Richard Petty to dine with wounded warriors, guides after fishing tournament
As if participants in a series of fishing events for wounded warriors and disabled veterans already haven’t received relative “royal treatment,” now they’re scheduled to dine with “The King.”
Richard Petty, the king of NASCAR Cup Series racing with 200 victories, plans to serve dinner to those who fish on June 7 at Randleman Lake. The event will be at Petty’s home and farm in nearby Level Cross.
Terry Snyder, founder of the Operation North State organization that puts on the fishing festivals, divulged the plan this week.
Last year the post-fishing meal was held at the Randleman Community Center.
“What a treat for all who will be taking part!” said Snyder. “Richard’s great support means everything.”
Snyder announced a schedule of six fishing festivals for 2016, starting at Edenton on April 2. The other dates and sites: April 14, Lake Norman; April 28, Badin Lake; June 3, New Bern (on the Neuse and Trent rRivers); Sept. 30, Jordan Lake; Oct. 7, Ocean Crest Pier on Oak Island.
Snyder requests that boaters/anglers willing to take part at any or all of these locations as fishing guides register with him as soon as possible. Phone 336-764-5967 or email snydert33@gmail.com.
A kickoff meeting for the fishing festivals project is scheduled for Feb. 11 in Salisbury at Tilley Harley-Davidson, 653 Bendix Drive, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tom Higgins
Briefly
▪ Anglers who fish streams and rivers in Western North Carolina are asked to be especially diligent when cleaning their equipment after a trip. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission issued the request after didymo, a nuisance algae, was found in the Tuckaseegee River in Jackson County. It is the first time the organism has been detected in North Carolina. Didymo can produce thick algal mats along stream bottoms, altering the habitat and making fishing difficult. The agency asks that any gear coming in contact with the water be cleaned and dried thoroughly.
▪ The S.C. Department of Natural Resources reopened the Wateree River Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management area on Monday. The 3,674-acree tract had been closed since October when heavy flooding damaged the roads. These now have been repaired. The site bordering the Wateree River is on U.S. 378 near the Eastover community.
Catches of the week
▪ Two Lake Norman striped bass and several hybrids by Shannon Miller of Denver, N.C. The fish hit chartreuse and white Shad Bites affixed to a trolled Alabama Rig.
▪ Limits of crappie at Lake Norman by brothers Bo and John Crutchfield of Denver while fishing with minnows in the Mountain Creek arm.
▪ Snowy grouper weighing a total of 200 pounds by Jeff Martini of North Myrtle Beach and party while fishing 60 miles offshore of Ocean Isle/Little River.
▪ A mixed catch of 10 black drum and sheepshead in the Ocean Isle area by Patrick Prince.
▪ A dandy haul of blackfin and yellowfin tuna plus a few king mackerel by a party fishing off Hatteras Village aboard the Fin Again with skipper Kenny Koci. The anglers took the fish by deep-jigging spoons of 7 to 9 ounces.
This story was originally published January 27, 2016 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Richard Petty to dine with wounded warriors, guides after fishing tournament."