Hibdon Now Up By More Than 2 Pounds

By MLF Communications Staff

Rookie Lawson Hibdon of Versailles, Mo., extended his lead on day 2 of the MLF Pro Circuit event at the Potomac River on Friday, bringing a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 17-08. Hibdon’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 34-08 gives him a 2-02 advantage heading into day 3 of the four-day competition featuring bass fishing professionals from around the world competing for up to $135,000.

Adrian Avena of Vineland, N.J. moved from 4th place into 2nd, weighing 16 pounds even for a two-day total of 32-06, with rookie Ricky Robinson of Greenback, Tenn. making a giant leap from 59th place into 3rd with the biggest bag of the tournament – 18-12 – bringing his total to 32-02.

Although he had a stellar end to his day, Hibdon said it started off much slower than he had been hoping for.

“I really thought I’d be able to pull up to the first stretch of docks and catch about 12 pounds in the first 30 minutes or so, and that didn’t happen,” said Hibdon. “It was a lot tougher today – It may not look like it, but it was. I only caught eight or nine keepers and only had probably 15 bites total.”

Hibdon said his pattern has been evenly split between fishing hard cover and grass.

“I have a ton of experience fishing docks, but I’ve fished a lot of grass over the years as well,” said Hibdon. “There are a few smaller lakes back home that have some grass and we love fishing the grass up north. This is altogether different, but it’s still grass and the fish still act the same. I don’t care for it as much as flipping boat docks, but I also can’t get near the bites flipping boat docks, so I have to mix some grass in with it.

“I caught some of the bigger ones today around docks, rocks and basically anything that looks right,” continued Hibdon. “I’m just running around until I see something that works, but about half of the fish today were out of the grass as well.”

While he stuck with a lot of the same baits as yesterday – spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits and worms – Hibdon said he did make some color changes throughout the day.

“The tide pushed dirtier water into one of my areas, so I switched to some darker colors at one point,” said Hibdon. “It didn’t seem to make much of a difference though, the fish still missed it a lot. I may have to keep searching for something else tomorrow. I’m not sure I can go back to the same places and even catch 10 pounds.

“I fished a lot of new stuff today – a lot that didn’t work, but some that did. They just weren’t biting much today. I’m catching some good quality fish, but just not many of them. My biggest one came out of a spot I didn’t really expect to catch one, so that was a bonus because it was much tougher than I expected it to be after having so many bites yesterday.”

The remainder of the Top 10 consists of Zell Rowland in 4th with 31-15, followed by Josh Bragg (31-14), Ron Nelson (31-12), Michael Neal (31-10), Justin Cooper (31-01), Spencer Shuffield (30-11) and Clabion Johns (30-09). The field was reduced to the Top 50 following the weigh-in, with only the Top 10 advancing to Sunday's final round.

Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla. won the day's $500 Berkley Big Bass award after bringing a largemouth weighing 5-08 to the scale.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET Saturday and Sunday from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury. Weigh-ins will 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) -- 17-08 (5) -- 34-08 (10)

