Well, some of you guys know I was recently at the TBF Mid-Atlantic Divisional Championship fishing for team Pennsylvania. Event was held on the Monongahela river in Morgantown West Virginia Sept 23-25. It was the first divisional team I qualified for, what an awesome experience........

I headed down in mid August for a little practice and looking around. I did put a few fish in the boat and generally got a good idea what to expect. At that time the water was stained and had some current.

I returned on Sept 19 for practice to find the water nearly gin clear and no current, except when the locks pulled water.

Fishing was brutally tough. Bait was suspended out in the middle of the river and I believe alot of the bass were also. With no warning and with no consistency you'd see fish busting bait on the surface but by the time you got there they were down and gone.

We had basically 4 pools to fish, all in WV water. Pennsylvania was put off limits . I was a rider for this event but did take my boat to practice and in case our team had a boat break down. I practiced alone for 2 days and with other team members for 2 days.

I and other team guys primarily fished weeds but so did alot of other anglers making for often crowded conditions. There are not that many really good areas of weeds. Even the weed bite lacked consistency.

In the end, team WV finished 1st, we were 2nd, Virginia 3rd.

Individually, the top 2 anglers from each state move on to the National Federation Championship........I missed that by 4 ounces. All I needed to do was catch one fish the final day......and I never had a bite. Our guys going are really great and 18 year old Matt Hartman is someone you guys and gals need to watch out for.

May I add, all you anglers out there that are interested in tournament fishing need to join a TBF club and get at it. This was an awesome experience, I can't imagine what the National is like. Look at the PA standings, the top 3 were all riders, you don't need a boat to get going.

Ok, highlights.......I caught big bass on day 1, weighed 5 pounds exactly. It was caught at about 10:00 AM and last bite for that day. That was like having a 5 fish limit on that river. You should have seen the look on my and my boaters face when that thing came up through the weeds. I think we both said "Oh MY God" about 25 times during the fight and after it was boated. Only caught 2 fish the second day. Me and my boater pulled into a weed patch at 2 PM with weigh in at 3:40PM for us. We had NO fish at that point. In an hour he boated 3 and I boated 2. Talk about last minute, geez. Day 3 I blanked. I can't even remember getting what might have been a keeper bass bite. Our team was GREAT. We all talked, shared info, ate together, laughed together, and just generally had a good time. Mike Sabbi our team Captain worked his behind off for a year getting us shirts and other things. The shirts he had done came out AWESOME. I met some really good guys from other states and the host state. The WV president worked his tail off to make this a good event for everyone. The TBF reps and volunteers worked their tails off to make this a great event. Hats off to WV and the other states.

I hope to one day make another divisional team!

Pics follow. I'm the guy with white sleeves, wear 'em to keep the sun off!

For more coverage check out www.bassfederation.com

Day 1 and overall big bass.

Day 2

Outstanding report.

My good friend fished the tournament but he did no where as good as you.

I will be speaking with him this week to here his story.

Congrats on a great tournament and for sharing the story and pics with us.      

Great report. Nice pics. Snazzy jerseys. And that's one one really nice looking bass! Sounds like a great time.

Great report. Nice pics. Snazzy jerseys. And that's one one really nice looking bass! Sounds like a great time.

x2

Very nice fish and congratulations on the strong finish...

www.ragetail.com

 Good post and sounds like you did real well. Man, 4oz ...

skillet

That is a grandaddy for "The Mon" for sure.  You definitely had performance to be proud of, that river is fishing tuff as nails right now.

Great report Congrats. Those memories will be something you never forget.

4 oz.?!?! I'd dig into the livewell and find his lunch!

Congrats on the 2nd place and is That Mike Peiaro Bottom row

GREAT JOB!!!

That is just awesome despite the conditions.

I can't wait to fish the Divisionals next year.

Great report,like the jerseys, and Congrats!

Nice jerseys, story, and bass. Thanks for sharing  

fishn hard, yes that is Mike Pierro.

Thanks guys.....