MARBURY, Md. – Day 1 of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Northern Division event on the Potomac River offered slightly better fishing than many suspected, and two pros cracked over the 16-pound mark. In the lead, Robert Grike waylaid 16-13, and Ethan Carr followed him up with an even 16 pounds.
On the co-angler side, Safu Rana hammered out 13-11 for the lead, a good bag on either side of the field. In second, Shawn Holder bagged 13-7.
Morning bite powers Grike
A veteran on the Potomac, and really any other Virginia water, Grike has had plenty of success and near success on the Potomac before. Today, he started off on the right foot in a big way.
“I picked the right starting spot and I caught my whole bag in the first hour and a half,” he said. “The rest of the day, I did some looking around at some other stuff in case I need to panic tomorrow.”
Grike fished the Shenandoah Division Super Tournament over the weekend and did well on Day 1, sacking up 14 pounds. On Day 2, he only managed 11 pounds, and it could turn out to be a valuable lesson.
“I think in the morning they’re eating good there, it didn’t seem to be a tide thing,” Grike said. “Last weekend I was in the two day, and I waited to go in on the second day, and they weren’t there. And I hit them on the same tide I did on the first day. I realized there’s some kind of morning bite there.”
Grike is ahead of some very strong anglers, and the weights are tight overall – nine pros caught 14 pounds or better on Day 1. But, his start has him excited.
“I feel very hopeful,” he said. “I’m usually a one-day wonder on this place. But, I’m very hopeful right now because I’m catching them a variety of different ways, and I did catch a lot of fish punching today, so I’m hopeful I can capitalize on that too. This time, I think I have enough ways to catch them that I’m not going to fall on my face like I have before.”
Top 10 pros
1. Robert Grike – 16 – 13 (5)
2. Ethan Carr – 16 – 00 (5)
3. John Duarte – 15 – 09 (5)
4. Anthony Buzzeo – 14 – 12 (5)
5. Bryan Schmitt – 14 – 11 (5)
6. Cody Ross – 14 – 05 (5)
7. Broderick Luckey – 14 – 04 (5)
8. Ron Nelson – 14 – 03 (5)
9. Chad Mrazek – 14 – 00 (5)
10. Aaron Dixon – 13 – 15 (5)