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La Plata, MD – The Bassmaster Elite Series has retuned to the Potomac River for another event. Like last year’s tournament, the 2007 Capital Clash will be tough. Unlike some of the stops this year, the only records to fall his week might be the heat index.
With air temperatures busting the 100 degree mark and the water temps just below boiling, the 106 professional anglers competing this week are finding the fishing tough.
With only the Capital Clash and the Sunshine Showdown remaining on the schedule, these anglers are scrambling for points. Skeet Reese and Kevin VanDam are separated by just 20 points in the Angler of the Year race. While pros like Dean Rojas, Alton Jones, John Crews and Gerald Swindle are sitting on the bubble in terms of making the Classic.
As with every tournament this year, the BASS ZONE will be on location from the 6 a.m. ET launches to the weigh-ins at Sweden Point Marina. After a grueling practice period, the BZ caught up with a few of the competitors to find out their thoughts on the Potomac River.
Gerald Swindle –
Need a Bounce Back
It is going to be a brutal battle. It’s like being locked in the Mississippi State Pen – There’s no hope. It is not going to cool off, it’s not getting any better, and you are not getting paroled.
I look for eight to nine pounds to get a check and that is horrible for the Potomac River. The heat will make this one of the toughest tournament I’ve ever fished. It’s hot, it is going to get hotter and then it is going to warm up.
Tommy Biffle –
Flippn' Tough
It is tough. It is definitely tougher than last year, but I don’t believe all the complaining is accurate. I don’t know what I can catch because I haven’t been setting the hook on anything. I don’t think it is that tough to get a bite.
The way everybody is crying, 10 pounds a day might get it done. I think 10 to 12 pounds a day will work.
If the weather changes like it did last year, then the fishing could really turn on. The heat will be a bigger factor on the fishermen than on the fish. The heat usually doesn’t bother me and I don’t like it out here right now. |
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Peter Thliveros –
The Mo Train is Rolling
I’m going to give it all I got. I’ve done well here in the past, the distant past, so I will fish a lot of history here this week. In a river system, fish seem to stay in the same areas. The amount of grass has changed things and the fish have moved. It is hard to find an area to yourself and that is what I really like to do.
The fishing is tougher than it has been, but the fish are still here. They are still feeding –they are not dead. The heat and humidity are just making the bite a little more difficult. You can pick one area that has some fish and grind it out or find a pattern that is working and cover a lot of water. I think that moving around will be easier on the anglers as they try to stay focused.
Rick Morris –
Flashback to 2006
I’ve had a pretty slow practice. I’m searching for an area that has some pretty grass and a place I can just camp out. The grass pattern has worked for me in the past. I’m still looking for that one school of fish that I can target all tournament long.
The water temperature is around 90 degrees and the fish aren’t real active. There is more grass in the river than I’ve ever seen and I’ve fished here for 20 years. I think I can catch a limit everyday, but not quality fish. 14 pounds for two days will get you a check and 15 pounds a day will win it.
Mark Tucker –
Ray of Hope
I’ve been to a lot of different areas, but it has been hard to get a bite. It is tough as nails. I did catch a three pound bass after spotting a gold fish near the grass line. So, I’ll go looking for more goldfish. I also saw a stingray swimming next to the boat, but there weren’t any bass around him.
Last year the fishing was tough until the rain came, then they really caught them. I’ll say seven and a half pounds a day will get you a $10,000.00
check
Kurt Dove –
This Bird Could Fly This Week
The water temperature is really high and the fishing is tough. The weights are going to be down this year. The key will be find an area with current that his holding fish. The wildcard will be the bigger bite. If a guy can get one or two quality bites, that will go a long way in the results. |
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This tournament will fish a lot like the 2005 EverStart tournament where Mike Hall won. It took 20 pounds to finish in 20th. If I can get ten pounds a day, that will be good. If I can get one wildcard fish then I’ll be looking to make the cut.
Mike Iaconelli –
Tough As Nails
I have fished this water since the early 90’s and this is the toughest fishing I’ve seen. Hot weather, hot water and lot’s of grass – that make for a tough bite. Then you throw in 106 guys that know what they are doing and it makes it really difficult.
I’ve got three areas where I think fish live, but I think some other guys have found those fish as well. It could be a finesse type week instead of a power fishing event. Last year I had multiple areas and schools of fish to target. This year I’ll be camping out in just a couple of areas.
Ish Monroe –
Seeing is Not Believing
No rain, lots of grass and minimal tides, the fishing is tough. I’ve seen a lot of fish, but I can’t get them to bite. I’ve seen good limits of bass in several creeks, but I can’t catch them.
The tide is different here than on the Delta. On the Potomac you only get one or two feet of movement, whereas on the Delta the water can fluctuate up to 6 feet. There is a lot more current on the Delta. Even with the difference in tides, the fishing is still the same. The bass relate to the currents the same and you still have to position your bait in the right fashion.
NOTES:
The Legend, Harold Allen, will not be at
this stop. The Legend is fishing in
Texas and will be missed this week.
You can't replace a Legend. The Wide
Open videos will continue this week in DC
featuring the top finishers of the
day. The preview video features
Skeet Reese and defending champ, Kelly
Jordon. The video will be posted
around 8:30 EST Wednesday. Legend,
we will miss you this week.
On
the water this week, LIVE CHAT from
the water beginning at 9:00am EST plus an
on the water picture blog will be added
this week.
Enjoy
the coverage from DC..........On
Location......Only on The BASS ZONE.
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