Alabama angler Justin Lucas caught the biggest limit of the Bassmaster Elite at Potomac River tournament for the second day in a row Friday in Charles County, landing five bass that weighed 19 pounds, 14 ounces. That catch pushed his two-day mark to 40-2 and gave him a comfortable lead of nearly 6 pounds over Brent Ehrler (34-4) as the event heads into the semifinal round Saturday, with takeoff for the top 50 anglers set for 6:15 a.m. at Smallwood State Park.
"I've fished tournaments for seven years, and I've never had a spot like this — especially to myself," Lucas said. "The crazy thing is that I just stumbled into it. Yesterday morning, I had no clue. Then I got a couple of 3-pound bites early that clued me in." Lucas estimates the stretch is no bigger than 300 to 400 yards long.
Today's weigh-in will be at 3 p.m. at Indian Head Pavilion on the Village Green.
With no pressure from other boats, Lucas believes he should easily be able to land 15 or 16 pounds from the spot the next two days.
"I hope the local guys will be respectful, but obviously they can fish where they want," Lucas said. "I think what I'm doing is different enough and off the beaten path enough that I should be OK."
Lucas' limit was anchored by a 5-8 largemouth. It's an ounce shy of the tournament big-bass mark of 5-9, set on Thursday, when Lucas and Luke Clausen each weighed in bass of that size. If no one catches a bigger bass by the end of the tournament, they will share in the $1,500 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award.
Ehrler, a California native who grew up fishing tidal waters, caught 17-13 on Day 1 and added 16-7 Friday to push his two-day total to 34-4.
Ehrler came into this week's event with loads of experience on the Potomac River from his time on the FLW Tour.
"It helps having the experience here," Ehrler said. "I've fished this place about as many times as I have the California Delta at home."
Like many anglers in the field, Ehrler is targeting the Potomac's massive grassbeds.
"I'm fishing grass for the most part — some wood, but mostly grass," he said. "That's what everyone's doing here. I'm throwing moving baits in some spots and flipping in some spots."
Behind Lucas and Ehrler are Jacob Powroznik (32-12), Jason Christie (31-7), Bill Lowen (31-3) and Gerald Swindle (30-5). Swindle maintained his spot in the Top 6 with today's catch of 14-0 and kept a comfortable lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
Et cetera
Ben's Cat puts in final work for next Saturday's Mr. Diz
Ben's Cat breezed a half-mile Friday morning at Laurel Park in his final timed work before seeking his seventh consecutive victory in the $75,000 Mister Diz Stakes next Saturday. Bred, owned and trained by Hall of Fame horseman King Leatherbury, the 10-year-old Maryland-bred gelding went 4 furlongs in 49.20 seconds over the main track, turning in the fourth fastest of 12 workouts at the distance. It was the second work for Ben's Cat since his third-place finish in the Parx Dash (G3) on July 9, after a 50.20-second move at Laurel on Aug 5. Trevor McCarthy was aboard for both and will have the call again in the Mister Diz. According to Equibase, Ben's Cat could become the second horse ever to win the same stakes race seven straight years. Leaping Plum won the Grasmick Handicap at Nebraska's Fonner Park from 1995 to 2001 and again in 2003.
"Everything's in order. It was a nice work," Leatherbury said. "Trevor worked him this morning and worked him last time. He said he went well. We're looking forward to winning this thing for a seventh time."
Leatherbury said Ben's Cat has not been affected by the heat and humidity that has engulfed the area in recent weeks.
"It's been very hot but he's handling it OK. He's been through this for many a year now," he said. "Generally horses don't like hot weather. He doesn't like it, but it doesn't bother him as much as it does some others."