By BassFan Staff

Justin Lucas left the door open today for one or more of his closest challengers to close the gap on him at the Potomac River Bassmaster Elite Series.

His 12-15 limit was his smallest of the tournament (by nearly 7 pounds) and he figured someone was going to take advantage. When the dust settled and he realized the 5-14 lead he held after day 2 would still be intact entering the final day, he was stunned.

“I am absolutely blown away by having the same lead,” he said. “That the was most encouraging thing about today.”

Lucas wasn’t the only one to have a slower day. Only four anglers among today’s 50 competitors caught 16 pounds or more. One of them was Bill Lowen, who bagged 16-00 to take over 2nd – he’d been 5th after both days 1 and 2 – with a 47-03 total.

While Lucas pursues his second Elite Series win in the last 15 months, Lowen will be chasing the first of his career. The Indiana pro has three runner-up finishes in his Elite Series career, including last year at the neighboring Chesapeake Bay.

Brent Ehrler had a frustrating day between lost fish and increased traffic in his area. He mustered 11-05, but dropped a spot to 3rd with 45-09. Jason Christie is in 4th place for the third straight day after catching 13-15 – all on a frog – to run his total to 45-06.

Keith Combs sacked 16-12, his best of the event, and moved up seven places to 5th with 45-01.

Angler of the Year points leader Gerald Swindle slid back two places today to 8th, but still clinched his third straight 12-cut and fifth of the season to maintain a firm grip on the AOY race.

Here's a look at the Top 12 following day 3 of competition, with deficit margin from Lucas indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Justin Lucas: 53-01
2. Bill Lowen: 47-03 (5-14)
3. Brent Ehrler: 45-09 (7-08)
4. Jason Christie: 45-06 (7-11)
5. Keith Combs: 45-01 (8-00)
6. Clifford Pirch: 44-10 (8-07)
7. Andy Montgomery: 44-07 (8-10)
8. Gerald Swindle: 42-06 (10-11)
9. Brett Hite: 41-13 (11-04)
10. Jordan Lee: 41-11 (11-06)
11. Fred Roumbanis: 41-08 (11-09)
12. Randall Tharp: 41-06 (11-11)

One third of the Top 12 dropped below the final cut line today, including two anglers who’ve won tour-level events at the Potomac before and another who grew up fishing the river.

Virginia native Jacob Powroznik went out 3rd today, but came back with just one fish for 1-04 and wound up 35th. Skeet Reese, the 2007 Elite Series winner at the Potomac, also had just one fish to show for his efforts and he dropped from 7th to 37th. Luke Clausen captured the 2011 FLW Tour title there, but his 10-09 limit wasn’t enough to keep him in the mix as he dropped from 8th to 14th. Koby Kreiger was 11th after day 2, but fell to 34th after sacking just two for 4-04 today.

Arizonans Clifford Pirch (17th to 6th) and Brett Hite (20th to 9th) both made 11-spot advances today, with Pirch catching a day-best 17-02, which included a tournament-best 6-11 kicker. Fred Roumbanis jumped from 18th to 11th with a second straight 14-00 bag while Randall Tharp improved two spots to 12th with a 13-09 effort that gave him 41-06.

The wind threw some anglers a curveball by blowing out of the south today. It held up the outgoing tide longer than on previous days and the incoming tide moved in more swiftly. Still, the Potomac and all of its tributaries continue to yield fish holding in grass beds and on hard cover.

More of the same is expected Sunday, when the muggy conditions will continue with air temperatures expected to reach 94 along with a southwest wind of 5 to 10 mph.

Wind Put Brakes on Lucas’ Spot

> Day 3: 5, 12-15 (15, 53-01)

Lucas fell off his 20 pounds-per-day pace, but he moved one day closer to winning a second career Elite Series event and he’s prepared to do whatever it takes Sunday to make that happen.

“It’s pretty hard to beat my first Elite Series win considering everything that went on in that, but this is tidal water 3,000 miles from home (California) and I’m fishing an area that looks identical to the area where I won last year,” he said. “If I can do it, every win is so important and I know it took me a while to get my first. I know they’re hard to come by and I will appreciate it as just much as the last.”

Lucas thinks the south wind was one of the factors why his area along a stretch of piers on the main river didn’t produce like it had Thursday and Friday, but he’s devoted virtually his whole tournament to that stretch that he thinks it’d be silly to abandon it now.



B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina
Photo: B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina

Bill Lowen will stick with the same game plan Sunday that's carried him to 2nd place after 3 days.

“I have to go back to where I’ve caught ‘em,” he said. “The fish still have to be there. It’s too big of an area for them to leave. The thing is I haven’t leaned on them hard. I just hope they show up and want to bite.”

By mid-morning today, he hadn’t had caught a 2 1/2-pounder yet and he sensed he would be in for a different, if not tougher, day. He switched baits and tried different techniques, but nothing seemed to work. The wind was also having an impact by then, too.

