CHARLES COUNTY, Md. - July 19, 2003 - Hometown anglers usually are at a disadvantage in Bassmaster events, but Gambrills, Md. angler Ernie Freeman was able to parlay his 20 plus years of knowledge on the Potomac River into a victory in the Maryland Bassmaster Northern Open on Saturday.
Freeman's three-day total of 52 pounds, 13 ounces gave him a 4-13 margin of victory over second place Chris Daves of Spring Grove, Va. Daves, who fishes the Bassmaster Tour, ended the event with 48-0 and was followed by fellow Tour pro Rick Morris of Virginia Beach, Va., in third with 46-4. Art Ferguson of St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Cary Bever of Rhinelander, Wisc., tied for fourth with 43-4.
"I worked really hard these last two days," said Freeman who caught 21-3 in the first round of the tournament. "The first day was really easy, but since then I had to kind of buckle down and play defense more than anything.
"I originally thought about starting out flipping grass this morning, but when I saw the north wind blowing, I ran straight north and started cranking deep diving crankbaits."
Freeman used those crankbaits (Fire tiger) in the area around the Woodrow Wilson bridge to catch his 15-5 limit on Saturday. For the victory Freeman takes home a fully-rigged $35,000 bass boat and $15,000 cash.
Second place Daves recorded his highest ever finish in a Bassmaster event.
"I lost a four pounder today that cost me," Daves said. "I'm happy with what I had, anytime you catch 15 pounds per day on a tidal water you have to feel pretty good."
Wayne Hayes of Virginia Beach, Va., won the nonboater division of the competition with 37-10. Hayes also won in his only other Bassmaster event at Lake Okeechobee in January. Tom Eason of New Albany, Ind., caught 37-3 for second and Niantic, Conn., angler Ken Brodeur's 36-8 was good enough for third. Phil Paradis of Vassalboro, Maine, who led the first two days finished fifth with 35-13.
Contenders in the event were vying for a share of the $313,100 payout with $50,000 (a $35,000 fully-rigged bass boat and $15,000 cash) going to the boater winner and a fully rigged $24,000 boat going to the non-boater winner. Additionally, anglers were vying for valuable points toward qualifying for the Bassmaster Open Championship this fall and the Bassmaster Classic to be held in the summer of 2004.
Weigh-ins took place at Smallwood State Park.