By MLF Communications Staff
MLF Pro Circuit anglers caught 149 five-bass limits – more than 20 of which weighed in excess 15 pounds – on day 1 of the event at the Potomac River out of Marbury, Md. Rookie Lawson Hibdon of Versailles, Mo., boxed 17 pounds even to grab the early lead.
Veteran Zell Rowland of Montgomery, Texas, ended the day in 2nd place – a mere ounce behind Hibdon after bringing a 16-15 bag to the scale. Arkansas' Joey Cifuentes was another ounce back in 3rd with 16-14.
Although Hibdon has practiced on the Potomac with his father – former Bassmaster Classic and FLW Cup champion Dion Hibdon – and fished it as a co-angler several times in the past, he said he doesn’t have much experience on the fishery.
“I’m trying to stay away from other anglers, but still had to fish around people a time or two,” said Hibdon. “The biggest thing I had to figure out today was that I needed to slow way down. I only expected to weigh in 12 to 13 pounds like we saw a lot of other guys do, but I slowed down with a worm and caught some more quality fish this afternoon. It was very unexpected and I wasn’t ready for it at all, but it worked out for me today.”
While anglers with more experience on tidal fisheries may plan to use the tide to their advantage, Hibdon said that’s not part of his strategy.
“I don’t know anything about how the tide works in this area and how it affects the fish or fishery,” said Hibdon. “I had 11 pounds by 9 a.m. but then I started catching some big ones. Not sure if it had anything to do with the tide, or just me slowing down, but I caught the bulk of my weight from 10 to 2 today.”
Lack of experience on the Potomac didn’t seem to hinder Hibdon, who moved around the fishery to find what worked for him; however, with only 1-05 separating the Top 10, he has his work cut out for him on day 2 in order to stay at the top of the leaderboard.
“I hopped around a couple different creeks today and caught fish out of each creek I went to,” said Hibdon. “Two of the creeks fished better, so I’ll probably start with those two tomorrow and see if they are still in play. Hopefully I can bounce around and do the same thing tomorrow and pull some big fish.
“I probably caught more than 20 keepers today, on moving baits – spinnerbaits and ChatterBaits – before slowing down with the worm. I got less bites overall with the worm, but they were definitely better-quality fish.”
The remainder of the Top 10 consists of Adrian Avena (16-06), Terry Bolton (16-03), Justin Cooper (16-03), Michael Neal (16-02), 2017 Potomac winner Tom Monsoor (16-01), 2020 Angler of the Year Ron Nelson (15-11) and Bradley Dortch (15-11).
Avena won the day's $500 Berkley Big Bass award with a 5-09 largemouth.
Anglers take off at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury. Weigh-ins are also be held at the park daily at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the MLF NOW! livestream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Day 1 Standings
1. Lawson Hibdon -- 17-00 (5)
2. Zell Rowland -- 16-15 (5)
3. Joey Cifuentes -- 16-14 (5)
4. Adrian Avena -- 16-06 (5)
5. Terry Bolton -- 16-03 (5)
5. Justin O'Brian Cooper -- 16-03 (5)
7. Michael Neal -- 16-02 (5)
8. Tom Monsoor -- 16-01 (5)
9. Ron Nelson -- 15-11 (5)
9. Bradley Dortch -- 15-11 (5)
11. Jacopo Gallelli -- 15-08 (5)
12. Pete Ponds -- 15-07 (5)
12. Clabion Johns -- 15-07 (5)
14. Mike Surman -- 15-06 (5)
15. Cody Meyer -- 15-05 (5)
15. Shin Fukae -- 15-05 (5)
17. Zack Birge -- 15-04 (5)
18. Robert Nakatomi -- 15-02 (5)
19. Jim Tutt -- 15-01 (5)
19. John Cox -- 15-01 (5)
19. Scott Wiley -- 15-01 (5)
19. Ryan Salzman -- 15-01 (5)
23. Jim Moynagh -- 15-00 (5)
23. Colby Schrumpf -- 15-00 (5)
25. Jason Lieblong -- 14-15 (5)
26. Matt Reed -- 14-14 (5)
27. Alex Davis -- 14-12 (5)
27. Grae Buck -- 14-12 (5)
27. Spencer Shuffield -- 14-12 (5)
30. Wesley Strader -- 14-10 (5)
