Henderson Wins Maryland Opener On The Potomac
MARBURY, Md. – Off to a good start, Robbie L. Henderson won the Boater Division in the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Maryland Division 21 season opener, held April 30, 2022, on the Potomac River.
Launching at Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road near Marbury, Md. the King George, Va. angler brought in a 5-bass tournament limit for 17.43 pounds. With a 4.34-pounder anchoring the sack, Henderson scored a 3.49-pound average. For the win, he took home a check for $2,400.
“I was fishing grass down south,” Henderson explained. “I also fished a few docks. I only caught six keepers all day. I was throwing a swim jig, a Texas-rigged worm and a ChatterBait.”
Placing second among the boaters, Jeremy D. Southerly of Fulks Run, Va. also landed his 5-bass limit. Just a third of a pound out of first place, Southerly brought in 17.10 pounds with a 4.48-pound kicker and earned $1,100.
“We caught a good many fish,” Southerly said. “Most of them came on a Rat-L-Trap or a Senko. I probably landed about 15 fish in total.”
Mike R. Roselle of LaPlata, Md. took the show slot with five bass going 16.32 pounds. He collected $900 for the effort.
“I stayed in grass all day and flipped a Brush Hog or a Senko,” Roselle reported. “I caught about 15 fish. I just needed one big bite.”
Taking fourth place for the boaters, Jason “Shippy” L. Shipton from Muncy, Penn. found his 5-bass limit. He put 15.98 pounds on the scale. One of his fish weighed 5.04 pounds, giving him tournament lunker bragging rights. He earned $700 for fourth place plus $490 for the big bass, a total of $1,190.
“I only caught five fish all day,” Shipton said. “I caught all of them including the big one on a Senko.”
Samuel R. Rineer of Aberdeen, Md. finished fifth among the boaters. His 5-bass limit weighed 15.65 pounds.
In the Co-Angler Division, Craig H. Thomas of Allenwood, Penn. broke into double digits for his bag. He landed a 3-bass division limit going 10.72 pounds with a 3.70-pound kicker. That gave him a 3.57-pound average and put $1,000 in his pocket.
“This was the first time I ever fished here,” Thomas revealed. “I threw a green Senko. We had a good day.”
Justin T. Moffat from White Plains, Md. also landed a 3-bass limit. His sack tipped the scales at 9.94 pounds with a 4.65-pound kicker that won the division big bass competition. Moffat brought home checks worth $720, $550 for finishing second and $170 for the lunker.
“I caught one on a swim jig,” Moffat remarked. “Later, I caught one on a shaky head. I caught my biggest fish on a Brush Hog with about an hour left in the tournament. I only caught three keepers, but I caught about five short fish.”
In third for the co-anglers, Jonathan “J.P.” Hamilton of Waldorf, Md. caught his three keepers. His bag weighed 9.76 pounds, enough to pick up a check for $350.
“We fished some grass,” Hamilton stated. “I only caught three fish all day, all on a ChatterBait.”
Robert A. Wedding from Welcome, Md., finished fourth among the co-anglers with three bass going 9.33 pounds. Rounding out the top five co-anglers, Dante R. Gray of Ruther Glen, Va. brought in three keepers for 8.32 pounds.
The division returns to the Potomac River for the second event of the season, running out of Smallwood State Park on May 14, 2022. To register for this event, Click HERE.American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Garmin Electronics, Power Pole, Lucas Oil, RT Outdoors, Sportsman Card, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low-cost, close-to-home tournaments for the weekend angler and, at the same time, offering each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression.
For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Open Series, the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, the annual Military Team Bass Tournament, and the Top 150 Solo Tour, all presented by Caymas Boats, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406
This story was written by ABA staff writer John N. Felsher. To submit articles of interest email info@americanbassanglers.com.
