Bryan Schmitt of Deale, MD weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win the EverStart Series Northern Division event on the Potomac River with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 52 pounds, 8 ounces. For his victory Schmitt earned $37,554.
It was during practice two weeks ago that Schmitt found a location he had never fished before. It was an area that was easily overlooked as it was a spot where in the past grass had never grown. The only way he found this sweet grassy patch was on his depth finder.
“I was very lucky to find this spot and then to have it all to myself for three days,” said Schmitt. “I was fishing the mouth of a creek mid river. I think the area was holding post spawn fish that were coming off the bank, I was in about 3- to 4-feet of water. I fished the area all three days, exclusively on the final two days.
“It got tough today, especially in the afternoon,” continued Schmitt. “All the boats and jet skis muddied the water and it was a slow pick once the traffic started. I probably caught 25 keeper fish today but I had 15 of those fish in the first hour and then slowly gained ounces throughout the day.”
Schmitt indicated that all his fish came off black and blue jigs.
The top 10 pros on the Potomac River were:
1st: Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 15 bass, 52-8, $37,554
2nd: David Hooker, Stafford, Va., 15 bass, 45-4, $14,083
3rd: Jason Tibbetts, Centreville, Va., 15 bass, 43-15, $9,388
4th: Robert Grike, Dumfries, Va., 15 bass, 43-0, $8,450
5th: Terry Olinger, The Plains, Va., 15 bass, 42-7, $7,511
6th: Mike McDonald, Randleman, N.C., 15 bass, 42-3, $6,572
