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Richard Troncatti II won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Maryland tournament, held on may 13th on the Potomac River.
Running out of Smallwood State park near Marbury the Hagerstown maryland angler caught five bass weighing 19.12 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 6.96-pound kicker.
For the Boater Division victory, Troncatti took home a check for $5000. The 6.96 lb. kicker was also the big bass for boaters earning him $680.
“I fished over in Quantico, I flipped every piece of timber I could find. I used baby brush hogs in watermelon candy color with a 3/8 oz weight. I just went real slow and hit every piece of wood I could find. Most of it was shallow in 3’ or so of water.” Said Troncatti.
In second for the boaters, Bernie Williams of East Berlin, Pa. landed a five-bass tournament limit of 5 fish going 18.13 pounds with a 4.87-pound kicker. He collected $1250 for the effort.
“I fished right here local all day. I threw a chatter bait and a spinnerbait in perch color around the pads and wood.” Said Williams
Ottis Darnell of Lindin, VA took third for the boaters with five bass going 17.10 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 4.55 pound kicker to earn $900.
“I threw a chatter bait in perch color all day,” Darnell said.
Finishing fourth, Ronnie E Tookes of Waldorf, Maryland landed a five-bass limit for 17.12 pounds including a 4.11-pound kicker.
Michael A. Phillips of Clayton, Delaware rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 17.03 pounds.
In the Co-Angler Division, Anthony S. Kashiwsky of Catonsville, MD won with three bass going 12.11 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 4.01-pound kicker to pocket a check for $1500.
“I threw a chatterbait with a lake fork trailer into the grass. It was in watermelon and also a black and blue.” Kashiwsky said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Thomas Nolf of Pittsburgh, PA brought in a three bass division limit weighing 11.06 pounds. He collected $500 for the effort.
“I fished a brush hogg on docks and wood in pumpkin color. Pulling it real slow in the shallows.” Nolf said.
Jamie Andries of Waldorf, MD placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 10.70 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 4.94-pound kicker to earn $400. His kicker was also the big bass for the coanglers and earned him a check for $265.
“I fished a perch colored chatterbait with a beaver trailer in about 10 ft of water in the grass,” Andries said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Rolland Paronish of Hastings, PA brought in three bass for 10.68 pounds.
Karl K Wynn of Millersville, Md finished in fifth place with three bass at 10.62 pounds topped by a 3.59-pound kicker.
Slated for june 3rd , the next divisional tournament will be held on the Chesapeake bay out of Anchor Boats Marina near North East, MD. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2018 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier, Louisiana in April 2018.
For more information on this tournament, call Jeff Randall tournament manager, at 256-777-6152 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.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 offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.