CITGO BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES WINDS DOWN TO POTOMAC RIVER
BASS Event to Help Decide Classic Future of Nation’s Top Pros
CELEBRATION, Fla. — Since 1989, the Potomac River has been a regular stop on BASS’ competitive circuits, but rarely has a tournament held more at stake than the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series’ Capitol Clash on Aug. 10-13. BASS has visited the historic river that flows through Washington, D.C., more than 20 times, but this event is pivotal because it will go a long way toward deciding a close battle for the CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year title and the bulk of the coveted invitations to the CITGO Bassmaster Classic in February 2007.
The Capitol Clash is the 10th of 11 Elite Series events. The season ends Sept. 14-17 with The Rock presented by TheraSeed on Table Rock Lake in Kimberling City, Mo.
The bass fishery known as the Potomac River has long been a favorite destination of the nation’s best bass pros and provides a memorable overall experience. The Elite Series pros might find themselves fishing in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, offshore of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens or even around Columbia Island — with a view of the Pentagon.
But for these well-traveled athletes, the main attraction on this August week will be the abundant largemouth and smallmouth bass.
“First of all, it’s full of fish,” Virginia’s John Crews said. “There’s tons of fish in that place. The grass has progressively gotten better… it’s always been pretty good, but now there’s more and more of it. So that’s a very good thing for the health of the river.”
The last time a pro-level BASS came to the Potomac was in July of 2003. That tournament was won by local angler Earnest Freeman with a three-day total of nearly 54 pounds.
“You’re going to see an awesome tournament,” added Michigan’s Kevin VanDam, a three-time CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year who is battling Michael Iaconelli, Steve Kennedy and Dean Rojas for the 2006 title.
Crews predicts that the winner will need to average 13 pounds or more per day for the four rounds to claim the $100,000 top prize. “Most everybody is going to have a limit,” he said. “But finding the bigger fish is going to be the trick there.”
The Potomac is a tidal-influenced waterway with fluctuating high and low daily tides that can baffle even the most experienced anglers. Basic tournament strategy revolves around either fishing certain areas regardless of the tidal stage or running the tide to duplicate a specific tide stage as much as possible. The fluctuations are a serious consideration from D.C. south to the Chesapeake Bay.
Experts say some of the most dependable fishing occurs in the bass-rich tributaries, including Pomonkey, Chicamuxen, Mattawoman and Nanjemoy creeks.
“(The tidal movement) does help fishing a little bit in the summer,” Crews added. “It keeps the water flowing and keeps the oxygen going. But there is so much matted milfoil up there and with that water going through it there’s plenty of oxygen in the water.”
The daily weigh-ins, which are free to attend, will begin at 3 p.m. ET Thursday through Sunday at Sweden Point Marina in Smallwood State Park, 2750 Sweden Point Road, in Marbury. Morning launches will leave from the same site beginning at 6 a.m. ET.
Fishing fans can catch the action from the Capitol Clash on the CITGO Bassmasters on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
Local sponsors include the Charles County Office of Tourism.
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Toyota, Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Advance Auto Parts and Theraseed®.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit http://www.bassmaster.com.