“That strong south wind held the (outgoing) tide in for so much longer and once it came in it ripped it,” he said. “It took forever to go through its cycle. I hadn’t seen that this week.”

The highlight of his day came once he left his best area. He stopped on some docks on the way back to weigh-in and caught a 4-pounder to help preserve his lead.

2nd: Lowen Sticking With His Plan

> Day 3: 5, 16-00 (15, 47-03)

Lowen went back to the same creek he’s been going to since Thursday and came away with a decent limit flipping wood. He then did as he’s been doing and moved to another area after the tide came back in and punched grass.

He culled twice in the grass and lost two others, but he says there’s no logic behind changing up the program for Sunday.

“There’s no reason to change up,” he said. “At this point, it’s worked flawlessly. It’s been one of those tournaments where everything I decide to do works out. At this point, I’m too far into it and I really have nothing else so we’ll ride it out and see what happens.”

After practice, he was hoping to just survive this event with his Classic standing intact. Now, he’s got a shot at his first win.

“I didn’t think I had a 50-cut in me this week,” he added. “Regardless of what happens (tomorrow), I’m glad the week worked out the way it did.”

B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina
Photo: B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina

Brent Ehrler lost some key fish today, but managed to stay in the top 3 entering the final day.

3rd: Ehrler Frustrated, Yet Happy

> Day 3: 5, 11-05 (15, 45-09)

Ehrler salvaged a frustrating day and accomplished his goal of making the final day, his first 12-cut of the season, which has helped him improve 10 spots (to 31st) in the AOY standings.

“It was brutal,” he said when asked to described all the things that didn’t go his way.

With three fish in his livewell this morning, including two that were shorter than 14 inches, he lost what he figured to be at least a 4-pounder. Moments later, still fuming about losing the big one, he lost another fish that would’ve finished his limit. Ultimately, he lost four fish that would’ve put him within reach of Lucas.

He scratched out two other keepers later on and now has his eyes on overtaking Lowen on Sunday.

“It’s a huge positive,” he said. “I’m thinking in my head at 2 p.m. Friday, ‘I just hope I’m in 30th place.’ Now, who knows what happens tomorrow, but If I don’t catch anything I finish 12th.

“I’m probably too far out of it to win. I think I need 18 to 20 to win and even then I couldn’t do it because I’ll need Justin and Bill to stumble on top of my really catching them good, and then I have to hope someone behind me doesn’t catch a big bag. Right now, I’m just hoping for 2nd.”

4th: All Frog for Christie

> Day 3: 5, 13-15 (15, 45-06)

Christie has tried to get things going in other areas this week, but he keeps returning to where the fish continue to eat his frog. It’s kept him in the Top 5 for three days, but tomorrow he’d like to explore somewhere else.

“I feel like I was solid for the (Bassmaster) Classic, but I wasn’t locked in,” he said. “I feel like now I get to fish two events and have some fun and maybe take some chances. Tomorrow is a gravy day, but the bad thing is I haven’t caught anything anywhere else.

“I want to find something else for the other 6 hours if I want a chance to catch a big bag.”

B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina
Photo: B.A.S.S./Gary Tramontina

Jason Christie has done all of his damage this week with a hollow-body frog.

Every fish he’s weighed this week has come on a Booyah Pad Crasher frog. Today, he stuck all five fish that blew up on it.

“My first sweep through it today, I didn’t think there’d be much there,” he noted. “I wound up weighing in a little one today. If I get another good bite, I could’ve been within striking distance.”

5th: Combs Could’ve Had More

> Day 3: 5, 16-12 (15, 45-01)

Combs said he was mostly in scramble mode following practice, but he’d identified three areas where he’d had some bites. Those three areas have carried him to a second straight Top-12 finish and fourth appearance on the final day this season.

“Yesterday, my one area got a little stained with the wind, but I grinded out some fish there,” he said. “A couple of the areas I’d found have turned out to be better than I thought they’d be.”

He shared one with Reese and Todd Faircloth and another, ironically, with Faircloth as well.

He’s mixed hard cover and grass to get where he’s at, but he knows he could’ve had a better day today.

“I lost a 4 1/2-pounder trying to flip it in the boat,” he said. “I’ve caught good fish all year, but really no kickers. That was the only bite I got in that area today – I really needed it – but when I went to flip it in the boat, it slipped off and went back in the water.”

He was encouraged by one area today where he saw some good fish swimming around in the grass.

“A big bag is possible, but I could also catch 12,” he said. “I’m understanding one area I’m flipping better. When the tide gets low those fish are skittish, but when it comes up, they’re happy and swimming around.”

6th: Giants Helped Pirch

> Day 3: 5, 17-02 (15, 44-10)

Pirch locked up his first 12-cut since Lake Havasu a year ago by catching the biggest bag of the day and he couldn’t be happier. He’s put himself back in contention to make the AOY Championship and also next year’s Classic.

