Moundsville WV- 130+ competitors took off today out of Powhatan Point on the Ohio River and only one came back as the leader. That would be Elizabeth’s West Virginia Ed Powell, who oddly did an interview with us for the preview of this tournament.
Ed landed the day one lead with an impressive 11.14 with two dandy smallmouth mixed in his bag.
“It was just one of those days where I could do nothing wrong,” Ed said. “I caught a keeper on the second cast this morning and culled that one at 10 A.M.”
In the BASS Nation of WV State Championship co-anglers are permitted to fish from the front of the boat for half of the day. When Ed jumped to the back of the boat today is when he did his major work.
“I caught 3 bigger ones out of the back of the boat once my co-angler took over,” Ed said. “I think that the only key was getting on them early, catching my limit before the morning was over, and being able to fish relaxed the rest of the day.”
While Ed has never won a BASS Nation of WV State Championship, he claims it would be exciting for him to get it done.
“What is even more exciting to me would be making the state team with my son,” Ed said. “He’s on them pretty good and currently sitting inside the top 20”
High winds and waves were the names of the game today from talking with a few of the anglers. Reports on Friday that the fish were really biting, but kind of slacked off today as it got much tougher.
BASS Nation of West Virginia will send the Top 20 (10 boaters and 10 non-boaters) from the State Championship to the Bassmaster Southeast Regional.
Stay tuned for day two as the championship field heads back out onto the water with a little less wind and fair weather. Should be fun for everyone competing!
