East Regional Championships on Kerr Reservoir

Maryland West Kerr Reservoir Recap

Eighteen of the 27 eligible teams for the Maryland – West 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.

No team from Maryland – West finished with one of the top 7 slots but Shawn Skobel and Gary Crayton will join Terry and Brad Weese, the regular circuit season points leaders, as they earned an invitation to the 2005 National Championships to be held February 7-11th, 2006 by virtue of being the highest finishing Maryland – West team outside the top seven with their two day total weight of 15.21 pounds placing them in the 15th position.

Three other Maryland – West teams earned checks from the $43,000 available pot by placing in the top 36 out of the 185 teams participating.

Herb Fazenbaker / Jason Hardesty – 27 th Place – 12.01 pounds

Mike Miller / Daron Winters – 29 th Place – 11.56 pounds

Milt Brown / Derrick Hughes – 35 th Place – 10.15 pounds

Of special note, Matt and Tim Ross representing Maryland – West as the qualified Adult / Junior team just missed out on earning a berth to the National Championships as they finished as the runner-ups amongst all Adult / Junior teams with 6.24 pounds.

Maryland – West had no participants in the running for the automatic National Championship slot given to the highest finishing Adult Guy / Gal team.

Other Maryland – West teams competing were:

Charles Plessinger / Kenny Walthers – 42nd Place – 9.38 pounds

Clint Garland / Brian Cosner – 46th Place – 8.88 pounds

Ron Dewitt / Chuck Harvey – 61st Place – 7.16 pounds

Larry Beckman / Josh Walther – 68th Place – 6.71 pounds

Daniel Mincin / David Solties – 75th Place – 6.04 pounds

Terry Weese / Brad Weese – 84th Place – 5.70 pounds

Wes Merkel / Victor Merkel – 94th Place – 5.05 pounds

Tim May / David May – 96th Place – 4.83 pounds

Ralph Brewer / John Brewer – 98th Place – 4.57 pounds

D.J. Rogers / Randell Brooks – 110th Place – 2.98 pounds

J.D. Shearer / John Mongelluzzo – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds

Brian Kirk / Brian Shatzer – 135th Place – 0.00 pounds