WALDORF, Md. - Virginian Steve Roberts had a banner day on the Potomac River, using a leadhead jig of his own design to catch 20 pounds, 3 ounces of largemouth to take the Day 1 lead at the BASS Federation Nation Mid-Atlantic Divisional championship bass fishing tournament.
Roberts' closest competitor, Ivan Morris of Virginia, posted a limit weighing 17-14 to take second place. By comparison, New Jersey's Jeff Davis was in third place with a 14-14 limit.
Roberts has been on a roll with his "Cheeseburger Jig" for the past year on the Federation Nation tournament circuit. He is the defending champion of this event, having won the Mid-Atlantic Divisional title last year in Maine on Cobbosseecontee Lake.
"I've been fishing a jig for the past 20 years and have never been satisfied with the colors available," said Roberts, whose nickname happens to be "Cheeseburger."This jig has a special color pattern that perfectly replicates the shell of a crawfish."
Roberts fished the jig, made by HunterCreek Bait, between the shoreline and 8 feet of water. He is focusing on three key areas along the main Potomac River channel that offer similarities in bass habitat, most likely a combination of wood and aquatic vegetation positioned along depth breaks.
Roberts is among a field of 72 anglers from six Mid-Atlantic states whose goals are to qualify for the BASS Federation Nation Championship. The amateur championship is set for Alabama's Lake Neely Henry in January 2007.
Each of the six Federation Nations competing here advances the top angler to the championship. As of today, the lineup includes Roberts (Virginia), Davis (New Jersey), Greg Alexander (Delaware), John Burdette (Maryland), Mike Moran (Pennsylvania) and Steve Harrison (West Virginia).
This tournament also features a competition between the 12-angler Federation Nation teams from the states. Virginia is in the lead, boosted by the catches of Roberts and Morris, with the team's collective weight standing at 106-10. New Jersey is second with 94-14 and Delaware third with 85-14. Pennsylvania is fourth with 83-9, Maryland is in fifth place with 65-10 and West Virginia holds down sixth place with 33-7.
The Mid-Atlantic divisional championship is one of six held nationwide, with this event concluding the season schedule. The competition runs through Friday. Weigh-ins at Smallwood State Park begin at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.
2006 Mid-Atlantic Divisional 09/27-09/29
Potomac River, Md.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Steve Roberts Lynchburg, Va. (VA) 5 20-03
2. Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, Va. (V 5 17-14
3. Jeff Davis Malton Lakes, N.J. (NJ 5 14-14
4. Greg Alexander Hebron, Md. (DE) 5 12-09
4. Mike Moran Sutersville, Pa. (PA) 5 12-09
6. John Burdette Frederick, Md. (MD) 5 12-05
7. Craig Owens Chesapeake, Va. (VA) 5 11-10
8. John Fitzgerald Lincoln, Del. (DE) 3 11-02
9. Daniel Ottmer Pt Pleasant, N.J. (NJ) 5 11-01
10. Ryan Smith Milford, Del. (DE) 5 10-12
11. Craig Townsend Mount Holly, N.J. (NJ) 5 10-10
12. Steven Brady Hillsville, Va. (VA) 5 10-06
12. R W Phillips Martinsville, Va. (VA) 5 10-06
