ON TOUR
FLW TOUR
detaIlS
May 18-21, 2017
presented by evinrude
hosted by explore la crosse
SCHMITT MAKES HIMSELF AT HOME ON THE MISSISSIPPI
b
POTOMAC RIVER GRASS TACTICS SEAL WIN FOR MARYLAND PRO
ryan Schmitt of Deale, Md., put on
a veritable clinic on how to catch
prespawn bass from submerged
grass in rivers at the FLW Tour event on
the Mississippi presented by Evinrude
near La Crosse, Wis., May 18-21.
Over four days, Schmitt sacked up
61 pounds, 6 ounces of Mississippi
River bass, dominating the event with a
2-pound, 11-ounce winning margin.
Maybe 2-11 doesn’t sound like a domi-
nating performance on most fisheries,
but on the Mississippi River in May,
where pros were separated by mere
ounces all week, pulling away from the
rest of the pack by more than 2 pounds
represents quite a feat.
The Maryland pro was able to com-
pile such a margin of victory because
his pattern was waxing during compe-
tition as others were waning. While
rising, muddy waters and dropping
temperatures proved to be a detri-
ment to many of his competitors, such
conditions were actually helpful to
Schmitt.
His extensive experience on the
Potomac River, his home waters, actu-
ally boosted Schmitt’s confidence in
fishing the Mighty Mississippi. In fact,
his winning tactics on the Mississippi
could easily be applied to the Potomac,
since that’s where he perfected the
technique he used to win.
By Rob Newell
“It was like someone dropped me in
Chicamuxen Creek on the Potomac
River on a flood tide in April,” he says.
“Even though I had never fished there
before, I clicked with the Mississippi
from the moment I got there.”
the area
Schmitt’s winning area was located on
the lower end of Pool 8, opposite of the
takeoff area on Pool 8’s northern end. The
spot featured a huge horseshoe-shaped
riprap bulkhead planted by river authori-
ties to block current and slow erosion.
Behind the bulkhead was lush vegetation,
creating prime spawning grounds right off
the river.
Bryan Schmitt's mastery of grass-fishing tactics helped him claim his first FLW Tour victory.
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flWfIshIng.com I july 2017