CHARLES COUNTY, Md. – Thunderstorms splashed through northern Virginia and Maryland Wednesday, leaving Wal-Mart FLW Tour anglers to idle out onto the Potomac River Thursday morning under gray skies, drizzle and cooler summer temperatures to begin the fifth tournament of the season.
The Washington, D.C., area is used to seeing temperatures in the 80s this time of year, but the forecast is only calling for a high of around 70 degrees Thursday, thanks to the recent cold front.
That probably won’t affect the fishing much this week, however, since the Potomac River bass seem much more responsive to tides and current than anything else.
“It comes and it goes. It’s all about the tides here,” pro Alvin Shaw said Thursday morning. “These fish move a lot. Some guys will follow them up and down the river, and some guys will sit on one piece of grass and ride it out. We’ll see how it goes.”
Undoubtedly, it will go well for many anglers. This river coughs up limits like crazy, and it will take two solid limits the first two days for anglers to even think about making the cut. Pennsylvania pro Dave Lefebre, a pretournament favorite here, caught sacks between 14 and 17 pounds all four days in the last FLW Outdoors competition at the Potomac, the 2006 Stren Series Northern Division. The leaderboard will be tight with limits, so don’t be surprised if the leaders come in with something over 20 pounds the first couple of days this week.
For some looking to separate themselves from the pack, like Michigan standout Kevin Vida, it will take a little more than running the tides and flipping the right grass.
“It’s not the Detroit River, but I brought my lucky Detroit River net just in case,” he said.
Tournament logistics
Total purse for this event is $1 million. The field of 200 pros is fishing for a top award of $125,000 cash, and the 200 co-anglers are competing for a top award of $25,000 cash.
Anglers take off at 6:30 a.m. Eastern time Thursday and Friday from Smallwood State Park located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury, Md. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-ins also will be held at Smallwood State Park beginning at 3 p.m. Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday from Anacostia Park located at 1900 Anacostia Drive S.E. in Washington, D.C. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins will be held at the DC Armory located at 2001 E. Capitol St. in Washington, D.C., next to RFK Stadium, beginning at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, FLW Outdoors will host a free Family Fun Zone and outdoor show at the DC Armory from noon to 4 p.m. each day. The Family Fun Zone is a chance for fishing fans to meet their favorite anglers and review products from Berkley, Lowrance, Ranger, Evinrude, Yamaha and other manufacturers while children are treated to fishing themed games and rides like the Ranger Boat simulator. The first 300 children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone Saturday will receive a free FLW Outdoors hat. On Sunday, the first 300 children 14 and under visiting the Family Fun Zone will receive a free rod and reel combo. On Sunday a member of the audience will also win a free trip for two to Hot Springs for the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup championship and Outdoor Show and a chance to win a $53,000 Ranger Z20 powered by Yamaha. Participants must be present during the 4 p.m. weigh-in Sunday to win.
On the Web
For those unable to catch the weigh-in action in person, FLWOutdoors.com offers FLW Live, an online application that brings fans real-time weigh-in results, streaming video and audio.