By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor
The "Tide Whisperer" was at it again last week. Only this time, Bryan Schmitt picked a new venue to conquer.
Schmitt, who's won eight FLW events on the tidal waters of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay over the last 6 years, including four Rayovac Series tournaments, added another feather to his cap as he won the final Northern Rayovac Series event of the year at the James River.
The event was originally scheduled for May 1-3, but was pushed back after a spring flood brought the river up several feet and made for dangerous conditions.
Schmitt won with a 3-day total of 52-12, which included back-to-back 18-plus pound days to start the event and a 15-05 stringer last Saturday to clinch the victory. He topped the 90-boat field and took home nearly $30,000 in cash and a new fully equipped boat while also solidifying a berth in the Rayovac Series Championship at Wheeler Lake this fall.
"That river is a little different from the Chesapeake and Potomac," Schmitt said. "The tide really comes in and goes out way harder than at those two. There's definitely a larger amount of tide influence – like 2 more feet – than the others. The window gets way smaller on how quick you can catch the fish. I didn't have any out-of-the-way structure deals or brush piles and it made it more of a challenge with such a small window."
He said he doesn't fish the James near as much as the Potomac or Chesapeake Bay, which is why the victory came as a bit of a surprise, especially after losing a big fish on the final day.
"It feels a little different," he said. "I don't get to the James that much. I'd been there two other times in my life. It was definitely unexpected. I wanted to sneak into the Top 10 and maybe have a chance, so it was definitely a surprise. I was very happy to win."
Here's how he did it.
Practice
Without a wealth of experience on the James River system, Schmitt used his practice to search for areas that had the type of habitat that could harbor good-sized bass. He found it in along a 100-yard stretch of bank along an outside channel bend in the Chickahominy River, about an hour's run south from the tournament blast-off site.
"The first day I got there, I caught them really well going down hydrilla edges during the middle of the day," he said, "but it was cloudy. On the second day, I ran the same pattern and struggled. Then I looked at the tide and it was so strong. I knew I'd have a short window. I knew on the incoming and high tide they'd go to the banks and get on wood and docks, but I didn't know the sweet spots. There's so much cover in there that they could go anywhere. I knew if I was going to do well, it was going to be in the grass.
"I practiced everywhere and didn't overlook anything. I caught a few fish each day, but didn't set the world on fire. When I got into the grass, I was lucky to get one or two big bites in practice, but it wasn't consistent. I'd double back on areas and not get a bite. That's when I realized I had like an hour to do it at the bottom of the low tide."
He got a big clue on the last day of practice when he had a co-angler competitor practicing him with.
"I was burning down a grass edge pretty fast," Schmitt said, "and the guy I was with caught a 7-pounder just dragging a Senko off the back. I figured if he caught one going that fast, that would be something to go to. I looked up and saw it was a shady area and everywhere else was sunny."
Competition
> Day 1: 5, 18-13
> Day 2: 5, 18-10
> Day 3: 5, 15-05
> Total = 15, 52-12
It took Schmitt just shy of an hour to get to his first stop on day 1 and he got there just in time before the tide started to roll in.
"I got two big bites within 10 minutes – a 6 1/2 and a 4 1/2," he said. "And that was it."
He went the next 4 hours without a bite, so he moved to another section of grass and finished his limit, including a 3 1/2-pounder. He caught seven fish all day, changing between a belly-weighted swimbait and a square-bill crankbait.
"It was a grind for me," he said. "I didn't know if other guys were catching numbers, but without that morning area, I was in deep trouble."
His 18-13 stringer was good enough for 3rd, behind Wayne Vaughan and Kelly Pratt, both of whom caught 22 pounds or more.
He had extra hour of low tide to start day 2 and capitalized early again with a 7-05 kicker to go with a 6- and 3-pounder in the first pass through the area. He went 2 hours before adding his fourth fish – a 12-incher – and didn’t put number five in his boat until just before he had to leave.
"I had a spot I went to on day 1 later in the day that had a number of 2-pounders with the occasional 3-pounder," he said. " I had saved it until the end of the day. They weren't cooperating either and it took me until the last minute to get what I had. On day 2, it was the same scenario. I went there with 2 1/2 hours to go and it took me until my last cast to catch my fifth. Without those big ones, I'd have been in trouble."
His 18-10 bag moved him into the lead and gave him a 2-pound cushion over Pratt.
"I firmly believe those fish were there because it was an outside channel bend and it had some of the deepest grass I found," he said, adding the fish were mostly in 3 to 5 feet of water. "There were some pads on the inside and there was hydrilla that would touch the top in 6 to 7 feet of water.
"The biggest key was it butted up against a bank with tall trees, which kept it shady well into the morning. I really think it was more about the low-light conditions in the morning than the low tide. It was something about that shade."
