Thompson wins on the Potomac
MARBURY, Md. – Joseph F. Thompson won the Boater Division in the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Maryland Division 21 season opener, held May 13, 2023, on the Potomac River.
Launching at Smallwood State Park in Marbury, Md., Thompson from Coatesville, Pa. brought in a 5-bass tournament limit for 18.79 pounds. That gave him a 3.76-pound average. Thompson improved his average with a 4.86-pound kicker. He went home $2,300 richer.
“I ran the whole river,” Thompson detailed. “I started way south and worked back up to Broad Creek. I had to come in on the trolling motor after running out of gas. I hit a lot of spots. I caught 14 keepers and culled up. I threw all kinds of baits including ChatterBaits, swim jigs and plastics.”
In second among the boaters, David M. Wilder of Middle River, Md. also landed his 5-bass limit. He came in with 17.91 pounds. One of his fish weighed 5.55 pounds, big enough to take the tournament lunker title. Wilder earned $1,000 for second place, plus an extra $420 for the lunker for a total of $1,420 in winnings.
“I started throwing topwaters on the main river,” Wilder remarked. “Then, the tide went really low and I wasn’t getting any bites. What I planned on doing didn’t work. I had three areas where I caught small fish. I saw the big fish spawning the other day. I went back on that fish and flipped a jig in there. I did a lot of running and caught everything flipping.”
In the third slot for the boaters, Matt R. McCluskey of Ashburn, Va. found a 5-bass limit for 16.94 pounds. He pocketed a check for $700.
“I ran all over the place,” McCluskey said. “I hadn’t been able to get on them in the grass so I fished wood, whatever looked good. I put some good ones in the boat. I caught three on a Texas-rigged Missile Baits D Bomb and two on a wacky worm.”
Finishing fourth for the boaters, Joe F. Dixon from Bel Alton, Md. brought in a 5-bass limit for 16.19 pounds, topped by a 4.14-pound kicker. Dixon went home with an extra $600. Rounding out the Top Five boaters, Duke G. Nave of Oxford. Pa. also found five keepers to finish with 15.14 pounds including a 3.28-pounder to win $500.
In the Co-Angler Division, Roland E. Paronish of Hastings, Pa. landed a 3-bass division limit to win with 9.82 pounds. That gave him a 3.27-pound average and put a winning check for $700 in his hands.
“I spent the day flipping grass with soft plastics,” Paronish recalled. “I caught about 20 bass.”Landing in second for the co-anglers, Xavier “Snoop” R. Gray from Ruther Glen, Va. came in with three keepers weighing 9.58 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 3.50-pounder and took home a check for $350.
“The day went pretty good,” Gray revealed. “I caught everything on a crankbait. I caught 20 bass and did some culling all through the day.”
John F. Alexander from Mount Airy, Md. finished third among the co-anglers with a 3-bass limit for 9.06 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 3.78-pound kicker. He collected $300 for the effort.
“The day went pretty well for me,” Alexander commented. “I caught everything on either a ChatterBait or a swim jig. I caught 15 bass throughout the day.”
Jim J. Short of Ocean Pines, Md. took the fourth spot for the co-anglers with a 3-bass limit tallying 8.35 pounds, enough to win $100. Right behind, Chad M. Shutty from Northern Cambria, Pa. finished fifth with three bass at 7.93 pounds, capped by a 3.24-pound kicker.
Matthew G. Hollins from Nokesville, Va. landed two bass for 5.72 pounds, but his 3.91-pounder took the division big bass title. That fish earned Hollins a check for $155.
“I caught that big fish by flipping a jig,” Hollins said. “I fished the jig around standing timber.”
The division next fishes the Chesapeake Bay area on June 18, 2023. That tournament runs out of Anchor Boats Marina, located at 36 Iroquois Drive in North East, Md. The public is invited to attend the free weigh-in.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, 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.
