2006 SQT
By Dick Brown & Roger Trageser

There are three little words that could best describe the conditions at this years State Qualifying Tournament on the Upper Bay, Wind, Wind and well, more Wind.  From Randy Knopp swamping his boat and scrambling safely to the eastern side of the bay to Rich Weldon being engaged in a mandatory conversation with an Aberdeen patrol boat while four footers rolled over his bow this year’s competition was challenging in more ways than one.  A few competitors demonstrated that the road less traveled can be most productive while others braved the conditions and made the run they felt necessary to earn a place on this year’s team. 

John Burdette Finished in 1st place

When this year’s State Qualifying Tournament was awarded to the Northern Region based upon their proposal presented to the Executive Board, there were those who suggested the balance of power would swing to the Northern Region anglers.  It seems any time a venue is on someone’s “home waters,” there is a perception of an automatic advantage to those who frequently fish the area. In this case, the Upper Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries were the hosts.  All I can say is throw out the home field advantage as only one of the four boater positions earned at this year’s SQT was awarded to a Northern Region Club member. 

John Burdette of Hub City Bassmasters is this year’s SQT Champion!  Part of the Federation experience is the desire to learn to become a more competitive angler first at the Club level then the State level and on to the National level.  As a fellow Club member, I’ve had the opportunity to watch this young angler grow into a very consistent and versatile angler. 

On day one of this year’s event, John’s catch of five fish with a weight of 13 lbs 7 oz put him in respectable striking distance of first place and certainly in reach of a State Team spot if only he could duplicate or better his day one catch on day two.  Having a solid game plan to continue to fish the Middle River area with his Booyah spinner bait and jig proved to be a challenging task.  Unlike some anglers, John knew when to fold ‘em and headed back to the grass beds on the outside edge of Dundee Creek.  This time he was armed with his spinner bait and a shallow diving crank bait thrown up tight to the banks during the high tide, which proved to be the difference between going home with what could have been and being the SQT Champion.  Being versatile and understanding the conditions presented to him John made some key decisions that proved to be the right decisions, which again netted him a five-fish limit weighting 14 lbs 3 oz for a two-day total of 27 lbs 10 oz.  Congratulations John, you make us proud! 

Randy Elliott of Bank and Boat Bassmasters finished in second place with a two-day total of nine fish that weighed 29 lbs 10 oz.  He stayed in Dundee Creek the first day and dropped anchor to keep his boat position in the brisk winds to catch four sluggish bass that weighed 13 lbs 8 oz.  He used Zoom green pumpkin lizards rigged Texas style and a chartreuse baby-one minus in a small grass bed to catch his fish.  During the second day launch he found his area already taken and had to relocate.  He chose a creek arm over-looked by other competitors in Middle River that had been holding shallow post-spawn fish.  He switched to a 3/8-ounce buzz bait and a small hot tiger patterned crank bait to target wood and sparse grass to catch 13 lbs 6 oz. 

Kirk Wagner of Upper Bay Bassmasters II started his interview by stating how much he appreciated his partner in the SQT being open and allowing him to do what Kirk believed he needed to do to catch his limit each day.  He felt fortunate he had such a great partner.  In order to achieve his goal of making the State Team, this Northern Region angler knew everything needed to go right.  He was looking for five good bites a day and chose to stick with throwing a jig both days.  His fish were located in shallow water related to wood cover.  The weather and wind mixed things up at first; Kirk made adjustments and moved to deeper water on day two relocating enough good fish for a third place finish.  Kirk upgraded his day-one catch of 10 lbs 5 oz to include a second day catch of 15 lbs 14 oz for a total of 26 lbs 13 oz and a boater spot on the State Team.  Kirk also managed to avoid the home field jinx! 

Brett Quader of Southern Region Club Mudbug Bassmasters captured the fourth and final boater position out of the State Qualifier.  Brett knew he had fish located in two different areas.  On the first competition day, Brett was able to bring about 12 lbs of fish to the scales, but he had to catch anywhere from five to ten fish to get one keeper fish over the 15” minimum. 

