Maryland Junior FLW Championship report with pic

[ben23]

Well guys,

Two weekends ago I fished in the Maryland Junior FLW State Championship to try and qualify to the FLW Junior World Championship for the second year in a row. The tournament was located out of Mariner Point Marina to fish the Upper Bay.

I showed up at the ramp and met with my boater who took me to the spots I had found in prefish. In prefish I really didn't find much, but was able to get a few nice fish to show themselves to me. I also did some searching and found quite a few beds, but could not spot any females.

Anyway, come tournament day I started off by heading into Dundee creek where I had found some clearer water the day before. We pulled up on the point and started working the bank towards the "hotspot" of the bank when another boat pulled right up in front of us about 20 yards. It was not another competitor, but it was still a bummer to have my spot swept out right from under me.

He caught one dink on the spot and I followed right behind him and caught a solid keeper, my first of the day. I caught her on a 3/16 Green Pumpkin Picasso Shakedown with a 6" green pumpkin Niffken Finesse worm (like a trickworm). I had it rigged on a 6'7 Medium Action Carrot Stix LTX with 10lb Hi-Seas Braid tipped with an 8lb Flouro Leader. I really feel that I can detect many more bites and set the hook better with the braid. After catching another fish on the same technique, I started to find a pattern. The fish were RIGHT up against the edge of the baygrass on the shore. The closer I could get to the edge of the standing baygrass, the better chance I had to catch the fish.

I proceeded to catch 18 fish, 6 of which were above the 15" length requirement. The other 12 fish were ALL within 1/2" of measuring.... it was brutal. My last keeper came with 10 minutes to go in the day, and culled out my smallest fish for a good upgrade.

All of the fish I caught were males except for one 3-9 female that I caught with the same pattern. The males were up shallow waiting for the females to move up. If the tournament was just a few days later.....it would have been a SLUGFEST.

Anyway, I was happy with my limit. When I got back to the dock I knew I had a good shot, but did not want to expect to win. If I expect to win, it won't happen.

As we pulled up to the dock I got word that no one else had boated a fish! All I needed to do was bring in a keeper to win!

My limit ended up weighing 13.1 and was easily good enough for first. This means that I will officially be representing Maryland at the 2008 National Guard Junior World Championship. I have been very blessed and cannot wait to get back and try to win it! This year I will definitely be heading down early to practice, since there are no prefish limitations. The tournament will be held August 16 and 17th (I think) and will be on Monticello Reservoir in South Carolina.

Here is a picture of my two biggest fish:

Hope you enjoyed my long report! Sorry I have not been very active..........SUPER BUSY.....

Ben Dziwulski

God bless

[Grey Wolf]

SUPER JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dan:]

CONGRATS, BEN! That's really awesome man, especially to do well on such a tough day (at least it was tough for everyone else)

How are those Picasso Shakedowns? I was just about to order some Picasso Shak-e Football jigheads and I wasn't sure about the screw on bait keeper (it looks a little small) It looks like it is the same as the one on the Shakedown--how are they? do they hold the plastic on well?

[ben23]

Thanks guys!

DD- My favorite part about the Shakedown is the smaller screw. It does a great job holding the worms of any size, and can even go to much skinnier plastics like the Zoom Swamp Crawler. Also, the spring is flexible and I have never had one break on me, unlike the easily breakable Reaction Innovations Screwed Up Jighead.

Ben Dziwulski

God bless

[Crabcakes]

Good job man. Nice to see a local guy do so well. Good luck in S.C.

[Tin]

I'll see you in South Cadalaca then. Awsome job dude.

[Bass XL]

Wow. Great job Ben. Their is nothing like coming back to the dock with a limit and to find out that nobody caught any fish. Congrats and good luck in South Carolina.

[ba7ss3in]

Good job and good luck in SC

[roadwarrior]

;D ;D ;D ;D CONGRATULATIONS! ;D ;D ;D ;D

8-)

[Jimzee]

Good job Ben, glad to see you doing so well.

[Hung Up]

Well done WTG!

[Bassnbrett101]

Congratulations!!!

That makes you  8-) (freakin awesome) In my book.

If you do good in SC I'll put you in as   (shifty),  Thats the highest rank I got lol

[Sam]

Super. Fantastic. Outstanding. Great. Wonderful.

Should I say more?

Ben, we are all so proud of you.  You are a wonderful ambassador for bass fishing and our Forum.

All the best in your next outing and I look forward to seeing your pictiure once again in Bass Times this year.

Keep on trucking and remember, get your college degree one day.

[MDbassinmike]

I know I already congratulated you in person, but it is still pretty awesome!  I can't wait to get back out on the lake with you!   When we going????

[Kozak]

Hey man,

Congrats on the qualification, I've been trying to get in contact with you but it seems like we're never on AIM at the same time. I was trying to qualify for the same championship just last weekend but couldn't manage to find any quality fish. Good luck and shoot me an email when you find out if we're rooming together at NCSU, if I find out before you then I'll PM you or something.

Peace

-Mark K

[bocabasser]

right on ben! keep strokin 'em!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Yea man, way to rock it.

Congrats!!! (again )

I'd like to see Ben, Tin and Senko77 go represent BR in a Jr tourny somewhere..........that would be somethin'

Represent your sponsors well, have safe travels and most of all,  HAVE FUN!!

[rondef]

Congrats on the win and good luck in the August tournament.

[Tin]

Yea man, way to rock it.

Congrats!!! (again )

I'd like to see Ben, Tin and Senko77 go represent BR in a Jr tourny somewhere..........that would be somethin'

Represent your sponsors well, have safe travels and most of all, HAVE FUN!!

Now we are talking.

Hey Ben how many World Championships have you been to now?