The final day started with another morning flurry, but Schmitt was worried he had let the win slip away when he lost what he estimated to be a 6-pounder, which would've been his fourth fish of the morning.
"I was absolutely shaking," he said after catching a 12-incher and two other 6s to start. "After that hour-long run and to have those fish and lose that one, I thought it would haunt me."
Two hours later, he caught a 1 1/2-pounder on a similar spot before returning to his key area to finish his limit with another squeaker. He scratched out seven bites on the final day.
"I didn't think I had it," he said. "I had two good ones, but three little fish. The two guys behind me are the best on the river and I thought that 6 cost me. It was hard to get those other bites. The thing for me was I had to stay around those big fish for the chance I could get another one.
"For the life of me, I don't know why I couldn't get another random big bite. They'd just disappear. I just think that area had everything. There was a feeder creek right there and it was a major bend and had deep grass. Also, there were a lot of baitfish flickering along the edge of the grass and I think that helped prolong the morning bite."
Winning Gear Notes
> Swimbait gear: 7'6" medium-heavy Abu Garcia Vendetta casting rod, Shimano Chronarch casting reel (7:1 gear ratio), 20-pound P-Line fluorocarbon line, 6/0 Owner Beast Hook (1/4-oz. belly weight), 5" 6th Sense Core X swimbait (shad crush).
> Square-bill gear: 7'1" medium-heavy Abu Garcia Vendetta casting rod, same reel, 15-pound P-Line fluorocarbon line, Strike King KVD HC 1.5 crankbait (sexy shad).
> His confidence bait all week was the swimbait. "Without a doubt, to catch those big ones, I had to throw that swimbait. I couldn't get them on a topwater and they were on the edge of that grass gorging on baitfish."
> He threw the swimbait all day on day 1, then mixed in a Senko with the crankbait on day 2 before going with the swimbait and crankbait on the final day. The crankbait helped him finish his limit each day.
> Regarding his swimbait retrieve, he said, "Everybody that went up in this area… they'd V-line into the visible grass and throw a topwater. I was out on the edges paralleling them and working it slowly down the edges. The big ones were deep and on the edge. I didn't fool with a topwater for the first hour."
The Bottom Line
> Main factor in his success – "Just getting a few big strikes on the outside edges and being able to do that first thing in the morning and being able to forego the topwater deal."
> Performance edge – "Without a doubt my Ranger boat and Mercury motor. It was such a long run and anybody who knows tidal water knows that even a 5-mph wind against the tide can make it pretty choppy. To make that run 3 days in a row, I owe it all to my boat and motor. I was so focused on getting up there and getting those bites that I couldn't be worried about any of my equipment."
Notable
> Schmitt wound up 4th in the Northern Division points and earned a berth in the Rayovac Series Championship Oct. 30-Nov. 1 at Wheeler Lake. He's hoping that it'll be his non-tidal water coming out party. "It's a TVA lake and there's current and there's grass," he said. "I've got to do well eventually in a tournament that's non-tidal."
Much of the tackle referenced above is available at the BassFan Store. To browse the selection, click here.
Final Standings
1. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, Md -- 18-13 (5) -- 18-10 (5) -- 37-07 (10) -- 15-05 (5) -- 52-12 (15) -- $29,329
2. Wayne Vaughan -- Chester, Va -- 23-07 (5) -- 9-13 (5) -- 33-04 (10) -- 16-15 (5) -- 50-03 (15) -- $11,365
3. Kelly Pratt -- Williamsburg, Va -- 22-02 (5) -- 13-00 (5) -- 35-02 (10) -- 12-15 (5) -- 48-01 (15) -- $8,799
