March 23, 2003 Lake Anna, VA
Bickford And Branch Win Del-Mar-Va Opener

The Top 3 Teams	The Winning Bag
Big Bass Winners
Results

Anxious, nervous, and tense are attributes often used to describe tournament fishermen just prior to blast-off. These words, however, sum up the entire week before the first Angler's Choice DelMarVa tournament on central Virginia's Lake Anna.

A scenic, picturesque lake, Lake Anna is also home to a nuclear power plant. With the current world situation, it was unclear as to whether or not the tournament would even be held. With a multitude of military bases in the DelMarVa region, some members were unable to fish with us due to government obligations. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our troops overseas.

63 teams representing six mid-Atlantic states were in the water at Sturgeon Creek Marina ready to go at 6:04, which was safe light. Partly cloudy skies greeted the angler's as they had to decide whether to run down lake to the clear, warmer water or venture into one of the two upper river arms to flip the muddy water for larger bass.
Usually at her pre-spawn best in late March, Lake Anna is well behind schedule due to the unusually cold and icy winter. With surface temperatures only in the 47-50 degree range in the stained water to a slightly warmer 50-52 degree temp in the clear water, it was evident this would be a tough event.

Tournament Director Dave Kilby made the decision to allow the "slot limit" to be in effect for this tournament. This allows teams to weigh in no more than 5 bass which must be either UNDER 12" or OVER 15". Any combination of 5 legal bass could be weighed. A small, but legal 1/2 pound bass could spell the difference between qualifying for the Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake or sitting home.
41 teams were able to bring at least one legal bass to the scales. Despite the slot-limit, only 1 five-bass limit was carried to the scales.

As weigh-in was completed and the results calculated, the Maryland team of Travis Crowder and Luther Jackson found themselves sitting in 3rd place with 4 bass totaling 9.05 pounds. they were presented plaques and $700 for their finish.

Finishing in 2nd place, also from Maryland, was the team of Keith Ridgely and Tom Pohuski, whose 11.04 pound bag of 4 largemouth left them just a bit shy. Keith and Tom were awarded plaques and checks for $895.

In the victory circle was Virginia's own Johnny Bickford and Kelly Branch. Their 4 bass lowered the scale to 11.39 pounds, just enough for plaques, $50 gift certificates from Venom Lures, a $1000 Bonus Bucks certificate from Bass Cat, and a check for $1795! Our Lake Anna champions took home almost $3000 in prizes!!!

Weighing in the tournament lunker was Allan Carpenter and William Brown from Maryland. Their huge largemouth, which was fooled by a jig'n'pig, weighed 5.42 pounds. At $630, Allan and William's big bass was worth over $100 per pound!
All fish were released alive.

In addition to all of the wonderful National sponsors who do so much for Angler's Choice, the DelMarVa division is honored to have as our local sponsors, The Fishin' Shop. Extreme Offshore Marine, Nothern Neck Chevrolet, X-citer Baits, Foards Western Auto, Luhr-Jensen, Jack's Juice, Jenkins Boat Sales, Edgewood Western Auto, Venom Lures, Eat-'em-Up Hand-carved baits, Clark Security Products, and Woo Daves Fishing Products

The next Angler's Choice DelMarVa event is on Kerr Lake Saturday, April 12. Satterwhite Point in Henderson, NC is the site of this event.