2. Adrian Avena -- 16-06 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 32-06 (10)

3. Ricky Robinson -- 13-06 (5) -- 18-12 (5) -- 32-02 (10)

4. Zell Rowland -- 16-15 (5) -- 15-00 (5) -- 31-15 (10)

5. Josh Bragg -- 14-09 (5) -- 17-05 (5) -- 31-14 (10)

6. Ron Nelson -- 15-11 (5) -- 16-01 (5) -- 31-12 (10)

7. Michael Neal -- 16-02 (5) -- 15-08 (5) -- 31-10 (10)

8. Justin O'Brian Cooper -- 16-03 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 31-01 (10)

9. Spencer Shuffield -- 14-12 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 30-11 (10)

10. Clabion Johns -- 15-07 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 30-09 (10)

11. Joey Cifuentes -- 16-14 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 30-07 (10)

12. Cody Meyer -- 15-05 (5) -- 15-01 (5) -- 30-06 (10)

13. Terry Bolton -- 16-03 (5) -- 14-00 (5) -- 30-03 (10)

14. Tai Au -- 14-08 (5) -- 15-09 (5) -- 30-01 (10)

15. Alex Davis -- 14-12 (5) -- 15-01 (5) -- 29-13 (10)

16. Shin Fukae -- 15-05 (5) -- 14-04 (5) -- 29-09 (10)

17. Jim Moynagh -- 15-00 (5) -- 14-09 (5) -- 29-09 (10)

18. Grae Buck -- 14-12 (5) -- 14-12 (5) -- 29-08 (10)

19. Jacopo Gallelli -- 15-08 (5) -- 13-13 (5) -- 29-05 (10)

20. Pete Ponds -- 15-07 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 29-02 (10)

21. Jimmy Washam -- 14-04 (5) -- 14-13 (5) -- 29-01 (10)

22. John Cox -- 15-01 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 28-12 (10)

23. Keith Poche -- 14-04 (5) -- 14-07 (5) -- 28-11 (10)

24. Zack Birge -- 15-04 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 28-10 (10)

25. Tom Monsoor -- 16-01 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 28-08 (10)

26. Dion Hibdon -- 13-07 (5) -- 15-01 (5) -- 28-08 (10)

27. Kerry Milner -- 13-00 (5) -- 15-06 (5) -- 28-06 (10)

28. Dylan Hays -- 12-06 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 28-05 (10)

29. Scott Wiley -- 15-01 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 28-05 (10)

30. Mike McClelland -- 13-05 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 28-04 (10)

31. Larry Nixon -- 14-09 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 27-15 (10)

32. Lendell Martin Jr -- 14-05 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 27-14 (10)

33. Clark Reehm -- 11-15 (5) -- 15-13 (5) -- 27-12 (10)

34. Skeet Reese -- 14-02 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 27-12 (10)

35. Aaron Britt -- 13-11 (5) -- 14-01 (5) -- 27-12 (10)

36. Bradley Dortch -- 15-11 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 27-10 (10)

37. Kevin Martin -- 14-01 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 27-10 (10)

38. Ryan Davidson -- 14-06 (5) -- 13-03 (5) -- 27-09 (10)

39. Jason Abram -- 10-06 (5) -- 17-02 (5) -- 27-08 (10)

40. Ryan Salzman -- 15-01 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 27-07 (10)

41. John Hunter -- 13-15 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 27-07 (10)

42. Tyler Woolcott -- 12-05 (5) -- 15-01 (5) -- 27-06 (10)

43. Darrell Davis -- 12-00 (5) -- 15-04 (5) -- 27-04 (10)

44. Rusty Salewske -- 14-10 (5) -- 12-10 (5) -- 27-04 (10)

45. David Walker -- 11-15 (5) -- 15-04 (5) -- 27-03 (10)

46. Wesley Strader -- 14-10 (5) -- 12-09 (5) -- 27-03 (10)

47. Jacob Wall -- 14-01 (5) -- 13-02 (5) -- 27-03 (10)

48. Nick Lebrun -- 13-05 (5) -- 13-14 (5) -- 27-03 (10)

49. Cody Pike -- 13-13 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 27-03 (10)

50. Casey Ashley -- 14-09 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 27-01 (10)

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 3.

