Potomac River Bass Fishing Report April 5th 2014

 

Hello Bass Fishing Fans!!!

 

 

This is my first bass fishing report of the 2014 season! My partner (Dad) and I fished a Potomac River bass fishing tournament put on by the Delaware Bass Federation April 5th, 2014. Before I get started with my Potomac River bass fishing report please allow me to thank the fine folk's over at The Crab Place for renewing their long running sponsor relationship for the 2014 season and continued support on all my Delaware Bass Federation open buddy team tournaments in the future. Please check them out online at www.crabplace.com and get some great tasting Maryland crabs live or steamed with Old Bay Seasonings delivered straight to your door. 

 

 

Ok, back to my first fishing report of the 2014 season. I knew coming into this Potomac river bass fishing tournament it was going to be a hit or miss tournament as far as finding big fish would go. I was lucky enough to get out a few different times prior to today's Potomac River tournament with mixed results.

 

My first trip out this year I got skunked, with the next two trips getting progressively better in overall size, numbers and total weight of what I was catching. In today's tournament we decided to blast off out of Mattawomen with my Mercury Optimax 250 Hp Outboard motor pushing my Furry prop into as many breath taking revolutions as possible. The air temp was below 40 degrees and burned as it filled our lungs. 

 

I had a HOT SPOT and I wanted to get there first! We turned right and headed north, into some of the locations of the river that I had the best luck in the past few weeks. When we arrived at my HOT SPOT there was someone on it already, so we fished on the out side of them. We managed a few bites but they were shad. After some trail and error during practice, and noticing all the shad in the area this morning. I told my dad to tie on a Rat-L-Trap because my hunch was, that's what the big ones are going to be eating today.

 

Shortly after that, we decided to pack things up and get out of there. We wanted to hit a few creeks that held some warmer water ( 49 degrees - 57 degrees ) as we worked our way back down south towards the boat ramp in Mattawomen creek. Right as we pulled up onto our second spot.

 

Man, I kid you knot, before I could even drop my Motor Guide trolling motor down into the water and pick up one of my new Big Bear fishing rods. My partner ( Dad ) yells out with lot's of excitement, get the net, I got a giant one on son. Oh, did he ever, he was using a real flimsy rod that was almost bent in half with 12 lb monofilament and a 3/4 oz Rat-L-Trap.

 

I saw this monster of a fish flashing sideways under the water through my Amphibia sunglasses and my heart started pounding. I was seeing a HUGE looking fish with more power than my o'l man could handle. This is the big one baby, I shouted out to him with joy, then he finally got it up near the side of the boat after a 5 minute fight and we netted it. Look at that fish it is humongous, it's gotta be pushing 10 lbs and he caught it on a Rat-L-Trap!!!!!

 

By this time, the wind continued to came out of nowhere blowing upwards of 20 mph. While it muddied up the water and started building up 3 foot white caps out on the main river and smaller waves in the all the creeks.

 

The waves started getting so big that they where crashing over the side of the front deck of the boat. My waterproof Zeko Fishing Shoes were definitely getting a work out that's for shore.

 

It did not take long before I figured out that I had enough of that action. So we switched to trying to find some wood out of the wind using the Gambler Lures Bacon Rind , Gambler Lures Flappy Daddy and Gambler Lures New Heavy Cover Swim Jig. I caught three short largemouth bass (under 15'' size limit) but could not find the right area holding bass, that also happened to be out of the wind. 

 

I did not have any 15'' largemouth bass to weigh in today but we both wound up with some giant fish stories and as much as I want to win every tournament that I fish. Sometimes you have to remember what fishing is all about. Sharing time on the water with family and friends, making new memories, then telling fishing stories to every one you meet. I overheard a fellow bass fishing angler asking my dad once we got back to the ramp, what he caught today?

 

Bass Angler: Do any good today?, we got skunked...

 

Dad: Yes, we landed two fish over 10 pounds today!

 

Bass Angler: WOW! What you catch'm on?

 

Dad: Got both of the big fish today on a Rat-L-Trap

 

Bass angler: Gonna get me some them Rat-L-Traps

 

Dad: Yeah, the fish I caught felt reel good, I threw my Rat-L-Trap out their and she NAILED IT, both of them darn 10 pound carp bent our hooks up!" 

 

Tight Lines & Heavy Limits,

 

Melvin Smitson