30. Rusty Salewske -- 14-10 (5)
32. Larry Nixon -- 14-09 (5)
32. Casey Ashley -- 14-09 (5)
32. Josh Bragg -- 14-09 (5)
35. Tai Au -- 14-08 (5)
36. Ryan Davidson -- 14-06 (5)
37. Tom Redington -- 14-05 (5)
37. Lendell Martin Jr -- 14-05 (5)
39. Keith Poche -- 14-04 (5)
39. Shannon Abbott -- 14-04 (5)
39. Jimmy Washam -- 14-04 (5)
42. Justin Lucas -- 14-03 (5)
43. Anthony Gagliardi -- 14-02 (5)
43. Skeet Reese -- 14-02 (5)
45. Kevin Martin -- 14-01 (5)
45. Jacob Wall -- 14-01 (5)
45. Josh Douglas -- 14-01 (5)
48. Daryl Biron -- 13-15 (5)
48. John Hunter -- 13-15 (5)
50. Cody Pike -- 13-13 (5)
51. Matthew Stefan -- 13-12 (5)
51. Dakota Ebare -- 13-12 (5)
53. Aaron Britt -- 13-11 (5)
54. Jared McMillan -- 13-10 (5)
54. John Voyles -- 13-10 (5)
56. Matt Becker -- 13-09 (5)
56. Jon Canada -- 13-09 (5)
58. Dion Hibdon -- 13-07 (5)
59. Jason Lambert -- 13-06 (5)
59. Ricky Robinson -- 13-06 (5)
61. Mike McClelland -- 13-05 (5)
61. Nick Lebrun -- 13-05 (5)
63. Jordan Osborne -- 13-02 (5)
64. Tyler Stewart -- 13-01 (5)
64. Lance Crawford -- 13-01 (5)
66. Kerry Milner -- 13-00 (5)
67. Jason Wilson -- 12-15 (5)
68. Ramie Colson Jr -- 12-14 (5)
68. Brandon McMillan -- 12-14 (5)
70. J Todd Tucker -- 12-13 (5)
71. Steve York -- 12-12 (5)
71. Brad Knight -- 12-12 (5)
71. Randy Despino -- 12-12 (5)
74. Corey Neece -- 12-11 (5)
74. Billy Hines -- 12-11 (5)
76. Brandon Mosley -- 12-10 (5)
76. Cal Lane -- 12-10 (5)
78. Chad Grigsby -- 12-09 (5)
78. Brett Hite -- 12-09 (5)
80. Kurt Mitchell -- 12-06 (5)
80. Kurt Dove -- 12-06 (5)
80. Dylan Hays -- 12-06 (5)
83. Tyler Woolcott -- 12-05 (5)
84. Cole Floyd -- 12-04 (5)
85. Evan Barnes -- 12-00 (5)
85. Darrell Davis -- 12-00 (5)
87. David Walker -- 11-15 (5)
87. Clark Reehm -- 11-15 (5)
89. Jeremy Lawyer -- 11-14 (5)
90. Jamie Horton -- 11-12 (5)
90. Tim Frederick -- 11-12 (5)
92. Chase Serafin -- 11-09 (5)
93. Casey Scanlon -- 11-08 (5)
93. Cody Huff -- 11-08 (5)
93. Joe Wieberg -- 11-08 (5)
96. Clayton Batts -- 11-04 (5)
97. James Niggemeyer -- 11-03 (5)
98. Erik Luzak -- 11-02 (5)
99. Greg Bohannan -- 11-01 (5)
100. Cody Nichols -- 11-00 (5)
101. Matt Greenblatt -- 10-15 (5)
102. Richard Lowitzki -- 10-14 (5)
102. Scott Ashmore -- 10-14 (5)
102. Jake Ormond -- 10-14 (5)
105. Barron Adams -- 10-13 (5)
106. Scott Dobson -- 10-12 (5)
106. Joshua Weaver -- 10-12 (5)
106. Brian Latimer -- 10-12 (5)
106. Bradford Beavers -- 10-12 (5)
110. Todd Walters -- 10-11 (5)
110. Miles Burghoff -- 10-11 (5)
110. Jon Englund -- 10-11 (5)
113. David G Williams -- 10-10 (5)
113. Bill McDonald -- 10-10 (5)
113. Miles Howe -- 10-10 (5)
116. Ron Farrow -- 10-09 (5)
117. Terry Luedtke -- 10-08 (5)
117. Blake Smith -- 10-08 (5)
117. Scott Towry -- 10-08 (5)
117. Laramy Strickland -- 10-08 (5)
121. Nick Gainey -- 10-07 (5)
122. Jason Abram -- 10-06 (5)
122. Kyle Gelles -- 10-06 (5)
124. Colby Miller -- 10-05 (5)
124. Jimmy Reese -- 10-05 (5)
126. Mark Blevins -- 10-04 (5)
127. Rusty Trancygier -- 10-03 (5)
127. Kyle Hall -- 10-03 (5)
129. Troy Morrow -- 10-02 (5)
130. Darrel Robertson -- 10-01 (5)
130. Jim Neece Jr -- 10-01 (5)
132. Derrick Snavely -- 10-00 (5)
132. Mitch Crane -- 10-00 (5)
134. Gary Yamamoto -- 9-14 (5)
135. Chris Lane -- 9-10 (5)
136. Dicky Newberry -- 9-04 (5)
137. Lane Olson -- 9-02 (5)
138. Jason Reyes -- 9-00 (5)
138. Chris Neau -- 9-00 (5)
138. Troy Stokes -- 9-00 (5)
138. Kyle Cortiana -- 9-00 (4)
142. Grant Galloway -- 8-10 (5)
142. Kyle Weisenburger -- 8-10 (5)
144. Charlie Evans -- 8-08 (5)
144. Trevor Fitzgerald -- 8-08 (5)
146. Jason Vance -- 8-07 (4)
147. Joseph Webster -- 8-06 (5)
147. Jesse Wiggins -- 8-06 (5)
149. Braxton Setzer -- 8-05 (5)
150. Josh Butler -- 8-00 (5)
151. Danny Kirk -- 7-05 (4)
152. Jason Blair -- 7-00 (3)
153. Bobby Lane -- 6-13 (5)
154. Takayuki Koike -- 6-12 (4)
155. Mark Fisher -- 5-13 (3)
156. Tommy Dickerson -- 5-01 (4)
157. Randy Ramsey -- 4-07 (3)
158. Chad Warren -- 3-10 (4)
