The Potomac River is one of my favorite bodies of water in the United States.  I feel like it sets up as one of the best tournament impoundments that we compete on.  First the river changes everytime we are there.  It is rare that it is won in the same place with the same pattern.  Second the tide plays a major role, generally you need to find a low tide and high tide pattern to win, if not you are relying on a small window of opportunity throughout the day.  Third the river is loaded with quality fish.  The most impressive thing about the river is the tremendous amount of fishing pressure it receives and the fish it still produces day in and day out.

I ended up with a decent practice overall.  I felt like I had the right areas by tournament time it was just a matter of simply fishing those areas at the right time.  I had several grass stretches that were holding good fish.  On high tide I found a back of creek area that was a good flipping area on any current break.

Day 1 of the tournament the tide was super high.  I spent the day in one grassbed till I caught a limit.  I alternated between a Green Pumpkin worm and a frog.  I left the area and finished the day in another stretch of grass that held some better fish.  I expected about 1 or 2 bites in that area. I ended up with one good bite about a 4+ but lost it after a brief battle in the grass.  That really hurt.  So I finished the day with a disappointing 13lb 8oz.

Day 2 the tide was still very high.  I started in the same grass area as the first day but they didn't seem to be firing in their like they were the first day.  Things were slow so I headed towards D.C. to fish some areas up there.  Timing is so crucial on the river. I stopped on a grass stretch that I felt I could catch a limit off of but didn't get a bite after a few passes because the tide was still too high.  I left the area and went to the back of a creek.  I ended up catching three keepers back there on a tube and frog around wood.  I really just kind of junked around till the tide was right and ended up catching four keepers till low tide.  I pulled right back up on the grassline I fished earlier in the day with no luck and everyone was getting bit.  I finished my limit there but never was able to get any quality bites.  I really locked down the last two hours grass flipping because I felt like I could generate a good fish or two before days end.  No luck.  I never had a good bite flipping just smaller fish, so I ended the day with 12lbs even and 25lb 8oz. for the tournament and a small check for the road home.

I was not really impressed with my fishing in the tournament.  I felt like I made some good decisions but I had the right areas to make the cut but I don't feel like I had it dialed in enough to get to the top.  This game is so finite and if you don't have it all together 100% it will show.

Drove to Detroit after the event and flew home last night for a few days.  The Detroit River/Erie is our final stop on the FLW Tour before the Championship.  I have never been up there before so it should be exciting and a lot to learn.  It looks like they signed a two year contract so we will be returning again next year to Detroit so I better learn as much as possible.  I really like Smallmouth fishing so it should be fun!