Page Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division Super Tournament on Potomac River
OutdoorHub 09.24.12
Brett Page of King George, Va., had a two-day total of 10 bass that weighed 26 pounds, 12 ounces to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division Super Tournament on the Potomac River Sunday. For his victory, Page earned $5,704.
“I had one of my best days on the water and one of my worst days on the water,” said Page. “It just goes to show that when it is your time to win, it is your time to win.
“I was fishing a little bay off the main river,” Page went on to say. “On the first day I was on the Virginia side targeting thick grass. When there was a hard edge I was using Lucky Craft RL 1.5 crankbaits in chartreuse blueback with no rattles. When the grass was scattered and sparse I was using KVD ¼-ounce jigs with a custom skirt and Paca Craw trailer.
“The second day was the worst tournament day I have ever had,” Page continued. “Conditions changed completely, the wind was from a different direction and the tide was different. I had committed myself to this area and didn’t want to leave. I finally moved to the Maryland side and started targeting rocky rip rap which seemed to make the difference. I started using a Senko and slowed way down. I lost two big fish and with them I thought I lost the tournament, it was a blessing that I was able to win. This was the biggest tournament I have ever won.”
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
2nd: Jonathon Guins, Wendell, N.C., 10 bass, 26-3, $2,852
3rd: Doug Larson, Suffolk, Va., 10 bass, 25-15, $1,904
4th: Steve Miller, Mechanicsville, Va., 10 bass, 25-12, $1,331
5th: Richard Haber Jr., Linthicum, Md., 10 bass, 25-2, $1,141
6th: Mike McDonald, Randleman, N.C., 10 bass, 25-0, $1,046 plus $1,000 Evinrude bonus
7th: Marc Wagy, Dewitt, Va., 10 bass, 24-3, $951
8th: Gabriel Scott, Ruckersville, Va., 10 bass, 23-12, $856
9th: Richard Owen, Chester, Va., 10 bass, 22-11, $761
10th: Mark Robertson, Henderson, N.C., 10 bass, 22-5, $665
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Scott Howard, Evington, Va., 10 bass, 22-8, $1,426
3rd: Bill Naron, Beaverdam, Va., 10 bass, 21-9, $950
4th: Andy Kearns, High Point, N.C., 10 bass, 18-12, $666
5th: Chris Mashek, Lexington Park, Md., 10 bass, 18-5, $570
6th: Lee Johnson, Charlottesville, Va., nine bass, 17-15, $523
7th: Mark Christiansen, Alexandria, Va., seven bass, 16-13, $475
8th: Kermit Crowder, Matoaca, Va., eight bass, 14-8, $428
9th: Bud Amend, Pleasant Garden, N.C., eight bass, 14-7, $380
10th: Burton Collins, Fredericksburg, Va., six bass, 14-2, $333
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers in the Shenandoah Division, based on point standings, have now qualified 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.