Miller maintains top co-angler spot

Slow presentations the key to Potomac win

MARBURY, Md. – Frank Miller of West Nanticoke, Pa. found another solid limit and won the co-angler title at the FLW American Fishing Series Northern Division tournament on the Potomac River.

After placing 15th on day one with 11-7, Miller earned his final round berth by catching the event’s heaviest co-angler bag – a limit weighing 20-4. Beginning today’s competition with lead of 4-4, he added another limit, this one 12-7, for a winning score of 44-2.

“I changed it up every day, but the main thing was everything I fished, I had to fish slow,” Miller said. “The first day I caught them on a frog, the second day they wouldn’t eat a frog, so I used a jig and a chatterbait. Today, it was a black Spro Popping Frog and a black and blue Texas-rigged Senko.”

Miller praised the Potomac’s piscatorial potential: “It’s great. On any given cast, you can catch a 6-pounder.”

Williams makes big move into second

David Williams of Fredericksburg, Va., came into the final round in seventh place with 24-4, but he made a strong run at the top spot by sacking up a 17-pound, 1-ounce limit – the day’s heaviest – and ultimately settled for a big advancement into second place with 41-5.

Williams caught all of his fish on a yellow hollow body frog.

“They ate what I like to give them,” Williams said. “The partners I drew were in the grass so I threw the frog all day.”

Johnston improves to third

Lynn Johnston of Peterborough, Ont., caught a limit weighing 16-8 and improved from sixth place to third with a 40-13 total. Johnston, who caught his fish by flipping the weed edges and fishing a scum frog across the vegetation, said he was thoroughly impressed with the Potomac fishery.

“This is probably the best largemouth fishery I’ve ever encountered,” Johnston said. “With all the cover the fish have, they can grow so big. Everything is in their favor.”

Jackson jumps to fourth

With a 15-pound, 1-ounce limit anchored by a hefty kicker fish, Marshall, Va. co-angler Edwin Jackson gained four notches to finish in fourth place with 39-3. He caught his fish on frogs and by flipping plastics.

McClain falls to fifth

Gary McClain of Chesapeake, Va. caught three fish for 7-10 and dropped two spots to fifth with a tournament total of 34-1. McClain fished swimbaits all week and found that a slow retrieve that barely touched the top of submerged grass was most effective.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top-10 co-angler leaders at the FLW American Fishing Series Potomac River event:

6th: Claude Hicks of Rockville, Va., 32-12

7th: Dave Kovack of Lancaster, Pa., 31-7

8th: Edwin Jackson of Marshall, Va., 31-6

9th: Andrew Luxon of Richmond, Ky., 31-3

10th: Larry Church of Keysville, Va., 30-0