It’s been tough fishing on the Ohio River this week as state teams from TBF’s Northern Division compete for the 2013 division champion titles and slots in the 2014 Federation National Championship. The race remains tight across the board as anglers struggle to land big bites. The weights are so close only three pounds separated first through twentieth going into day two.
Climbing from 16th and 17th in the individual standings yesterday, are Dave Cermak from Hebron, Ind., and Jason Myers from Bridgeport, Ohio.
Cermak had a five bass limit weighing 6lbs 13ounces to clutch the top spot. “There wasn’t much current today and I was fishing totally different water than I did yesterday,” Cermak said. “It was a whole different deal; fishing different structure that was key.”
Cermak is a non-boater, which means the boater decides on the water and he fishes from the back of the boat. “I had two great boaters, and I have two patterns going, so hopefully one of them will work tomorrow.”
Cermak traveled up Saturday for pre-fishing but had a rough few days leading into the tournament. “I threw everything at them. Then, I started to figure things out; I’ve stuck with it and it’s been working.”
It wasn’t until the final day of pre-fishing he started to put things together.
They’re just hitting one certain bait and I seem to have the right color and weight combination; I’m just doing something different than everyone else but with the same bait.”
Jason Myers sits in second just four ounces shy of first. He had a five bass limit weighing 6lbs 13ounces to make his tournament total 12lbs 8ounces. “I’ll run the same pattern tomorrow as I have the last two days,” Myers said. “This is my home water. For this time of year, we’re actually doing pretty well out there.”
Myers is also following the hydraulic prediction and says the water is fairly stable now, which should improve the bite or at least keep it the same.
Home “lake” advantage could come in to play this week as other anglers have struggled to figure out the river Myer’s calls home. “I think if I can bring in a limit and do exactly what I’ve done the last two days, I’m going to be right there in contention.”
The advantage of living close to tournament waters not always plays out. But, this week Myer’s and the Ohio state team are looking to lock it up.
The Ohio state team is leading in the state team standings with 111lbs 1ounce. The Indiana state team is close in second with 105lbs 12ounces. Tomorrow, the Northern division showdown will conclude as the 2013 division champion titles are claimed.