Anglers, listed by way of the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index:
Rank Name Total Weight Average Weight Power Index (Avg. Weight)
1 Rojas, Dean 557 lbs 5 ozs 46 lbs 7 ozs 100.00 %
2 VanDam, Kevin 556 lbs 14 ozs 46 lbs 7 ozs 100.00 %
3 Iaconelli, Michael 551 lbs 14 ozs 46 lbs 0 ozs 99.06 %
4 Hackney, Greg 522 lbs 0 ozs 43 lbs 8 ozs 93.67 %
5 Wirth, Kevin 519 lbs 13 ozs 43 lbs 5 ozs 93.27 %
6 Crews, John 514 lbs 1 ozs 42 lbs 13 ozs 92.19 %
7 Evers, Edwin 511 lbs 4 ozs 42 lbs 10 ozs 91.79 %
8 Martens, Aaron 510 lbs 2 ozs 42 lbs 8 ozs 91.52 %
9 Reese, Skeet 503 lbs 8 ozs 41 lbs 15 ozs 90.31 %
10 Wurm, Mike 494 lbs 12 ozs 41 lbs 4 ozs 88.83 %
11 Reed, Matt 479 lbs 5 ozs 39 lbs 15 ozs 86.00 %
12 Quinn, Jason 470 lbs 10 ozs 39 lbs 4 ozs 84.52 %
13 Swindle, Gerald 466 lbs 8 ozs 38 lbs 14 ozs 83.71 %
14 Lane, Russell 465 lbs 14 ozs 38 lbs 13 ozs 83.58 %
15 Brauer, Denny 463 lbs 7 ozs 38 lbs 10 ozs 83.18 %
16 Biffle, Tommy 456 lbs 13 ozs 38 lbs 1 ozs 81.97 %
17 Scroggins, Terry 453 lbs 8 ozs 37 lbs 13 ozs 81.43 %
18 Jordon, Kelly 447 lbs 15 ozs 37 lbs 5 ozs 80.35 %
19 Reynolds, Jeff 441 lbs 6 ozs 36 lbs 13 ozs 79.27 %
20 Klein, Gary 438 lbs 4 ozs 36 lbs 8 ozs 78.60 %
21 Thliveros, Peter 432 lbs 15 ozs 36 lbs 1 ozs 77.66 %
22 Horton, Timmy 426 lbs 14 ozs 35 lbs 9 ozs 76.58 %
23 Rowland, Zell 425 lbs 13 ozs 35 lbs 8 ozs 76.45 %
24 Butcher, Terry 421 lbs 12 ozs 35 lbs 2 ozs 75.64 %
25 Omori, Takahiro 421 lbs 4 ozs 35 lbs 2 ozs 75.64 %
26 Jones, Alton 420 lbs 11 ozs 35 lbs 1 ozs 75.50 %
27 Bailey, Lee 413 lbs 9 ozs 34 lbs 7 ozs 74.16 %
28 Hite, Davy 412 lbs 14 ozs 34 lbs 7 ozs 74.16 %
29 McClelland, Mike 410 lbs 7 ozs 34 lbs 3 ozs 73.62 %
30 Faircloth, Todd 405 lbs 4 ozs 33 lbs 12 ozs 72.68 %
31 Kriet, Jeff 399 lbs 9 ozs 33 lbs 5 ozs 71.74 %
32 Monroe, Ishama 397 lbs 14 ozs 33 lbs 3 ozs 71.47 %
33 Howell, Randy 396 lbs 13 ozs 33 lbs 1 ozs 71.20 %
34 Murray, John 396 lbs 10 ozs 33 lbs 1 ozs 71.20 %
35 Chapman, Brent 387 lbs 13 ozs 32 lbs 5 ozs 69.58 %
36 Wolak, David 387 lbs 11 ozs 32 lbs 5 ozs 69.58 %
37 Tucker, Mark 384 lbs 12 ozs 32 lbs 1 ozs 69.04 %
38 Clunn, Rick 384 lbs 0 ozs 32 lbs 0 ozs 68.91 %
39 Elias, Paul 375 lbs 9 ozs 31 lbs 5 ozs 67.43 %
40 Cook, Ken 373 lbs 12 ozs 31 lbs 2 ozs 67.03 %
40 Clark, Preston 373 lbs 12 ozs 31 lbs 2 ozs 67.03 %
42 Kiriyama, Kotaro 366 lbs 6 ozs 30 lbs 9 ozs 65.81 %
43 Hill, Kenyon 366 lbs 4 ozs 30 lbs 8 ozs 65.68 %
44 Mize, Jimmy 359 lbs 15 ozs 30 lbs 0 ozs 64.60 %
45 Rook, Scott 351 lbs 14 ozs 29 lbs 5 ozs 63.12 %
46 Schultz, Bernie 351 lbs 0 ozs 29 lbs 4 ozs 62.99 %
47 Ponds, Pete 346 lbs 13 ozs 28 lbs 14 ozs 62.18 %
48 Gutierrez, Greg 346 lbs 11 ozs 28 lbs 14 ozs 62.18 %