51. Shannon Abbott -- 14-04 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 26-15 (10) -- $10,000

52. Justin Lucas -- 14-03 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 26-09 (10) -- $10,000

53. Jason Lieblong -- 14-15 (5) -- 11-07 (5) -- 26-06 (10) -- $10,000

54. Anthony Gagliardi -- 14-02 (5) -- 12-04 (5) -- 26-06 (10) -- $10,000

55. Jordan Osborne -- 13-02 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 26-06 (10) -- $10,000

56. Robert Nakatomi -- 15-02 (5) -- 11-02 (4) -- 26-04 (9) -- $10,000

57. Cole Floyd -- 12-04 (5) -- 13-15 (5) -- 26-03 (10) -- $10,000

58. Ramie Colson Jr -- 12-14 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 26-02 (10) -- $10,000

59. David G Williams -- 10-10 (5) -- 15-06 (5) -- 26-00 (10) -- $10,000

60. Brett Hite -- 12-09 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 25-15 (10) -- $10,000

61. Daryl Biron -- 13-15 (5) -- 11-14 (5) -- 25-13 (10) -- $5,000

62. Matt Reed -- 14-14 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 25-11 (10) -- $5,000

63. Brian Latimer -- 10-12 (5) -- 14-13 (5) -- 25-09 (10) -- $5,000

64. Mike Surman -- 15-06 (5) -- 10-02 (5) -- 25-08 (10) -- $5,000

65. Dakota Ebare -- 13-12 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 25-07 (10) -- $5,000

66. Jim Tutt -- 15-01 (5) -- 10-05 (5) -- 25-06 (10) -- $5,000

67. Jared McMillan -- 13-10 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 25-04 (10) -- $5,000

68. Josh Douglas -- 14-01 (5) -- 11-02 (5) -- 25-03 (10) -- $5,000

69. Jeremy Lawyer -- 11-14 (5) -- 13-05 (5) -- 25-03 (10) -- $5,000

70. Lance Crawford -- 13-01 (5) -- 12-01 (5) -- 25-02 (10) -- $5,000

71. Tom Redington -- 14-05 (5) -- 10-08 (5) -- 24-13 (10) -- $5,000

72. Colby Schrumpf -- 15-00 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 24-12 (10) -- $5,000

73. Jason Lambert -- 13-06 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 24-11 (10) -- $5,000

74. Chase Serafin -- 11-09 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 24-07 (10) -- $5,000

75. Randy Despino -- 12-12 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 24-05 (10) -- $5,000

76. Corey Neece -- 12-11 (5) -- 11-08 (5) -- 24-03 (10)

77. Cal Lane -- 12-10 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 24-03 (10)

78. Darrel Robertson -- 10-01 (5) -- 14-01 (5) -- 24-02 (10) -- $500

79. Rusty Trancygier -- 10-03 (5) -- 13-15 (5) -- 24-02 (10)

80. Kyle Gelles -- 10-06 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 24-02 (10)

81. Jake Ormond -- 10-14 (5) -- 13-03 (5) -- 24-01 (10)

82. Brad Knight -- 12-12 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 24-00 (10)

83. Chad Grigsby -- 12-09 (5) -- 11-07 (5) -- 24-00 (10)

84. Kurt Dove -- 12-06 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 24-00 (10)

85. John Voyles -- 13-10 (5) -- 10-05 (5) -- 23-15 (10)

86. Joshua Weaver -- 10-12 (5) -- 13-03 (5) -- 23-15 (10)

87. Greg Bohannan -- 11-01 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 23-14 (10)

88. Blake Smith -- 10-08 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 23-12 (10)

89. Jimmy Reese -- 10-05 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 23-11 (10)

90. J Todd Tucker -- 12-13 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 23-08 (10)

91. Casey Scanlon -- 11-08 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 23-08 (10)

92. Jon Canada -- 13-09 (5) -- 9-14 (5) -- 23-07 (10)

93. Miles Burghoff -- 10-11 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 23-06 (10)

94. Evan Barnes -- 12-00 (5) -- 11-06 (5) -- 23-06 (10)

95. Billy Hines -- 12-11 (5) -- 10-10 (4) -- 23-05 (9)

96. Ron Farrow -- 10-09 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 23-04 (10)

97. Gary Yamamoto -- 9-14 (5) -- 13-05 (5) -- 23-03 (10)

98. Scott Ashmore -- 10-14 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 23-03 (10)

99. Kurt Mitchell -- 12-06 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 23-01 (10)

100. Mitch Crane -- 10-00 (5) -- 13-00 (5) -- 23-00 (10)

101. Steve York -- 12-12 (5) -- 10-04 (5) -- 23-00 (10)

