Now that he is grown, Lineberger is living that pro angler dream, fishing the B.A.S.S. Southern and Northern Opens the Carolina Bass Challenge tournaments and any other fishing tournament he can squeeze onto his calendar.

But there is one weekend every year when one special tournament takes precedence over everything – the annual Jim Ledbetter Memorial Bass Tournament on Lake Norman which raises money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Ledbetter himself was a victim of cancer and the V Foundation is named after legendary North Carolina State University basketbacll coach Jim Valvano, also a cancer victim.

“We love that tournament,” Lineberger said. “Even if I couldn’t fish it I’d probably send money. I lost two of my grandparents to that mess (cancer).”

Entry fee for the tournament is $175 per team, which includes the Big Fish pot. The winning team will trailer home a new Ranger 118 AL boat with a 115 E-Tex Outboard. The top Adult and Child Team, the top Senior Citizen Team and the top Husband and Wife team will win $500 each.

Lineberger said fishing should be very good for the tournament this weekend.

“The fish are pulling up. They have been out there all winter, freezing to death, and now we are starting to get some warmer temperatures. The only thing is we will be on the back side of the moon,” he said.

“They are calling for rain which should dirty up the creeks and the dirtier water will definitely improve the crankbait bite, like the Speed Trap, and I think it will definitely improve the jig bite, too,” he said. “I think we will see some really good weights Saturday. I’d say between 18 and 20 pounds will win it.”

 

Jim Ledbetter Memorial Bass Tournament

Sat, Mar 14, 2015

Lake Norman

Queen’s Landing

Call 704-483-2628

www.teamdenvermarine.com