49 Miyazaki, Yusuke 346 lbs 5 ozs 28 lbs 14 ozs 62.18 %
50 Grigsby, Jr, Shaw 345 lbs 13 ozs 28 lbs 13 ozs 62.05 %
51 Shimizu, Morizo 345 lbs 2 ozs 28 lbs 12 ozs 61.91 %
52 Tyler, Mark 340 lbs 11 ozs 28 lbs 6 ozs 61.10 %
53 Reynolds, Mike 339 lbs 0 ozs 28 lbs 4 ozs 60.83 %
54 Menendez, Mark 338 lbs 9 ozs 28 lbs 3 ozs 60.70 %
55 Browning, Stephen 333 lbs 10 ozs 27 lbs 13 ozs 59.89 %
56 Sedgwick, Ray 333 lbs 9 ozs 27 lbs 13 ozs 59.89 %
57 Brauer, Chad 325 lbs 7 ozs 27 lbs 2 ozs 58.41 %
58 Edwards, Jarrett 321 lbs 6 ozs 26 lbs 13 ozs 57.74 %
59 Roumbanis, Fred 316 lbs 6 ozs 26 lbs 6 ozs 56.80 %
60 Segraves, Terry 315 lbs 4 ozs 26 lbs 4 ozs 56.53 %
61 Hartley, Charlie 309 lbs 9 ozs 25 lbs 13 ozs 55.59 %
62 Stone, Marty 302 lbs 5 ozs 25 lbs 3 ozs 54.24 %
63 Daniel, Stephen 301 lbs 0 ozs 25 lbs 1 ozs 53.97 %
64 Morris, Rick 298 lbs 7 ozs 24 lbs 14 ozs 53.57 %
65 Snowden, Brian 296 lbs 11 ozs 24 lbs 12 ozs 53.30 %
66 Hamilton Jr, Robert 283 lbs 9 ozs 23 lbs 10 ozs 50.87 %
67 Desaro, Bink 276 lbs 15 ozs 23 lbs 1 ozs 49.66 %
68 Thomas, Joe 276 lbs 7 ozs 23 lbs 1 ozs 49.66 %
69 Scalish, Frank 275 lbs 13 ozs 23 lbs 0 ozs 49.53 %
70 Luce Jr, Elton 274 lbs 2 ozs 22 lbs 14 ozs 49.26 %
71 Youngers, Charlie 272 lbs 14 ozs 22 lbs 12 ozs 48.99 %
72 Rogers, Brooks 272 lbs 1 ozs 22 lbs 11 ozs 48.86 %
73 O'Shea, Mike 270 lbs 15 ozs 22 lbs 9 ozs 48.59 %
74 Gliebe, David 270 lbs 10 ozs 22 lbs 9 ozs 48.59 %
75 Short, Kevin 267 lbs 2 ozs 22 lbs 4 ozs 47.91 %
76 Stringer, Bradley 260 lbs 6 ozs 21 lbs 11 ozs 46.70 %
77 Velvick, Byron 254 lbs 0 ozs 21 lbs 3 ozs 45.63 %
78 Rogers, Mark 253 lbs 4 ozs 21 lbs 2 ozs 45.49 %
79 Eaker, Guy 249 lbs 0 ozs 20 lbs 12 ozs 44.68 %
80 Weyer, Charlie 241 lbs 11 ozs 20 lbs 2 ozs 43.34 %
81 Wilks, Dustin 231 lbs 3 ozs 19 lbs 4 ozs 41.45 %
82 Goldbeck, Grant 226 lbs 2 ozs 18 lbs 14 ozs 40.65 %
83 Yarnall, Randy 195 lbs 2 ozs 16 lbs 4 ozs 34.99 %
84 Houston, Jimmy 185 lbs 13 ozs 15 lbs 8 ozs 33.38 %
*** Kennedy, Stephen
*** Lowen, Bill
*** Lintner, Jared
*** Hallman, Bradley
*** Schwenkbeck, Darrin
*** Lane, Chris
*** Smith, Jr, William
*** Connella, Jeff
*** Hirosky, Paul
*** Fralick, Jami
*** Starks, Jeremy
*** Langill, Kevin
*** Smith, Dave
*** Phillips, Keith
*** Bondy, Jon
*** Myers, Britt
*** Dove, Kurt
*** Hurtado, Vince
*** Merkin, Doc
*** Brodeur, Ken
*** Ash, Rick
*** Picou, Conrad
***An angler must have fished 12 qualifying events during the last two seasons for his weight to appear. A qualifying event is a Bassmaster Tour tournament, an Elite 50 tournament or Bassmaster Classic. In 2006 and beyond, a qualifying event is defined as a CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series tournament, a Bassmaster Major and a CITGO Bassmaster Classic.