14. Kevin Collins Morristown, N.J. (NJ) 5 10-01
14. Erik Lentine Fair Haven, N.J. (NJ) 5 10-01
14. Mark Melega Rice Landing, Pa. (PA) 4 10-01
17. Jimmie Hale Martinsville, Va. (VA) 5 9-08
18. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, Md. (DE) 5 9-07
19. Jon Stone Pittsburg, Pa. (PA) 5 9-06
20. Daniel Gray Butler, Pa. (PA) 5 8-09
21. Stephen Poole Dover, Del. (DE) 4 8-07
22. Christopher Peloquin Damascus, Maine (MD) 5 8-06
23. Kevin Waterman Laplata, Md. (MD) 5 8-03
24. Robert Moody Dover, Del. (DE) 4 8-02
25. James Harper N Cape May, N.J. (NJ) 4 8-01
25. Merrill Showers New Columbia, Pa. (PA) 3 8-01
27. Ed Santuk Hardy, Va. (VA) 5 7-09
28. Tom Semanick Ferndale, Md. (MD) 3 7-07
29. Jim Lambert Pittsburg, Pa. (PA) 5 7-06
29. Mike Reilly Hammonton, N.J. (NJ) 5 7-06
31. Lew Boulden Townsend, Del. (DE) 5 7-05
32. Bryan Mayhew Hurt, Va. (VA) 4 6-13
32. Robert Laufenberg Dover, N.J. (NJ) 3 6-13
34. Larry Iden Mc Henry, Md. (MD) 5 6-12
34. Brett Quader Pasadena, Md. (MD) 4 6-12
36. Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, Pa. (PA) 5 6-11
37. D J Bishop Verona, Pa. (PA) 5 6-10
38. Ken Bertles Pennsville, N.J. (NJ) 3 6-05
38. Andy Starner Dover, Pa. 3 6-05
40. Deron Eck Kittanning, Pa. (PA) 5 6-04
41. Bryant Copley Altavista, Va. (VA) 4 6-01
42. Steve Harrison Clarksburg, W.Va. (WV) 4 5-13
43. Steve Billeter New Martinsville, W.Va 3 4-15
44. David Perrego Dover, Del. (DE) 3 4-11
45. John Radamski Toms River, N.J. (NJ) 2 4-10
46. Ric May California, Maine (MD) 3 4-08
47. Alan Fluharty Fairmont, W.Va. (WV) 1 3-15
48. Timothy Stump Dover, Del. (DE) 3 3-13
49. Jerald Conley Sowell, N.J. (NJ) 2 3-11
50. Robert Chango Secretary, Md. (DE) 3 3-10
50. Aaron Kibler Milford, Del. (DE) 3 3-10
52. Apollo Quiban Virginia Beach, Va. (V 3 3-08
53. Kevin Goff New Martinsville, W.Va 3 3-07
53. Kirk Wagner Baltimore, Md. (MD) 3 3-07
55. L R Amos Claysville, Pa. (WV) 3 3-05
55. Brad Billeter Waverly, W.Va. (WV) 2 3-05
57. Randy Elliott Bowie, Md. (MD) 3 3-02
58. Marty Isles Owings, Md. (MD) 2 2-10
58. Thomas Vankirk Washington, Pa. (WV) 1 2-10
60. Chad Brinegar Berkeley Springs, W.Va 2 2-09
61. Richard Webb Milford, Del. (DE) 2 2-06
62. Richard Exline Sharpsburg, Md. (MD) 2 2-02
63. John Veres Neffs, Ohio (WV) 1 1-15
64. Ron Wolf South Hampton, Pa. (PA 1 1-11
65. Jim Wigal Claysville, Pa. (WV) 1 1-09
66. Jim Martin Collinsville, Va. (VA) 1 1-08
67. Tom Cusmano Colonia, N.J. (NJ) 1 1-05
68. Abe Street Pulaski, Va. (VA) 1 1-04
69. Scott Adams Little Hocking, Ohio ( 0 0-00
69. Mike Goff Clendenin, W.Va. (WV) 0 0-00
69. Jere Hayslett Alexandria, Va. (MD) 0 0-00
69. Matt Lazaroff Mercer, Pa. (PA) 0 0-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 28 245 470-00
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28 245 470-00
TEAM STANDINGS Day 1
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State Lbs-Oz
1
VIRGINIA 106-10
2
NEW JERSEY 94-14
3
DELAWARE 85-14
4
PENNSYLVANIA 77-04
5
MARYLAND 65-10
6 WEST
VIRGINIA 33-07
7 6-05
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 1
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VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Steve Roberts Lynchburg, Va. 5 20-03