4. William Shelton III -- La Crosse, Va -- 16-14 (5) -- 9-03 (5) -- 26-01 (10) -- 16-06 (5) -- 42-07 (15) -- $7,332
5. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, NC -- 15-02 (5) -- 11-08 (5) -- 26-10 (10) -- 10-09 (5) -- 37-03 (15) -- $6,599
6. Bo Boltz -- New Kent, Va -- 12-06 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 23-10 (10) -- 9-12 (5) -- 33-06 (15) -- $5,866
7. Shayne Berlo -- Fairfax, Va -- 12-14 (5) -- 11-14 (5) -- 24-12 (10) -- 7-04 (5) -- 32-00 (15) -- $5,133
8. Frank Poirier -- North Prince George, Va -- 13-13 (5) -- 9-14 (5) -- 23-11 (10) -- 8-00 (5) -- 31-11 (15) -- $4,399
9. Robert Whitehurst -- Henrico, Va -- 7-11 (5) -- 16-01 (5) -- 23-12 (10) -- 6-09 (5) -- 30-05 (15) -- $3,666
10. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 11-15 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 23-08 (10) -- 4-15 (3) -- 28-07 (13) -- $2,933
11. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, NJ -- 7-06 (5) -- 15-14 (5) -- 23-04 (10) -- $2,750
12. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, SC -- 11-10 (5) -- 11-07 (5) -- 23-01 (10) -- $2,566
13. Troy Garrison -- Topsham, Me -- 9-06 (4) -- 13-05 (5) -- 22-11 (9) -- $2,200
14. Eddie Griggs -- Richmond, Va -- 11-13 (5) -- 10-09 (5) -- 22-06 (10) -- $2,200
15. Wil Hardy -- Harlem, Ga -- 15-00 (5) -- 6-13 (5) -- 21-13 (10) -- $2,200
16. Charlie Machek -- Richmond, Va -- 10-03 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 21-08 (10) -- $2,200
17. Chris Novack -- Mansfield Center, Ct -- 7-05 (5) -- 14-00 (5) -- 21-05 (10) -- $2,200
18. Ron Nelson -- Berrien Springs, Mi -- 6-13 (4) -- 14-05 (5) -- 21-02 (9) -- $2,200
19. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, NC -- 11-00 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 20-15 (10) -- $2,200
20. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, Pa -- 8-15 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 20-04 (10) -- $2,200
21. Donald Estes -- Richmond, Va -- 9-01 (5) -- 10-06 (5) -- 19-07 (10) -- $2,016
22. Richard Owen -- Chester, Va -- 10-00 (5) -- 9-04 (5) -- 19-04 (10) -- $2,016
23. George Lambeth -- Thomasville, NC -- 9-04 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 19-00 (10) -- $2,016
24. Ernie Freeman -- Broad Run, Va -- 11-08 (5) -- 7-06 (5) -- 18-14 (10) -- $2,016
25. Chris Dillow -- Waynesboro, Va -- 14-07 (5) -- 4-04 (2) -- 18-11 (7)
26. Bill Chapman -- Salt Rock, WV -- 12-04 (5) -- 6-04 (5) -- 18-08 (10)
27. Tommy Little -- Chester, Va -- 10-09 (5) -- 7-13 (5) -- 18-06 (10)
28. Kurt Mitchell -- Milford, De -- 6-12 (4) -- 11-09 (5) -- 18-05 (9)
29. Stewart Herndon -- Weston, WV -- 7-09 (5) -- 10-07 (5) -- 18-00 (10)
30. Joseph Wood -- Westport, Ma -- 8-07 (5) -- 9-09 (5) -- 18-00 (10)
31. Frank Ippoliti -- Mercersburg, Pa -- 10-09 (5) -- 7-02 (5) -- 17-11 (10)
32. Larry Kempler -- Bluemont, Va -- 10-07 (4) -- 7-01 (4) -- 17-08 (8)
33. Otis Darnell -- Linden, Va -- 8-05 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 17-05 (10)
34. Mike Hicks -- Goochland, Va -- 9-00 (5) -- 8-03 (5) -- 17-03 (10)
35. Brandon Stapleton -- Temperanceville, Va -- 10-10 (5) -- 6-06 (3) -- 17-00 (8)
36. Ed Milton -- Chester, Va -- 6-07 (3) -- 9-13 (5) -- 16-04 (8)
37. Clay Lewis -- Sandston, Va -- 8-09 (5) -- 7-09 (5) -- 16-02 (10)
38. David Cioppa -- Hopkinton, Ma -- 8-01 (5) -- 8-00 (5) -- 16-01 (10)
39. Melvin Smitson -- Baltimore, Md -- 9-09 (5) -- 6-07 (5) -- 16-00 (10)
40. Blaine Bucy -- Weirton, WV -- 8-14 (5) -- 6-15 (3) -- 15-13 (8)
41. Chris Daves -- Hopewell, Va -- 8-12 (5) -- 7-00 (5) -- 15-12 (10)
42. Garry Woodruff -- Candia, NH -- 8-13 (5) -- 6-14 (4) -- 15-11 (9)
43. Mervin Miller -- Sugarcreek, Oh -- 7-03 (5) -- 7-13 (5) -- 15-00 (10)
44. Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Ct -- 7-12 (5) -- 7-02 (5) -- 14-14 (10)
45. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, On -- 6-03 (3) -- 8-08 (5) -- 14-11 (8)
46. William Kemp -- Scotland Neck, NC -- 1-06 (1) -- 13-02 (5) -- 14-08 (6)
47. Paul Kimball -- Glastonbury, Ct -- 7-02 (5) -- 7-02 (3) -- 14-04 (8)
48. Keith Estes -- Spring Grove, Va -- 7-10 (5) -- 6-05 (3) -- 13-15 (8)
49. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 7-04 (5) -- 6-08 (4) -- 13-12 (9)
50. Tom Belinda -- Holidaysburg, Pa -- 5-15 (4) -- 7-08 (4) -- 13-07 (8)
51. Michael Hall -- Annandale, Va -- 7-07 (5) -- 6-00 (5) -- 13-07 (10)
52. Jeff Salmon -- Chester, Va -- 6-01 (3) -- 7-01 (5) -- 13-02 (8)
53. Ryan Smith -- Galloway, NJ -- 7-08 (5) -- 5-02 (4) -- 12-10 (9)
54. Chris Blanc -- Cos Cob, Ct -- 6-01 (5) -- 6-05 (5) -- 12-06 (10)
55. Steven Wiseman -- Bryans Rd, Md -- 8-07 (5) -- 3-14 (4) -- 12-05 (9)
56. Wilson Burton -- Midlothian, Va -- 3-06 (2) -- 7-10 (5) -- 11-00 (7)
57. Mike Mcdonald -- Randleman, NC -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-10 (5) -- 10-10 (5)
58. Mark Daniels Jr -- Fairfield, Ca -- 5-07 (3) -- 5-02 (3) -- 10-09 (6)
59. Walt Bowen -- Walnut Cove, NC -- 8-12 (5) -- 1-10 (1) -- 10-06 (6)
60. Burley Warf -- Moneta, Va -- 4-02 (3) -- 6-04 (4) -- 10-06 (7)
61. Willy Hicks -- Chester, Va -- 7-00 (5) -- 2-15 (2) -- 9-15 (7)
62. Jeff Hippert -- Hamburg, NY -- 2-00 (1) -- 7-06 (5) -- 9-06 (6)
63. Ron Wolfarth -- Oakboro, NC -- 3-09 (3) -- 5-06 (3) -- 8-15 (6)
64. Harold Marietta -- Hunker, Pa -- 1-06 (1) -- 7-07 (4) -- 8-13 (5)
65. Trent Pardue -- Troy, NC -- 1-06 (1) -- 7-01 (3) -- 8-07 (4)
66. Mike Neilson -- Markham, On -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-00 (5) -- 8-00 (5)
67. Jeff Stemen -- Virginia Beach, Va -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-00 (5) -- 8-00 (5)
68. Ryan Ingalls -- Fairfax, Va -- 4-05 (2) -- 3-11 (3) -- 8-00 (5)
69. Joe Holland -- Jefferson, Me -- 5-06 (3) -- 2-08 (2) -- 7-14 (5)
70. Ed Casey -- Whiteford, Md -- 6-05 (1) -- 1-05 (1) -- 7-10 (2)
71. Terry Olinger -- The Plains, Va -- 2-01 (1) -- 5-09 (4) -- 7-10 (5)
72. Darren Carlson -- Penfield, Pa -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-09 (4) -- 7-09 (4)
73. Bud Cipoletti -- West Islip, NY -- 6-00 (5) -- 1-09 (1) -- 7-09 (6)
74. Walter (Mike) Snider -- Mt Airy, Md -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-09 (5) -- 6-09 (5)
75. Mike Moran -- Ruffs Dale, Pa -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-08 (5) -- 6-08 (5)
76. Joe Trinko -- Southern Pines, NC -- 4-14 (3) -- 1-09 (1) -- 6-07 (4)
77. Ben Parker -- Mooresville, NC -- 6-05 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-05 (4)
78. R.J. Davis -- N. Chesterfield, Va -- 1-10 (1) -- 4-05 (3) -- 5-15 (4)
79. Michael Egan -- Matawan, NJ -- 0-15 (1) -- 4-12 (4) -- 5-11 (5)
80. Wesley Harris -- Rustburg, Va -- 5-03 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 5-03 (3)
81. Tim Malone -- Gatlinburg, Tn -- 1-03 (1) -- 3-11 (2) -- 4-14 (3)
82. Billy Dehart -- Burlingame, Ca -- 0-00 (0) -- 4-12 (2) -- 4-12 (2)
83. James Beavers -- Galveston, Tx -- 1-06 (1) -- 3-01 (2) -- 4-07 (3)
84. Rick Chenoweth -- Fredericksburg, Va -- 1-02 (1) -- 3-00 (1) -- 4-02 (2)
85. Chris Murphy -- Warrenton, Va -- 0-00 (0) -- 3-02 (3) -- 3-02 (3)
86. Michael "Doc" Mcghee -- Blackstone, Va -- 1-11 (1) -- 1-03 (1) -- 2-14 (2)
87. Gilbert Milton -- Chester, Va -- 2-13 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-13 (1)
88. Burley Langford -- South Chesterfield, Va -- 2-10 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-10 (2)
89. Joseph Bona -- Kersey, Pa -- 2-07 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-07 (1)
90. Christopher Grenier -- Clarksburg, WV -- 0-00 (0) -- 1-06 (1) -- 1-06 (1)