Alabama
Joel Etheredge – Springville
James Hill – Ozark
Roger Howell – Clayton
James Jones – Pinson
Frank Mealer – Irondale
Sam Mize – Muscle Shoals
Harry Parten – Columbiana
Harry Potts – Ozark
Charlie Raia – Gardendale
Jimmy Sparks – Tuscumbia
Walter Stringer – Tallassee
Tommy Swindle Cleveland
Arizona
Lawrence Sifert – Scottsdale
California
Bill Adams – Exeter
Tony Pratt – Paso Robles
Steve Tosh – Modesto
Connecticut
Louis Kish – Goshen
Delaware
Mike Phillips – Clayton
Chuck Rife – Townsend
Florida
Glenn Barberee – Crestview
Joseph Brister – Immokalee
Mike Frazier – Orlando
Jim Pearson – Zellwood
Georgia
Patrick Brown – Swainsboro
Marty Scoggins – Trion
Kansas
Ron Chapman – Lake Quivira
Maryland
Ian Dunevant – Baltimore
Art Edsall – Dunkirk
Allan EngelmeyerSevern
Bruce Freeman – Street
Vic Gauzza – Fort Washington
Bradley GlotfeltyBrandywine
Timothy Jones – Baltimore
Mike Kenny – Rockville
Steve Lozinsky – Highland
Douglas Mayo – Odenton
Shannon Mills – Eldersburg
Donald Muir – Nottingham
Jeffery Phipps – Hughesville
David Printz – Bryans Road
Richard RoselleLa Plata
William SandersBaltimore
Chad Scroggs – Temple Hills
Danny Shanz – Adamstown
Jason SherwoodGermantown
Chuck Solley – Glen Burnie
Robert Vogelsang – Jessup
Michigan
Eddie Matteson – Farmington
North Carolina
Danny Barrow – Rocky Mountain
Wayne Hauser – Winston-Salem
Andy Montgomery – Grover
Paul Morton – Knightdale
David Woodall – Angier
New Jersey
Steven Brinster – Highland Lakes
Steven Demko – Stirling
Geoffrey Evans – Turnersville
Michael Hammer – Greenpond
Craig Townsend – Mount Holly
New York
Richard Nolan – Ballston Spa
Ohio
Matt Amedeo – Akron
Scott Hale – Wheelersburg
Andrew Kuboff – Poland
Michael Schmeltzer – Akron
Jeff Williamson – Kent
Oklahoma
Lance Peck – Tulsa
Pennsylvania
Mike Acord – Lancaster
D J Bishop – Verona
Rex Johnsonbaugh – Altoona
Jeff Kashuba – Stroudsburg
Daniel Setteducati – East Stroudsburg
Richard Witushynsky – Gettysburg
South Carolina
Wade Grooms – Bonneau
Howard Stephens – Columbia
Tennessee
James Butler – Clarksville
Steve Turner – Antioch
Texas
Michael Bass – Austin
Virginia
Richard Addy – Mechanicsville
Ricky Bodsford – Richmond
W.T. (William) Curd – Chesterfield
Mark Finley – Palmyra
Tony Fraser – Woodbridge
James Funk – Portsmouth
Kris Grice – Woodbridge
Mark Heatwole – Harrisonburg
Chad Hicks – Rockville
Vic Hofer – Chesapeake
Wesley Hood – Annandale
Lee King – Chesapeake
Mark Letosky – Warrenton
Tim Love – Blairs
Doug Luper – Alexandria
Tom Mclean – Reston
Timothy Mick – Chester
Bryan Miller – Chesterfield
Richard Reed – Front Royal
Anthony Roberts – Virginia Beach
Robert Sansone – South Riding
Jock Waple – Ashburn
Daniel Williams – Roanoke
Brian Wright – Partlow
Christopher Wyer – Stafford