On day two when the wind was down a bit Brett made the decision to run all the way to Sassafras River where he had located a group of fish in the 3-5 lb range.  He believed catching some of those fish would give him his best chance at a State Team spot.  In order to have an opportunity to catch those fish the wind had to cooperate, and it did for about 2 ½ hours.  That 2-½ hour window of opportunity was what proved the difference for Brett, as he was able to work his key spot, which was only about a 25-yard grass bed.  He stayed until the west wind took the bite away, but his 13+ lb sack of fish was just enough to earn him 4th place on this year’s State Team.  Coincidentally, Brett’s partner for the SQT was also named Brett, and a big thank you goes out for netting Brett’s fish! 

Jere Hayslett of Skeeter Owners Club subscribed to the theory that more time fishing is better than more time running.  He and his partner made the grueling run to Boathouse Cove just across from the marina and set down roots.  Morning of day one was an exercise in patience with little attention being paid to the spinner baits and top water plugs presented.  Eventually switching over to a watermelon centipede with garlic and chartreuse dressing and rigged ala mojo style the bite began to happen to the tune of five fish and a leading day’s weight of seventeen pounds and ten ounces.  Jere also garnished a nice little chunk of change for the first days’ lunker.

If it’s good enough for day one why not hit it again for day two?  A little more morning action had Jere putting a few fish in the boat by way of the old Pop R top water but the reliable centipede finished off his total days weight of eight pounds for a two-day total of twenty-five pounds and ten ounces.

While pre-fishing in Middle River Big Dawg Bassmasters Chris Peloquin found a spot that consisted of a small ditch, rocks, docks and all the other ingredients necessary to sustain the better part of a two day tournament.  With primary weapons being quarter ounce jigs and spinner baits Chris loaded the boat on day one with five fish for seventeen pounds and four ounces.  Day two proved less productive and three fish gave Chris his day’s weight of eight pounds and one ounce.  Chris says he had his partner to thank for securing his spot on the team.  While lifting one of his keepers into the boat the fish threw his jig but an alert Wendell Thompson had the net positioned directly below and saved the day.  Chris said, “I called Wendell and told him the check was in the mail.” 

 
Top finishers in 2006 MBF State Qualifying Tournament.

When I concluded my conversation with Bayside Bassmasters’ Tom Semanick I jokingly told him that his write up would pretty much be “see Jere Hayslett”.  Tom has spent plenty of time on these waters and knows, as well as anyone, how well this area can fish.  Again a slow presentation was the ticket with the menu consisting of Senkos and wacky worms.  Day one netted Tom a weight of thirteen pounds and nine ounces while day two stacked up to ten pounds and fifteen ounces.  That twenty-four pounds and eight ounces was good for a seventh place finish.

Rounding out the non-boaters field was Ric May from Guy Brothers Pro Staff.  Ric made the brutal run across the bay to that world on the eastern side and fished main bay points with jigs and spinner baits.  Kudos to a guy who, in those weather conditions, can muster up the stamina and the stability to hammer away for two days on a body of water that for all intents and purposes had become a liquid rollercoaster.  His efforts were rewarded with a first day’s weight of eleven pounds and nine ounces and a second day’s bag at twelve pounds and eight ounces for a twenty-four pound one ounce total.

Thanks to Skeeter Owners Erin Orr and Kickin Bass Anglers Randy Dotson for their help with day twos weighs-in and to Upper Bay Bassmasters Pete Witt and Chesapeake Bass Anglers Kelly Comer, along with his wife Karen and daughter Emily for the two days of help that they so graciously provided. Hey Central and Western Regions, we missed you.   

Best of luck to all of this year’s State Team Members.  With the Divisionals being held on the Potomac River, we’re hoping you’ll use the “home field” to your advantage.  Do us proud!