Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., takes the lead on the first day of the Bassmaster Elite at Potomac River presented by Econo Lodge, bringing 20 pounds, 4 ounces to the scales on Thursday.
August 11, 2016
Lucas Takes Early Lead On The Potomac River With ‘One Special Place’
CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — There has been a lot of talk the past few years about the declining quality of bass fishing on the Potomac River.
But on Thursday, the best bass fishermen in the world proved there is still plenty of hope for the famed fishery.
Things were especially good for Alabama pro Justin Lucas.
Lucas caught five bass that weighed 20 pounds, 4 ounces, off “one special place” to take the lead in the Bassmaster Elite at Potomac River presented by Econo Lodge. California angler Brent Ehrler is second with 17-13, and Washington pro Luke Clausen is third with 17- 9.
The Top 62 anglers in the 107-angler field caught at least 10 pounds of bass.
“I think the river has taken a little hit the last couple of years, but there’s more grass growing this year than there has been the past two or three years,” Lucas said. “That really helps the weights in a tournament.
“The bass get up in there and eat bluegill and whatever baitfish they can — and it fattens them up.”
Lucas worked his Day 1 magic in one spot that he was surprised to have to himself.
“At certain times of the year, I think the place I’m fishing is a pretty popular place,” Lucas said. “But this time of year, I don’t think it is. I only saw one other boat all day, and that was surprising.
“I stayed there almost until the end of the day — just guarding it more than anything.”
With three days left to fish, Lucas wouldn’t say which lures he was using. He only said he was fishing “West Coast style.”
He also wouldn’t say which stage of the tide was best for him during the opening round. But he did say his experience fishing tidal fisheries in his native California played a role in his success.
“This is so different from a place like the California Delta,” said Lucas, who won the 2015 Elite on the California Delta with 82-14. “Honestly, other than the fact that the water goes in and out every day a couple of feet, they’re just two totally different places.
“But the understanding of how to fish tidal waters is definitely helpful.”
Lucas is hoping that other anglers will stay away from his magic spot as Day 2 begins Friday — and he can’t afford to let up with six anglers within 4 pounds of him.
One of those anglers is Alabama pro Gerald Swindle, the current leader in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
Swindle said he believed his day was one of those that was “just meant to happen.”
“Anybody who looks at my weight and thinks I really caught them, needs to talk to my marshal,” said Swindle, who brought in 16-5 to land in seventh place. “It was a grind. At one point, I told (my marshal) ‘I ain’t getting no bites; I’m lost; I’ve burned 30 gallons of gas.’ It was just tough.”
But then, things eventually worked out.
“It was truly a blessing,” said Swindle, who caught most of his fish late after a day-long struggle. “I don’t really get all sappy about crazy stuff like that. But I believe sometimes, when you’re meant to catch them, you’re just meant to catch them.”
Swindle’s catch increased his lead in the AOY battle to 44 points over Keith Combs. Jacob Powroznik is in third place 51 points back, and Randall Tharp is 69 points back in fourth.
The anglers’ catches were especially impressive, considering the tournament was very much in doubt back in March because of biologists’ concerns that the bass fishery is declining.
New state regulations in Maryland would have only allowed anglers to weigh in five bass per day, 12 inches or longer, with only one that measured 15 inches or longer. The regulations caused B.A.S.S. officials to consider canceling the event.
But an alternative plan was reached that allowed anglers to weigh five bass that measure at least 12 inches with no maximum size limit.
Special fish care measures were observed during the first round, including an expedited weigh-in that lasted less than 90 minutes.
The tournament will resume Friday with takeoff from Smallwood State Park at 6:15 a.m. ET. The weigh-in will be held back at the park at 3 p.m.
2016 Bassmaster Elite at Potomac River presented by Econo Lodge 8/11-8/14
Potomac River, Charles County MD.
Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 20-04 110
Day 1: 5 20-04
2. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 5 17-13 109
Day 1: 5 17-13
3. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 5 17-09 108
Day 1: 5 17-09
4. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 17-04 107
Day 1: 5 17-04
5. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 16-13 106
Day 1: 5 16-13
6. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 5 16-09 105
Day 1: 5 16-09
7. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 16-05 104
Day 1: 5 16-05
8. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 16-01 103
Day 1: 5 16-01
8. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 16-01 103
Day 1: 5 16-01
10. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 14-13 101
Day 1: 5 14-13
11. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 14-12 100
Day 1: 5 14-12
12. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 14-12 99
Day 1: 5 14-12
13. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 14-11 98
Day 1: 5 14-11
14. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 14-07 97
Day 1: 5 14-07
15. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 14-06 96
Day 1: 5 14-06
16. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 14-05 95
Day 1: 5 14-05
16. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 14-05 95
Day 1: 5 14-05
18. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 14-04 93
Day 1: 5 14-04
18. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 5 14-04 93
Day 1: 5 14-04
20. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 14-03 91
Day 1: 5 14-03
21. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 14-02 90
Day 1: 5 14-02
22. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 13-15 89
Day 1: 5 13-15
23. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 13-13 88
Day 1: 5 13-13
24. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 5 13-10 87
Day 1: 5 13-10
25. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 13-08 86
Day 1: 5 13-08
25. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 13-08 86
Day 1: 5 13-08
27. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 5 13-04 84
Day 1: 5 13-04
28. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 13-02 83
Day 1: 5 13-02
29. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 13-01 82
Day 1: 5 13-01
30. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 5 12-15 81
Day 1: 5 12-15
31. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 5 12-11 80
Day 1: 5 12-11
32. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 12-10 79
Day 1: 5 12-10
33. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 12-09 78
Day 1: 5 12-09
34. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 12-08 77
Day 1: 5 12-08
35. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 12-04 76
Day 1: 5 12-04
36. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 12-03 75
Day 1: 5 12-03
37. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 11-14 74
Day 1: 5 11-14
38. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 11-13 73
Day 1: 5 11-13
38. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 11-13 73
Day 1: 5 11-13
38. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 11-13 73
Day 1: 5 11-13
38. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 11-13 73
Day 1: 5 11-13
42. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 11-11 69
Day 1: 5 11-11
42. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 11-11 69
Day 1: 5 11-11
44. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE 5 11-08 67
Day 1: 5 11-08
45. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 11-07 66
Day 1: 5 11-07
46. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 11-06 65
Day 1: 5 11-06
47. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 4 11-06 64
Day 1: 4 11-06
48. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 11-04 63
Day 1: 5 11-04
48. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 5 11-04 63
Day 1: 5 11-04
50. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 4 11-04 61
Day 1: 4 11-04
51. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 11-03 60
Day 1: 5 11-03
52. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 4 11-01 59
Day 1: 4 11-01
53. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 10-15 58
Day 1: 5 10-15
54. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 10-14 57
Day 1: 5 10-14
55. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 4 10-14 56
Day 1: 4 10-14
56. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 10-13 55
Day 1: 5 10-13
57. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 10-12 54
Day 1: 5 10-12
58. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 5 10-11 53
Day 1: 5 10-11
59. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 4 10-04 52
Day 1: 4 10-04
60. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 10-03 51
Day 1: 5 10-03
60. Billy McCaghren Jr Mayflower, AR 5 10-03 51
Day 1: 5 10-03
62. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 10-01 49
Day 1: 5 10-01
62. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 10-01 49
Day 1: 5 10-01
64. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 09-15 47
Day 1: 5 09-15
65. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 09-14 46
Day 1: 5 09-14
66. David Williams Newton, NC 5 09-11 45
Day 1: 5 09-11
67. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 09-08 44
Day 1: 5 09-08
67. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 09-08 44
Day 1: 5 09-08
69. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 09-07 42
Day 1: 5 09-07
70. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 4 08-12 41
Day 1: 4 08-12
71. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 4 08-11 40
Day 1: 4 08-11
72. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 4 08-11 39
Day 1: 4 08-11
73. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 4 08-07 38
Day 1: 4 08-07
74. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 3 08-07 37
Day 1: 3 08-07
75. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 07-15 36
Day 1: 5 07-15
76. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 07-12 35
Day 1: 5 07-12
77. Casey Scanlon Rocky Mount, MO 3 07-12 34
Day 1: 3 07-12
78. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 2 07-12 33
Day 1: 2 07-12
79. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 07-11 32
Day 1: 5 07-11
80. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 07-07 31
Day 1: 5 07-07
81. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 3 07-05 30
Day 1: 3 07-05
82. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 4 07-04 29
Day 1: 4 07-04
83. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 4 07-01 28
Day 1: 4 07-01
84. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 3 06-12 27
Day 1: 3 06-12
85. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 2 06-08 26
Day 1: 2 06-08
86. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 4 06-02 25
Day 1: 4 06-02
87. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 2 05-05 24
Day 1: 2 05-05
88. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 2 05-04 23
Day 1: 2 05-04
89. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 04-15 22
Day 1: 5 04-15
90. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 2 04-11 21
Day 1: 2 04-11
91. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 4 04-10 20
Day 1: 4 04-10
92. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 3 04-04 19
Day 1: 3 04-04
93. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 3 03-14 18
Day 1: 3 03-14
94. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 1 03-12 17
Day 1: 1 03-12
95. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 1 03-10 16
Day 1: 1 03-10
96. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 3 03-09 15
Day 1: 3 03-09
97. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 2 03-06 14
Day 1: 2 03-06
98. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 1 03-05 13
Day 1: 1 03-05
99. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 2 02-13 12
Day 1: 2 02-13
100. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 1 02-13 11
Day 1: 1 02-13
101. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 2 02-07 10
Day 1: 2 02-07
102. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 1 02-05 9
Day 1: 1 02-05
103. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 1 02-01 8
Day 1: 1 02-01
104. Jay Brainard Enid, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
104. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
——————————
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 69 440 1074-10
——————————
69 440 1074-10
