Allen Takes Win and $5,600 at Maryland opener

ATHENS, Ala. – Richard Lee Allen took top honors in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Maryland Division 21 tournament, held March 17, 2012, on the Potomac River.

Running out of Smallwood State Park near Marbury, the 50-year-old firefighter from Westminster, Md., caught five bass weighing 22.67 pounds for a 4.53-pound average. He anchored his catch with a 7.37-pound lunker that took the Boater Division big bass title. For the victory, Allen collected $5,000 with a $600 bonus for the lunker.

“We had one of those days that bass anglers dream of,” Allen gushed. “We caught a lot of fish. I caught 25 keepers. We caught our fish on a black and red chatterbait. Most of my bigger fish came off the chatterbait, but I caught a lot more fish on an orange and black Rat-L-Trap. The big bass hit on my third cast. ”

In second for the 120 boaters, Jim D. Pocratsky of Uniontown, Pa., brought in a five-bass tournament limit for 21.32 pounds. In third, John Hutchins of Warrenton, Va., landed five keepers for 21.12 pounds. Allan J. Engelmeyer of Severn, Md., took fourth place with five bass going 21.05 pounds. Michael V. Piccolo of Levittown, Pa., rounded out the top five boaters with five bass going 20.49 pounds.

In the Co-Angler Division, Timothy C. LeGrand, 39, of Millersville, Md., landed three bass at 15.02 pounds for slightly better than a 5-pound average. He upped his average by lipping a 9.20-pound bucketmouth that set the tournament lunker standard. For winning the division, he earned $2,500 with an extra $288 for the big bass.

“I didn’t get a chance to practice, but I had an idea what they’d be biting on from past experience fishing down here,” LeGrand said. “I caught exactly three keepers on Rat-L-Traps and didn’t do any culling. I lost a nice fish. The big one hit in the grass in less than three feet of water at about 12:30 p.m.”

Taking second for the co-anglers, Ben Pelton of Ellicott City, Md., caught a three-bass division limit weighing 14.47 pounds with a 6.04-pound kicker. Frank H. Miller of Nanticoke, Pa., took third with three bass going 14.41 pounds followed by David W. Porter II of King George, Va., with three bass and 14.07 pounds including a 6.21-pound kicker. Mark G. Finley of Palmyra, Va., rounded out the top five co-anglers with three bass and 14.04 pounds.

For more information on these tournaments, call Gary Conner, tournament manager, at (256) 230-5627 or ABA at (888) 203-6222. On line, see www.americanbassanglers.com.

-- John N. Felsher

About American Bass Anglers: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.

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