Lucas Maintains Bassmaster Elite Series Lead After Two Days On The Potomac River

Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., maintains the lead on the second day of the Bassmaster Elite at Potomac River presented by Econo Lodge, bringing a two-day total weight of 40 pounds, 2 ounces to the scales.

August 12, 2016

Lucas Maintains Bassmaster Elite Series Lead After Two Days On The Potomac River

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CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — Throughout his young professional fishing career, Alabama angler Justin Lucas says he’s never found a spot quite like the one he’s fished the first two days of the Bassmaster Elite at Potomac River presented by Econo Lodge.

The stats back up his claims.

Lucas caught the biggest limit of the tournament for the second day in a row Friday, landing five bass that weighed 19 pounds, 14 ounces. That catch pushed his two-day mark to 40-2 and gave him a comfortable lead of nearly 6 pounds over second-place angler Brent Ehrler (34-4) as the event heads into the semifinal round Saturday.

“I’ve fished tournaments for seven years, and I’ve never had a spot like this — especially to myself,” Lucas said. “The crazy thing is that I just stumbled into it. Yesterday morning, I had no clue. Then I got a couple of 3-pound bites early that clued me in on what was happening.”

Lucas estimates the stretch is no bigger than 300 to 400 yards long. But once he hits it just right, the bites come quickly.

“I didn’t get a bite on the first half of the pass I made on it today,” he said. “So I went around and went shallower for a little bit while the tide was pushed in. The wind had the tide pushed up.

“I wasted 45 minutes doing that. But then I went back to the sweet stretch — and within an hour, it seemed like I had 15 or 16 pounds.”

As he did on Thursday when the magic spot produced 20-4, Lucas spent more time guarding the area Friday than he did fishing it. But traffic hasn’t been much of an issue.

“One other competitor came to fish something just on the other end of where I was fishing,” Lucas said. “But there were no problems at all.”

Lucas said he only spent about three hours fishing because he wanted to save some of the 3-pounders that seem to be so numerous there.

With no pressure from other boats, he believes he should easily be able to land 15 or 16 pounds from the spot the next two days.

“I hope the local guys will be respectful, but obviously they can fish where they want,” Lucas said. “I think what I’m doing is different enough and off the beaten path enough that I should be OK.”

Lucas’ limit was anchored by a 5-8 largemouth Friday. It’s an ounce shy of the tournament big-bass mark of 5-9, set on Thursday, when Lucas and Luke Clausen each weighed in bass of that size. If no one catches a bigger bass by the end of the tournament, they will share in the $1,500 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award.

Lucas’s closest competitor is Ehrler, a fellow California native who grew up fishing tidal waters just like Lucas. Ehrler caught 17-13 on Day 1 and added 16-7 Friday to push his two-day total to 34-4.

Ehrler came into this week’s event with loads of experience on the Potomac River from his time on the FLW Tour.

“It helps having the experience here,” Ehrler said. “I’ve fished this place about as many times as I have the California Delta at home.”

Like many anglers in the field, Ehrler is targeting the Potomac’s massive grassbeds.

“I’m fishing grass for the most part — some wood, but mostly grass,” he said. “That’s what everyone’s doing here. I’m throwing moving baits in some spots and flipping in some spots.”

Instead of looking for a certain tide, Ehrler is making his decisions based on what looks right at the time.

“In certain areas, even if it’s a certain tide, it’ll be a moving bait,” Ehrler said. “In other areas, on the same tide, I’ll be flipping. I’m just changing it up a little bit.

“I really have to base it on what I see in a particular spot.”

Behind Lucas and Ehrler are Jacob Powroznik (32-12), Jason Christie (31-7), Bill Lowen (31-3) and Gerald Swindle (30-5). Swindle maintained his spot in the Top 6 with today’s catch of 14-0 and kept a comfortable lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

The tournament will resume Saturday with only the Top 50 remaining anglers taking part in the semifinal round. The take-off will be at 6:15 a.m. ET from Smallwood State Park. But unlike the past two days when the weigh-in was also held back at the park, Saturday’s weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. at Indian Head Pavilion on the Village Green.

