ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Stetson Blaylock moved into the lead after Day 2 of the 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, as improving fishing conditions across the North Carolina fishery produced heavier catches and intensified competition heading into the weekend rounds.
The Arkansas professional sits atop the leaderboard with a two-day total of 42 pounds, 4 ounces after adding 18 pounds, 12 ounces to his opening-day haul. His narrow four-ounce advantage over Alabama angler Wesley Gore leaves the tournament finely balanced ahead of Semifinal Saturday.
“Anytime you are in contention, it is a good thing. But you want to be in contention with bass you know are getting better, and I’m not sure if they are getting better. I have a lot of decisions to make before takeoff, but I’m in a good spot.”
Friday’s action marked a significant improvement in catches throughout the Albemarle Sound system, with several competitors weighing bags exceeding 24 pounds. One angler surpassed 27 pounds, underlining the changing conditions in the tidal fishery.
Blaylock, whose first Bassmaster Elite Series victory came at Winyah Bay in 2019, has once again relied on a simplified strategy focused on consistency rather than covering extensive water. The six-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier said maintaining discipline has been central to his success.
“I keep saying I don’t like these types of fisheries because there are so many things you can do,” Blaylock said. “There’s going to be someone tomorrow who scraps their plan, does something different and catches a big stringer. That is something I struggle with. At Winyah Bay, I was able to stay in one area all four days. That’s what has been best for me, not running around.”
Much of Blaylock’s success has come from a remote section of river far from Elizabeth City, where he has searched for cleaner freshwater conditions amid rising salinity levels throughout the system. The area has also provided abundant baitfish activity.
“It is a well-kept area,” he explained. “The trick here right now is finding fresh water. I’m going way way back in this river, and I feel the further back you get, the better opportunity you have to catch a big fish.”
Blaylock has relied heavily on forward-facing sonar technology, using Lowrance ActiveTarget XL to locate bass positioned around cypress trees and submerged timber before making precise casts.
“I’m throwing at targets. I’ll use ActiveTarget when I need to see under logs and around the sides of cypress trees. But a lot of them are just fishing. That is a good thing when you can get bites just by fishing.”
Despite leading the field, Blaylock acknowledged uncertainty remains over whether his area can continue producing larger fish through the final rounds.
“I got more bites, which is a good sign,” Blaylock said. “If everything goes perfectly, I think I can catch 30 pounds.”
The tournament leader also admitted he lacks a reliable secondary option should conditions deteriorate.
“I want to win just like the next guy, but this time of year, Top 10s are huge. If I can catch 17 or 18 pounds and stay inside the Top 10, it’d be fine.
“If I go somewhere else, it’s going to be totally new water.”
Gore Keeps Pressure on Leader as Conditions Continue to Shift
Wesley Gore remains within striking distance after recording a 20-pound, 1-ounce limit on Day 2. The Alabama angler has concentrated exclusively on the Pasquotank River, conserving fuel and maximising fishing time throughout the week.
“I practiced for 2 1/2 days here. I’m trying to optimize fishing time. I knew I needed a good tournament this week. It hasn’t been my year. This week, I bet on myself and it has worked out the last few days.”
Gore has targeted submerged horizontal cover in crowded sections of the river, alternating between a drop shot rig and a HideUp Coike depending on bass behaviour.
“I’m not catching a whole lot of them,” Gore said. “I catch 2 or 3 pounders or great big ones.”
“I’ve seen it where they didn’t want to feed up and I had to throw a drop shot. Then there’s other times they want to feed up,” Gore said. “I read the bass, and unfortunately you have to mess a few up before figuring out what the right thing is. It can change. This morning they were wanting to feed down on the drop shot and then a light switch flipped. I came back through those places and caught them on a Coike.”
A falling water level added further uncertainty to Gore’s outlook after conditions in his area dropped by eight inches during Friday’s competition.
Day 1 leader Chris Zaldain slipped to third overall with a combined total of 40 pounds, 10 ounces after landing only 15 pounds, 2 ounces on Day 2. The Californian attributed the slower fishing to reduced tidal current caused by sustained southwest winds.
“After two days of a southwest wind, the current is totally backed up,” he said. “Being a California Delta guy, I know exactly when high tide and low tide are. This place is a totally different beast. The wind dictates what the water is doing.”
Zaldain said a forecast shift to a north wind could improve conditions heading into the weekend.
“When I found those fish, the wind was blowing out of the north, and it was almost too easy,” he said. “So, the wind switch is exactly what I need.”
Mississippi angler Cliff Pace secured the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with an 8-pound, 9-ounce largemouth, lifting him into the Day 3 cut. Oklahoma’s Luke Palmer continues to hold the overall big bass lead with an 8-pound, 14-ounce catch from Day 1.
JT Thompkins recorded the largest bag of the tournament so far on Friday with a 27-pound, 8-ounce limit.
Meanwhile, Trey McKinney regained the lead in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 548 points, ahead of Tennessee’s Cole Sands on 545 and Canadian competitor Cory Johnston on 537.
The Top 50 anglers will launch from Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City on Saturday morning, with only the leading 10 competitors progressing to Championship Sunday to compete for the $100,000 first prize and tournament title.
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