102. Cody Huff -- 11-08 (5) -- 11-08 (5) -- 23-00 (10)

103. Todd Walters -- 10-11 (5) -- 12-04 (5) -- 22-15 (10)

104. Matthew Stefan -- 13-12 (5) -- 9-01 (5) -- 22-13 (10)

105. Brandon Mosley -- 12-10 (5) -- 10-03 (5) -- 22-13 (10)

106. Tim Frederick -- 11-12 (5) -- 11-00 (5) -- 22-12 (10)

107. Jesse Wiggins -- 8-06 (5) -- 14-05 (5) -- 22-11 (10)

108. Cody Nichols -- 11-00 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 22-11 (10)

109. Erik Luzak -- 11-02 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 22-11 (10)

110. Jason Wilson -- 12-15 (5) -- 9-11 (5) -- 22-10 (10)

111. Brandon McMillan -- 12-14 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 22-10 (10)

112. Bill McDonald -- 10-10 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 22-10 (10)

113. Jason Reyes -- 9-00 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 22-08 (10)

114. Richard Lowitzki -- 10-14 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 22-08 (10)

115. Josh Butler -- 8-00 (5) -- 14-04 (5) -- 22-04 (10)

116. Jamie Horton -- 11-12 (5) -- 10-06 (5) -- 22-02 (10)

117. Grant Galloway -- 8-10 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 21-14 (10)

118. Troy Morrow -- 10-02 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 21-14 (10)

119. Chris Lane -- 9-10 (5) -- 12-03 (5) -- 21-13 (10)

120. Barron Adams -- 10-13 (5) -- 11-00 (5) -- 21-13 (10)

121. Derrick Snavely -- 10-00 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 21-11 (10)

122. Tyler Stewart -- 13-01 (5) -- 8-08 (5) -- 21-09 (10)

123. Lane Olson -- 9-02 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 21-09 (10)

124. Mark Blevins -- 10-04 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 21-08 (10)

125. Jason Blair -- 7-00 (3) -- 14-07 (5) -- 21-07 (8)

126. Charlie Evans -- 8-08 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 21-07 (10)

127. Troy Stokes -- 9-00 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 21-07 (10)

128. Jim Neece Jr -- 10-01 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 21-05 (10)

129. Clayton Batts -- 11-04 (5) -- 10-01 (5) -- 21-05 (10)

130. Kyle Hall -- 10-03 (5) -- 11-00 (5) -- 21-03 (10)

131. James Niggemeyer -- 11-03 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 21-02 (10)

132. Kyle Weisenburger -- 8-10 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 21-01 (10)

133. Dicky Newberry -- 9-04 (5) -- 11-13 (5) -- 21-01 (10)

134. Colby Miller -- 10-05 (5) -- 10-10 (5) -- 20-15 (10)

135. Bradford Beavers -- 10-12 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 20-11 (10)

136. Braxton Setzer -- 8-05 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 20-05 (10)

137. Matt Becker -- 13-09 (5) -- 6-11 (3) -- 20-04 (8)

138. Chris Neau -- 9-00 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 20-04 (10)

139. Miles Howe -- 10-10 (5) -- 9-10 (5) -- 20-04 (10)

140. Scott Towry -- 10-08 (5) -- 9-09 (5) -- 20-01 (10)

141. Joseph Webster -- 8-06 (5) -- 11-08 (5) -- 19-14 (10)

142. Terry Luedtke -- 10-08 (5) -- 9-06 (5) -- 19-14 (10)

143. Matt Greenblatt -- 10-15 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 19-13 (10)

144. Scott Dobson -- 10-12 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 19-12 (10)

145. Laramy Strickland -- 10-08 (5) -- 9-01 (5) -- 19-09 (10)

146. Joe Wieberg -- 11-08 (5) -- 8-00 (5) -- 19-08 (10)

147. Bobby Lane -- 6-13 (5) -- 11-06 (5) -- 18-03 (10)

148. Jason Vance -- 8-07 (4) -- 9-12 (5) -- 18-03 (9)

149. Kyle Cortiana -- 9-00 (4) -- 9-03 (5) -- 18-03 (9)

150. Jon Englund -- 10-11 (5) -- 7-04 (4) -- 17-15 (9)

151. Nick Gainey -- 10-07 (5) -- 7-04 (5) -- 17-11 (10)

152. Randy Ramsey -- 4-07 (3) -- 10-09 (4) -- 15-00 (7)

153. Chad Warren -- 3-10 (4) -- 9-15 (5) -- 13-09 (9)

154. Takayuki Koike -- 6-12 (4) -- 5-12 (3) -- 12-08 (7)

155. Tommy Dickerson -- 5-01 (4) -- 5-10 (3) -- 10-11 (7)

156. Mark Fisher -- 5-13 (3) -- 3-15 (3) -- 9-12 (6)

157. Trevor Fitzgerald -- 8-08 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-08 (5)

158. Danny Kirk -- 7-05 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-05 (4)