The leaves aren’t all that’s changing
A fall cold front may shuffle the deck in Stren finale on Potomac River
MARBURY, Md. – Zipped up, strapped down and sporting hooded sweatshirts, the top 10 pros and co-anglers set out for a dreary final round of Stren Series Northern Division action on the Potomac River.
With a cold front moving through the region, competitors will face lower temperatures, overcast skies and puffy north winds that should blow steady at 10-15 mph. Top co-angler Lew Jenkins of Waldorf, Md. said his local knowledge will help him adapt to the day’s conditions and work with whatever decisions his pro partner, Bryan Schmitt makes.
“I know where we’re going and I know what to expect when I get there,” he said. “The fish are in their
fall pattern. They’re eating and I’m going to feed them.”
Jenkins said he’ll start by flipping a jig and evaluate as the day develops.
“This is a great day for guys who know how to make the adjustments,” he said. “Sometimes, we tend to overthink things. It’s not (very) cold, but it is windy. Every day of the tournament has been different for me but the results have been pretty much the same. I just know that in October, the fish go on the feed. That’s what I’m going with and we’ll panic around noon.”
Currently in ninth place, New Jersey pro Michael Iaconelli sees the day’s weather as an indifferent equalizer that may deliver the proverbial feast-or-famine scenario.
“I think this weather will help me by throwing a monkey wrench into it for some guys who have a dialed-in game plan,” Iaconelli said. “I never really had a game plan this week. I did a lot of junk fishing and stuck with a simple theory of fishing grass when the water was low and fishing hard stuff like wood and docks when the water was high.
“That’s not going to change – I’m going to fish the same way. I don’t wish bad on anybody, but I think this weather might change things for some people and maybe I can capitalize on that.”
Iaconelli’s “sleeper” bait is a white jig with saltwater curl tail grub trailer. The oversized appendage presents an enticing profile that fish can’t resist.
Having held a slim lead for two days, Schmitt said the wind will play a significant role in the day’s 
outcome. “I think the wind will hurt everyone today. It’s going to depend on who can find fish that they can work properly without letting the wind take it away from them.”
Schmitt said he plans on running north and fishing crankbaits around deeper structure early and then returning south to fish jigs in grass beds during the afternoon when an outgoing tide coincides with the warmest part of the day.
Mike Hoskings trails Schmitt by just 15 ounces. He reached his second place spot mostly by throwing frogs over grass beds, but he said he’ll have to make a judgment call once he sees how the fish are 
responding in the colder weather. Lethargic local fish will likely send him north to the Washington D.C. area.
“I’m going to stop on a spot and see if I can get them to come up on the frog this morning and go from there,” Hoskings said. “If I can’t get them to come up, I’ll run to D.C. and throw jigs this morning and then come back down in the afternoon and try to catch them on a frog again.
“It’s all structure up in D.C. – there’s very little grass. Plus, the fish are deeper, so they’re more stable in conditions like we have right now. If I can go up there and catch a limit, I’ll come back down here this afternoon and try and put some weight on it.”
Logistics
Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 40 Drury Drive, La Plata, Md.
beginning at 4 p.m. Weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
The Potomac River Stren Series tournament is hosted by the Charles County Economic Development and Tourism. Pros are fishing for a top prize of $65,000 and co-anglers are competing for a $35,000 award.
Saturday’s conditions:
Sunrise: 7:20 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 48 degrees
Expected high temperature: 59 degrees
Water temperature: 63-65 degrees
Wind: from the NNE at 10-15 mph
Humidity: 49 percent
Day’s outlook: Mostly cloudy