk -- Bartow, Ga -- 7-9 (5) -- 7-5 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 14-14 (9)

27. Thomas Guthke -- Townville, SC -- 6-10 (3) -- 8-0 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 14-10 (8) -- $69

28. Dustin Henson -- Landrum, SC -- 8-14 (5) -- 5-11 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 14-9 (7)

29. George Hirapetian -- Charlotte, NC -- 6-12 (4) -- 7-10 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 14-6 (9)

30. Wil Dieffenbauch -- Morgantown, Wv -- 7-5 (4) -- 7-0 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 14-5 (8)

31. Chris Dover -- Blacksburg, SC -- 6-11 (4) -- 7-9 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 14-4 (9)

32. Joshua Goins -- Lerona, Wv -- 7-6 (4) -- 6-10 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 14-0 (7)

33. Chris Fiore -- Midlothian, Va -- 4-3 (2) -- 9-6 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-9 (7)

34. Trent Palmer -- Cumming, Ga -- 6-8 (4) -- 6-15 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-7 (8)

35. Ron Farrow -- Rock Hill, SC -- 3-11 (2) -- 9-5 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-0 (6)

36. Adam Waters -- Denver, NC -- 6-7 (3) -- 6-9 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-0 (7)

37. Preston Harris -- State Road, NC -- 7-15 (5) -- 4-7 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-6 (8)

38. Burke Hutcheson -- Durham, NC -- 4-5 (3) -- 7-14 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-3 (8)

39. Rick Chenoweth -- Fredericksburg, Va -- 5-12 (4) -- 6-7 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-3 (8)

40. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 6-7 (5) -- 5-11 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-2 (9)

41. Michael Corbishley -- Raleigh, NC -- 4-4 (3) -- 7-12 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-0 (7)

42. Tim Cales -- Sandstone, Wv -- 7-9 (5) -- 4-7 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-0 (8)

43. Hunter Eubanks -- Inman, SC -- 8-11 (5) -- 2-10 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 11-5 (7)

44. Michael Hall -- Annandale, Va -- 4-3 (3) -- 7-2 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 11-5 (8)

45. Randy Fowler -- Winston-Salem, NC -- 9-5 (5) -- 1-13 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 11-2 (6)

46. Chris Dillow -- Waynesboro, Va -- 6-1 (4) -- 5-0 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 11-1 (7)

47. Tyler Walls -- Mcadenville, NC -- 4-5 (3) -- 6-11 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 11-0 (8)

48. Craig Chambers -- Charlotte, NC -- 3-4 (2) -- 7-11 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-15 (6)

49. Brian Calloway -- Danville, Va -- 4-15 (4) -- 5-10 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-9 (8)

50. Tim Teague -- Belmont, NC -- 5-15 (3) -- 4-9 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-8 (6)

51. Steve Morella -- Townshend, Vt -- 3-9 (2) -- 6-9 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-2 (6)

52. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, SC -- 0-0 (0) -- 9-9 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 9-9 (5)

53. Hermilo Salgado -- Artemus, Ky -- 4-12 (3) -- 4-9 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 9-5 (6)

54. Aaron Digh -- Denver, NC -- 1-6 (1) -- 7-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 9-3 (6)

55. Jeff Coble -- Manson, NC -- 4-9 (3) -- 4-6 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 8-15 (7)

56. Matthew Mollohan -- Prosperity, SC -- 8-1 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 8-1 (5)

57. Robert Grabow -- Morgantown, Wv -- 6-1 (4) -- 1-10 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 7-11 (5)

58. Jacob Moore -- Stanley, NC -- 1-7 (1) -- 5-10 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 7-1 (5)

59. Christopher Grenier -- Clarksburg, Wv -- 5-8 (4) -- 1-8 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 7-0 (5)

60. Shayne Berlo -- Mclean, Va -- 2-14 (2) -- 3-14 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-12 (5)

61. Timothy Sisk -- Kings Mountain, NC -- 3-1 (2) -- 3-3 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-4 (4)

62. Dylan Fulk -- Mount Pleasant, NC -- 6-2 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-2 (3)

63. John Parker -- Gaffney, SC -- 5-15 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 5-15 (3)

64. Eddie Whiten Jr -- Townville, SC -- 0-0 (0) -- 5-5 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 5-5 (3)

65. Maurice Parent -- Hickory, NC -- 2-11 (2) -- 2-9 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 5-4 (4)

66. Jordan Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, SC -- 5-3 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 5-3 (3)

67. Kirk McMullen -- Greensburg, Pa -- 5-1 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 5-1 (3)

68. Wesley Cashwell -- Roanoke Rapids, NC -- 1-11 (1) -- 3-3 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-14 (3)

69. Jeff Currie -- Camden, Ny -- 4-12 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-12 (3)

70. Michael Murphy -- Gilbert, SC -- 3-0 (2) -- 1-9 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-9 (3)

71. Heath Toler -- Walnut Cove, NC -- 3-3 (2) -- 1-5 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-8 (3)

72. Todd Fulk -- Mount Pleasant, NC -- 4-7 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-7 (2)

73. Ben Cox -- Andrews, SC -- 3-11 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 3-11 (3)

74. Cole Harris -- Essex Junction, Vt -- 0-0 (4) -- 1-9 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 1-9 (5)