Hooker and Hutchins split title on Potomac River - Major League Fishing

Hooker and Hutchins split title on Potomac River

Reese wins co-angler title
Image for Hooker and Hutchins split title on Potomac River
David Hooker (left) of Stafford, Va., and John Hutchins (right) of Warrenton, Va., tied for the win at the June 23 Shenandoah Divison event on the Potomac River with a total weight of 19 pounds, 6 ounces. For their efforts each angler took home a check for over $3,500. Angler: John Hutchins.
June 23, 2012 • MLF • Archives

MARBURY, Md. – David Hooker of Stafford, Va., and John Hutchins of Warrenton, Va., each weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to tie for the win at the Walmart Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division event on the Potomac River. Each took home $3,546 for their victory.

“I was fishing about 20 minutes south of takeoff,” said Hooker. “I was slow rolling 1/2-ounce ChatterBaits in grass beds. I had about 15 pounds by 9 o’clock. The early morning bite was really good, but by about 11:30 things slowed way down. I think I only caught two fish after noon.

“I stayed in my first area about half the day,” Hooker continued. “Then the tide started to pull out bringing in the mud which dirtied my water and I had to leave. After that I fished grass beds on the main river on the Maryland side mostly using ChatterBaits, but I also threw some Spro Frogs.”

Hooker indicated that the wind was key in turning on the ChatterBait bite.

While Hooker went south to fish, Hutchins started the morning fishing two grass beds north on the main river. He was flipping isolated grass clumps with a St. Croix flipping stick and Conquistador Flipping Jigs in summer craw. He also threw Strike Pro Hunchbacks over the top of the grass.

“Later in the day when the grass bite tapered off I started flipping docks and lay-downs with a Texas-rigged Zoom Trick Worm in plum apple,” Hutchins continued. “The key for me in this tournament was slowing down, I really had to slow my fishing way down and be patient.”

Rounding out the top 10 boaters:

3rd: Ernie Freeman, Lothian, Md., five bass, 17-7, $1,576

4th: Charlie Russler, Falling Waters, W. Va., five bass, 17-6, $1,103

5th: Mike Hoskings, Spotsylvania, Va., five bass, 16-14, $946

6th: Wesley Harris, Rustburg, Va., five bass, 16-13, $867

7th: Randy Redden, Farmville, Va., five bass, 15-13, $788

8th: Michael Belter, Reidsville, N.C., five bass, 15-10, $709

9th: Chris Dillow, Waynesboro, Va., five bass, 15-7, $591

9th: George Lambeth, Thomasville, N.C., five bass, 15-7, $591 plus $1,000 Evinrude bonus

Complete results can be found here.

Reese takes co-angler title

Co-angler Marvin Reese of Gwynn Oak, Md., won the June 23 Shenandoah Division event on the Potomac River with a total weight of 19 pounds, 8 ounces. For his efforts, Reese was awarded over $2,300 in prize money. Marvin Reese of Gwynn Oak, Md., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $2,364 in the co-angler division.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers:

2nd: Mike Wray, Chester, Va., five bass, 18-3, $1,182

3rd: Kermit Crowder, Matoaca, Va., five bass, 16-0, $788

4th: David Williams, Fredericksburg, Va., five bass, 15-4, $552

5th: Rumnea Kelly, Boyds, Md., five bass, 15-3, $453

5th: Mike Morris, Dover, Del., five bass, 15-3, $453

7th: Chris Jackson, Marshall, Va., five bass, 14-13, $394

8th: Josh Demaury, Troutville, Va., five bass, 14-6, $355

9th: Jacob Bumgarner, Monroe, Va., five bass, 14-0, $315

10th: Michael Nelms, Hartwood, Va., five bass, 13-15, $276

Complete co-angler results can be found here.

The next BFL Shenandoah Division tournament is scheduled for July 21 on the James River in Richmond, Va. After the fifth Shenandoah Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 11-13 Regional Championship on Kerr Lake in Henderson, N.C. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

About FLW

FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2012 over the course of 191 tournaments across five tournament circuits, each providing an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water,” through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and the world’s richest fantasy sports game – FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.