2 Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 5 17-14
3 Craig Owens Chesapeake, Va. 5 11-10
4 Steven Brady Hillsville, Va. 5 10-06
4 R W Phillips Martinsville, Va. 5 10-06
6 Jimmie Hale Martinsville, Va. 5 9-08
7 Ed Santuk Hardy, Va. 5 7-09
8 Bryan Mayhew Hurt, Va. 4 6-13
9 Bryant Copley Altavista, Va. 4 6-01
10 Apollo Quiban Virginia Beach, Va. 3 3-08
11 Jim Martin Collinsville, Va. 1 1-08
12 Abe Street Pulaski, Va. 1 1-04
NEW JERSEY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jeff Davis Malton Lakes, N.J. 5 14-14
2 Daniel Ottmer Pt Pleasant, N.J. 5 11-01
3 Craig Townsend Mount Holly, N.J. 5 10-10
4 Kevin Collins Morristown, N.J. 5 10-01
4 Erik Lentine Fair Haven, N.J. 5 10-01
6 James Harper N Cape May, N.J. 4 8-01
7 Mike Reilly Hammonton, N.J. 5 7-06
8 Robert Laufenberg Dover, N.J. 3 6-13
9 Ken Bertles Pennsville, N.J. 3 6-05
10 John Radamski Toms River, N.J. 2 4-10
11 Jerald Conley Sowell, N.J. 2 3-11
12 Tom Cusmano Colonia, N.J. 1 1-05
DELAWARE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Greg Alexander Hebron, Md. 5 12-09
2 John Fitzgerald Lincoln, Del. 3 11-02
3 Ryan Smith Milford, Del. 5 10-12
4 Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, Md. 5 9-07
5 Stephen Poole Dover, Del. 4 8-07
6 Robert Moody Dover, Del. 4 8-02
7 Lew Boulden Townsend, Del. 5 7-05
8 David Perrego Dover, Del. 3 4-11
9 Timothy Stump Dover, Del. 3 3-13
10 Robert Chango Secretary, Md. 3 3-10
10 Aaron Kibler Milford, Del. 3 3-10
12 Richard Webb Milford, Del. 2 2-06
PENNSYLVANIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mike Moran Sutersville, Pa. 5 12-09
2 Mark Melega Rice Landing, Pa. 4 10-01
3 Jon Stone Pittsburg, Pa. 5 9-06
4 Daniel Gray Butler, Pa. 5 8-09
5 Merrill Showers New Columbia, Pa. 3 8-01
6 Jim Lambert Pittsburg, Pa. 5 7-06
7 Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, Pa. 5 6-11
8 D J Bishop Verona, Pa. 5 6-10
9 Deron Eck Kittanning, Pa. 5 6-04
10 Ron Wolf South Hampton, Pa. 1 1-11
11 Matt Lazaroff Mercer, Pa. 0 0-00
MARYLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 John Burdette Frederick, Md. 5 12-05
2 Christopher Peloquin Damascus, Maine 5 8-06
3 Kevin Waterman Laplata, Md. 5 8-03
4 Tom Semanick Ferndale, Md. 3 7-07
5 Larry Iden Mc Henry, Md. 5 6-12
5 Brett Quader Pasadena, Md. 4 6-12
7 Ric May California, Maine 3 4-08
8 Kirk Wagner Baltimore, Md. 3 3-07
9 Randy Elliott Bowie, Md. 3 3-02
10 Marty Isles Owings, Md. 2 2-10
11 Richard Exline Sharpsburg, Md. 2 2-02
12 Jere Hayslett Alexandria, Va. 0 0-00WEST
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Steve Harrison Clarksburg, W.Va. 4 5-13
2 Steve Billeter New Martinsville, W.Va. 3 4-15
3 Alan Fluharty Fairmont, W.Va. 1 3-15
4 Kevin Goff New Martinsville, W.Va. 3 3-07
5 L R Amos Claysville, Pa. 3 3-05
5 Brad Billeter Waverly, W.Va. 2 3-05
7 Thomas Vankirk Washington, Pa. 1 2-10
8 Chad Brinegar Berkeley Springs, W.Va. 2 2-09
9 John Veres Neffs, Ohio 1 1-15
10 Jim Wigal Claysville, Pa. 1 1-09
11 Scott Adams Little Hocking, Ohio 0 0-00
11 Mike Goff Clendenin, W.Va. 0 0-00
1 Andy Starner Dover, Pa. 3 6-05