“I’ve had a little dry spell as far as fishing on Sunday goes, but I’m happy to be back to at it,” he said.

His tournament has been a mixed bag in terms of the quality he’s been catching. On Thursday, he had two solid fish to go with three squeakers. On Friday, he had a limit of “average” fish and today, he caught a tournament-best 6-11 as well as a 5-plus to go with three small ones.

“I caught a lot of fish today, but not average Potomac River bass,” he said. “The creek I’m in has a little bit of everything, but I’m mainly targeting hard cover and some grass. It’s an unusual Potomac spot for me. It’s just different this time. Normally, I like to flip a jig and just fish around.”

Tomorrow, he plans to explore a couple areas he hasn’t hit yet this week.

“They’re key little spots, but I’m not sure if other guys have been there before so we’ll see,” he said.

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 38 limits, 5 threes, 2 twos, 3 ones, 2 zeroes.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., Aug. 14 – Partly Cloudy, Chance of PM Thunderstorms - 93°/75°
- Wind: From the SW at 7 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 53-01 -- 110 -- $500
Day 1: 5, 20-04 -- Day 2: 5, 19-14 -- Day 3: 5, 12-15

2. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 15, 47-03 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 16-00

3. Brent Ehrler -- Newport Beach, CA -- 15, 45-09 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 17-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05

4. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 15, 45-06 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06 -- Day 3: 5, 13-15

5. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 45-01 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08 -- Day 3: 5, 16-12

6. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 15, 44-10 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 5, 17-02

7. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 15, 44-07 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10 -- Day 3: 5, 14-05

8. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 42-06 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

9. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 15, 41-13 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13 -- Day 3: 5, 15-12

10. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 15, 41-11 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-12 -- Day 3: 5, 11-11

11. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 15, 41-08 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 14-00

12. Randall Tharp -- Port St. Joe, FL -- 15, 41-06 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 5, 13-09

The following anglers missed the cut and will not compete on day 4.

13. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 40-13 -- 98 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-05 -- Day 3: 5, 13-01

14. Luke Clausen -- Otis Orchards, WA -- 15, 40-11 -- 97 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09 -- Day 3: 5, 10-09

15. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 15, 40-09 -- 96 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 14-15

16. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 15, 40-09 -- 95 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08

17. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL -- 15, 40-07 -- 94 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14 -- Day 3: 5, 12-05

18. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 15, 40-01 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 09-15 -- Day 3: 5, 15-15

19. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 15, 39-05 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-11

20. Fletcher Shryock -- New Philadelphia, OH -- 14, 38-15 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 4, 09-12 -- Day 3: 5, 14-15

21. Chris Zaldain -- Laughlin, NV -- 15, 38-09 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11

22. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 15, 37-13 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

23. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 11, 37-10 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 1, 02-01 -- Day 2: 5, 19-09 -- Day 3: 5, 16-00

24. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 15, 37-06 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06 -- Day 3: 5, 14-10

25. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 36-15 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08

26. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, MN -- 15, 36-05 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 12-02

27. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 15, 36-02 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11 -- Day 3: 5, 10-02

28. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL -- 13, 36-00 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 3, 07-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11

29. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 13, 35-13 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 3, 07-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-15

30. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 15, 35-10 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12

31. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 34-12 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05 -- Day 3: 5, 10-10

32. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 15, 34-10 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03 -- Day 3: 5, 14-04

33. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 12, 34-09 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 2, 07-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01 -- Day 3: 5, 11-12

34. Koby Kreiger -- Bokeelia, FL -- 12, 34-04 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-06 -- Day 3: 2, 04-04

35. Jacob Powroznik -- Port Haywood, VA -- 11, 34-00 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 1, 01-04

36. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 15, 33-13 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 09-15 -- Day 3: 5, 12-07

37. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 11, 33-04 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05 -- Day 3: 1, 03-02

38. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 14, 33-02 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 4, 08-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 5, 10-11

39. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 15, 33-02 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01 -- Day 3: 5, 09-00

40. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 15, 32-00 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-13 -- Day 3: 5, 10-00

41. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 13, 31-11 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14 -- Day 3: 3, 05-14

42. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 15, 30-13 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05 -- Day 3: 5, 06-06

43. David Williams -- Newton, NC -- 13, 30-11 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03 -- Day 3: 3, 09-13

44. Kelly Jordon -- Flint, TX -- 11, 29-14 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 3, 08-01 -- Day 3: 3, 09-02

45. Hank Cherry Jr -- Maiden, NC -- 13, 29-11 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07 -- Day 3: 3, 06-05

46. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 11, 29-03 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08 -- Day 3: 1, 03-03

47. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 13, 29-03 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 3, 04-10

48. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 10, 27-07 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 4, 10-04 -- Day 2: 4, 11-14 -- Day 3: 2, 05-05

49. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 9 -- 24-00 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 4, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00

50. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 10, 23-06 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00