2016 Bassmaster Elite at Potomac River presented by Econo Lodge 8/11-8/14Potomac River, Charles County  MD.Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts  

1.  Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL        10  40-02  110Day 1: 5   20-04     Day 2: 5   19-142.  Brent Ehrler           Newport Beach, CA       10  34-04  109Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   16-073.  Jacob Powroznik        Port Haywood, VA        10  32-12  108Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   16-034.  Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK           10  31-07  107Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 5   15-065.  Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  31-03  106Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   14-066.  Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  30-05  105Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   14-007.  Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA              10  30-02  104Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   18-058.  Luke Clausen           Otis Orchards, WA       10  30-02  103Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   12-099.  Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC          10  30-02  102Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   16-1010. Jordan Lee             Grant, AL               10  30-00  101Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 5   16-1211. Koby Kreiger           Bokeelia, FL            10  30-00  100Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   16-0612. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  28-05   99Day 1: 5   14-13     Day 2: 5   13-0813. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL            10  28-02   98Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   10-1414. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL        10  27-13   97Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   13-0115. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  27-12   96Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   13-0516. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC             10  27-10   95Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   13-1317. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  27-08   94Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   13-0318. Fred Roumbanis         Bixby, OK               10  27-08   93Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   14-0019. Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR           10  27-01   92Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   12-1320. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ             10  26-01   91Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 5   14-1321. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              10  26-00   90Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   11-1122. Davy Hite              Ninety Six, SC          10  26-00   89Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   13-0823. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL            10  25-13   88Day 1: 5   13-15     Day 2: 5   11-1424. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX              10  25-12   87Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   11-0125. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL           10  25-10   86Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 5   12-0826. Chris Zaldain          Laughlin, NV            10  24-14   85Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   14-0327. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL        10  24-09   84Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   12-1428. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY           10  24-07   83Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   10-0529. Chad Grigsby           Maple Grove, MN         10  24-03   82Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   12-0830. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS               10  24-02   81Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   09-1531. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  24-02   80Day 1: 5   13-01     Day 2: 5   11-0132. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  24-02   79Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   12-0533. Fletcher Shryock       New Philadelphia, OH     9  24-00   78Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 4   09-1234. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR          9  24-00   77Day 1: 4   11-04     Day 2: 5   12-1235. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               10  23-07   76Day 1: 5   09-15     Day 2: 5   13-0836. Hank Cherry Jr         Maiden, NC              10  23-06   75Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   10-0737. David Walker           Sevierville, TN         10  23-06   74Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 5   11-0338. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK             10  22-14   73Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   11-0139. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO         7  22-13   72Day 1: 2   07-12     Day 2: 5   15-0140. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        10  22-12   71Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 5   11-0641. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX               9  22-07   70Day 1: 4   08-12     Day 2: 5   13-1142. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL          8  22-05   69Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 3   07-0943. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          8  22-02   68Day 1: 4   10-04     Day 2: 4   11-1444. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK             10  22-00   67Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 5   10-1345. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          8  21-14   66Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 5   14-0946. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA        6  21-10   65Day 1: 1   02-01     Day 2: 5   19-0947. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC             10  21-06   64Day 1: 5   11-07     Day 2: 5   09-1548. David Williams         Newton, NC              10  20-14   63Day 1: 5   09-11     Day 2: 5   11-0349. Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX                8  20-12   62Day 1: 5   12-11     Day 2: 3   08-0150. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL       10  20-06   61Day 1: 5   10-03     Day 2: 5   10-0351. Ott DeFoe              Knoxville, TN           10  20-00   60Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   08-0352. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  19-15   59Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   05-0953. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          7  19-13   58Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 2   03-1254. Gary Klein             Weatherford, TX         10  19-13   57Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 5   10-0555. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ    10  19-07   56Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 5   08-1156. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         8  19-05   55Day 1: 4   06-02     Day 2: 4   13-0357. James Elam             Tulsa, OK               10  19-05   54Day 1: 5   11-14     Day 2: 5   07-0758. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             8  18-12   53Day 1: 5   10-13     Day 2: 3   07-1559. J Todd Tucker          Moultrie, GA             8  18-11   52Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 3   06-0260. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              9  18-11   51Day 1: 4   07-04     Day 2: 5   11-0761. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC           7  18-10   50Day 1: 2   03-06     Day 2: 5   15-0462. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI            8  18-10   49Day 1: 3   03-14     Day 2: 5   14-1263. Brett Preuett          Monroe, LA               6  18-05   48Day 1: 1   03-12     Day 2: 5   14-0964. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA          9  18-02   47Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 4   08-0165. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               7  18-00   46Day 1: 5   10-14     Day 2: 2   07-0266. Billy McCaghren Jr     Mayflower, AR            9  17-14   45Day 1: 5   10-03     Day 2: 4   07-1167. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR          9  17-10   44Day 1: 5   09-07     Day 2: 4   08-0368. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS         9  17-09   43Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 4   06-1069. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  9  17-08   42Day 1: 4   07-01     Day 2: 5   10-0770. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  17-05   41Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   07-0771. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              6  17-05   40Day 1: 3   08-07     Day 2: 3   08-1472. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX               7  17-04   39Day 1: 4   11-01     Day 2: 3   06-0373. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN       7  17-00   38Day 1: 4   11-06     Day 2: 3   05-1074. Josh Bertrand          Gilbert, AZ             10  16-11   37Day 1: 5   04-15     Day 2: 5   11-1275. Dennis Tietje          Roanoke, LA              8  16-09   36Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 3   04-0576. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            8  16-04   35Day 1: 3   03-09     Day 2: 5   12-1177. Fabian Rodriguez       Ocean City, DE           8  16-02   34Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 3   04-1078. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               7  15-10   33Day 1: 2   05-05     Day 2: 5   10-0579. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA              8  15-08   32Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 3   05-0780. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN            7  15-07   31Day 1: 4   08-11     Day 2: 3   06-1281. Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL                6  15-04   30Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 1   02-1082. Dave Lefebre           Erie, PA                 7  15-02   29Day 1: 4   08-07     Day 2: 3   06-1183. Matt Lee               Guntersville, AL         6  14-12   28Day 1: 1   03-10     Day 2: 5   11-0284. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           6  13-12   27Day 1: 4   08-11     Day 2: 2   05-0185. Seth Feider            Bloomington, MN          6  13-03   26Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 5   10-1486. Casey Scanlon          Rocky Mount, MO          6  13-03   25Day 1: 3   07-12     Day 2: 3   05-0787. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  8  12-13   24Day 1: 5   07-15     Day 2: 3   04-1488. Brandon Card           Caryville, TN            4  12-11   23Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 4   12-1189. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TX AUSTRALIA  6  12-09   22Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 1   01-0590. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                8  12-03   21Day 1: 5   07-12     Day 2: 3   04-0791. Chad Pipkens           Lansing, MI              9  12-02   20Day 1: 5   07-11     Day 2: 4   04-0792. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           6  11-15   19Day 1: 2   02-13     Day 2: 4   09-0293. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX                7  11-07   18Day 1: 5   07-07     Day 2: 2   04-0094. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  11-05   17Day 1: 2   05-04     Day 2: 3   06-0195. Adrian Avena           Vineland, NJ             4  10-14   16Day 1: 4   10-14     Day 2: 0   00-0096. Randy Allen            Shreveport, LA           4  09-12   15Day 1: 3   06-12     Day 2: 1   03-0097. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC                4  09-10   14Day 1: 1   03-05     Day 2: 3   06-0598. John Murray            Spring City, TN          5  09-08   13Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 0   00-0099. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI            5  08-03   12Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   08-03100. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL            3  07-13   11Day 1: 1   02-13     Day 2: 2   05-00101. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  06-13   10Day 1: 4   04-10     Day 2: 1   02-03102. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL         2  06-08    9Day 1: 2   06-08     Day 2: 0   00-00103. John Hunter Jr         Shelbyville, KY          4  06-03    8Day 1: 3   04-04     Day 2: 1   01-15104. Ken Iyobe              Tokoname  Aichi JAPAN    3  05-03    7Day 1: 2   02-07     Day 2: 1   02-12105. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           2  04-11    6Day 1: 2   04-11     Day 2: 0   00-00106. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          1  03-01    5Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-01107. Jay Brainard           Enid, OK                 1  02-13    4Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   02-13———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight1        69       440      1074-102        63       424      1035-15———————————-132       864      2110-09

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