Jim Mathews crowned Mr. BASS Champion

       >President's Message

By Jamie Coyle
When they say the weathers different in Garrett County you better believe who you heard it from. Prior to the 2005 Maryland Bass Federations Mr. Bass tournament there were seventy five degree days and calm weather. Water temperature was as high as 58 degree’s in the back of a few creeks with plenty of bait fish ticking the waters top.

Give way to the week of the tournament, four inches of snow, lows in the twenties and highs in the low 40’s, grey skies, wind, rain, and creek water temp’s back to forty seven degrees. Needless to say the famed Deep Creek Lake had changed for many anglers that were coming up to fish the tournament.

Day one started under cold and grey conditions, but by the second day the 30 mph winds were up and the sun broke threw the clouds. First place winner and Captain of the 2005 State Team is Jim Mathews who fished methodically on both days targeting pre staging largemouth. Jim’s limits from both days totaled twenty-two pounds and five ounces to easily best the state’s top fisherman by four pounds.

You better believe that one degree in water temp on Deep Creek can make all the difference and that’s exactly what Jim did. This first time state team qualifier stated, "There was a range at the mouths of creeks and backs of creeks and somewhere in between was a stable temp the fish preferred". Jim spent the week before targeting Schools of largemouth bass that were moving up onto secondary staging points. After eliminating actual lake points Jim started looking at docks. "The key was finding the right dock combination that had access to deepwater very close by" Jim stated. Finding plenty of keepers with a senko, Jim switched up and started using his GLX Loomis flipping rod, tied on a jig, and started catching larger fish. "It was one of those days, it reminded me of overnight float trips that I used to take with my Dad down the Potomac, from Old Town to Paw Paw for big smallies, it was just plain out fun" Jim said.

I for one personally know second place finisher, Ed Riley of Skeeter Owners Bassmasters, prefished early with good results. But when Ed heard of the changing conditions he came back up to the lake early and put another three days on the lake to find where the fish moved too. Four time State Team member and two time National Federation qualifier, Ed said he figured them out. he mentioned that he changed his normal fishing strategy from limit first to quality first. Four fish the first day (3 smallmouths and 1 largemouth) and a five fish limit the second day (all Largemouth) sealed his spot on this years State Team with his second place weight of eighteen pounds and five ounces.

Speaking with Ed, he mentioned his patterns and locations were all over the lake. But one of the aspects of Ed’s fishing that he cherishes the most was learning how to fish with his father. They spent numerous fishing trips together while Ed was younger at Asseteague Island for Stripers and for anything that would bite their minnows on the Pocomoke River.

Being versatile in bait selection is one of the keys to Ed’s continued success; he is most comfortable flipping a jig. But for those that know him, he’s famous for the "Riley Rig". Senkos, Jerk Baits, and Carolina Rigs brought Ed’s fish to the scales for this tournament though. There was a spotting at the Oakland Wal-Mart of Ed purchasing colored Sharpie markers to color and customize his Jerkbaits. When asked about location, Ed said, "See this windburn. I was on almost every windblown point on the lake."

Third place was captured by Bryan Schmitt from MTCHH Bassmasters. "Jigs, Jigs, and more Jigs" Bryan said was his pattern. Going exclusively for bigger fish Bryan zeroed in on docks in the pre stage area for Deep Creek’s largemouth bass basically using them as secondary points.

Only ounce’s shy of second place and making the state team, Bryan weighed in a respectful eighteen pounds and one ounce. This was his first time at Deep Creek Lake and having a great four days of prefishing and a solid tournament, it is now one of his favorite fishing spots. Bryan, like Ed, was taught to fish by his father and say’s that he was fishing Columbia, Maryland’s lakes while he was still in diapers with his Dad. Bryan made a point to thank his observers, they helped land his larger fish and were great to have on board.

I’d personally like to thank the Western Region, Earl Jenkins, T.R. Hovermale, and their staff for running this tournament. It went off with out a hitch and the sponsor goods for those waiting around were great.