MARBURY, Md. (Oct. 12, 2009) - Steve Miller of Mechanicsville, Va., won the Walmart Bass Fishing League Potomac River Regional Bass Fishing Championship Saturday with a three-day 15-bass catch weighing 48 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned Miller a Ranger 198VX boat with a choice of a 200 horsepower Evinrude or Yamaha motor and a Chevrolet 1500 Silverado. The win also helped him qualify for the 2010 BFL All-American to be held in Davenport, Iowa, May 27-30, 2010, on the Mississippi River where he could ultimately win a top prize of $140,000 and a trip to the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup.
"This win is long overdue," said Miller, who said he has fished BFL events for more than a decade. "I've been fishing a long time and been close, but this is my first win.
"I didn't fish flawless by any means, but I ended up catching a good bag," Miller added.
Miller said his win didn't come easily. His trim malfunctioned on his motor on the second day of competition, seriously hampering his mobility.
"I limped around and ended up having some friends help me out," Miller said. "Fortunately I got through it OK."
Miller said he had five areas that were holding fish and he bounced back and forth among the areas. Miller said his understanding of wind and how it affects the Potomac helped clinch his win.
"If you don't realize what the wind gives you or what the wind takes away, it can really affect you," Miller said. "You'll be fishing in muddy water."
Miller, who works at Virginia's Green Top Sporting Goods, said the sporting goods store and Berkley were indispensable sponsors who contributed to his win. Miller said he slow rolled a chartreuse and white spinnerbait through grass and pitched and swam a green pumpkin Berkley Crazy Leg Chigger Craw through grass to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Kirk McMullen of Macedon, N.Y. (15 bass, 45-13, $3,000); Steve Wagner of New Kent, Va. (15 bass, 43-11, $1,500); Joshua Wagy of Dewitt, Va. (15 bass, 43-0, $1,200); and Dave Mease of Bethlehem, Pa. (15 bass, 40-15, $1,100).
Charlie Russler of Hedgesville, W.V., won a Ranger 198VX boat with a choice of a 200 horsepower Evinrude or Yamaha motor as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to 14 bass weighing 31 pounds, 15 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Scott Howard of Huddleston, Va. (15 bass, 29-10, $1,500); Jerry Pyles of Middletown, Md. (15 bass, 29-6, $750); Jason Tolliver of Bolt, W.V. (15 bass, 29-3, $600); and Scott Goodson of Fredericksburg, Va. (14 bass, 28-9, $550).