East Regional Championships on Kerr Reservoir

Maryland East Kerr Reservoir Recap

Eighteen of the 27 eligible teams for the Maryland – East division competed October 14th and 15th at the 2005 East Regional Championships held on Kerr Reservoir. Teams launched out of Occoneechee State Park just outside of Clarksville, Virginia, the host city. Weather conditions for the first day were overcast and windy with water temperatures in the upper 60’s which led to a solid pattern for those fishing spinnerbaits in shallow pockets back half way in the northern creek arms. Day two was totally opposite with mile high blue skies but still a good stiff wind. Teams that adapted caught the required 14 plus inch bass primarily on jigs, Carolina rigs and crankbaits with the better quality and quantity coming from way up in the main portions of the north rivers as well as Bluestone and Grassy Creeks.

Tom and Jimmy Rufenacht, the adult / junior representative team from Maryland – East proved they were up to the task as they led all other divisional participants, holding on to the 2nd place spot both days to finish as the 2005 East Regional Championship runner-ups, just missing out on winning an a brand new Triton / Mercury boat package worth $25,000. With a two day, 10 fish limit weighing 23.04 pounds, Tom and Jimmy reported catching their largemouth by burning Ghost-Minnow Yozuri Rattlin Vibes® along secondary points and riprap areas in Grassy Creek and the south side of the main lake where they had located baitfish with their electronics. They continued working the water out of Grassy Creek and up the lake north to the US 58 Bridge on the second day. They had fished the south side all the way up to where the Dan and Roanoke Rivers converged on day one. For their efforts, they were rewarded with $2000.00 cash plus an automatic invitation to the 2005 National Championships to be held February 7-11th, 2006.

Also earning a nice check and a slot to the Nationals, by virtue of being the highest finishing Maryland – East team outside the top seven, was Tim Kowalewski and Steve Patrick from New Jersey. Their two day total weight of 15.39 pounds placed them in 14th position.

Larry Thomas and Emory Anderson were the only other Maryland – East team to earn a check via their 31st place finish with 10.80 pounds!

Maryland – East had no teams in the running for the automatic National Championship slots given to the highest finishing Adult Guy / Gal and Adult / Junior.

Other Maryland – East teams competing were:

Fred Gerring / Bruce Ostrowski – 45th Place – 9.06 pounds

Greg Wilder / David Wilder – 50th Place – 8.62 pounds

Brent Thackston / Don Carter – 56th Place – 7.70 pounds

Jim Cammarata / Frank Coburn – 114th Place – 2.66 pounds

David Wicklein – 117th Place – 2.27 pounds

Jack Whisted / Tom Purvis – 125th Place – 1.83 pounds

James Brown Jr. / Richard Cox – 126th Place – 1.74 pounds

George Dobash / Jim Pry – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds

Don Hamer / Dan Martin – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds

John Smith / John Poffenberger – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds

Chuck King / Chuck Ridgely – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds

Danny Clevenger / Steve Truman – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds

John Curley Sr. / John Curley Jr. – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds

Fred Downey / John Baumann Jr. – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds

Mike Evans / Mark Wingo had to withdraw after practice due to a blown trolling motor.