The 3rd tournament of the 2025 season was held out of Smallwood State Park on the Potomac River. The weather was windy, colder, and post frontal – just what you don’t want! 19 teams fished the event.
Potomac regular Tom Bateman and son in law Tyler Schroyer unloaded a massive 5 fish bag of 20.86 lbs on a tough day. Bags over 20 lbs. have been scarce on the Potomac in recent weeks. Tyler caught the big fish of the event on his first cast of the day @ 6.37 lbs. The strong PA team of Shawn Skobel and Gary Crayton delivered a 17.92 lb. bag for second place with a 5lb kicker. Jacob Vandevander and Dylan Otte continued their strong Potomac year with another 3rd place finish with 16.28 lbs. Shawn Ramey and Evan Roache weighed 15.34 lbs. for 4th place.
The 5th place team was Bob Wolf and John Dell with a limit weighing 14.73 lbs. Paul Wiley and Jon Crans finished in 6th place with 13.94 lbs. We welcome Potomac regulars Robbie and Corey Henderson who placed 7th with 13.49 lbs. and Joe Dixon/Randy Richards who placed 8th with 13.12 lbs.
The sad story for the day is that after having a great fish catching morning (see pic below), the team of Jeff Pelkey and Ian Godwin hit something up in DC and wiped out a lower unit. They were towed in to Bel Haven and retrieved the boat with the trailer at the marina. Sadly, they were unable to get a ride back for one partner via water by an FOM tournament boat for the fish to be able to count. Jeff is interested in seeing some sort of joint text or phone chain for tx participants in these cases. If you are interested in developing something like this, please let Tom know as it would be of great benefit to our trail participants in cases like this.
After 3 tournaments, the standings are tightening up with Shawn and Gary taking the lead. Tied for 2nd 2 points behind are the teams of Jacob and Dylan and Paul and Jon. Only 6 points separate the top 6 teams.
Thank you to the Marbury Baptist Church for providing a wonderful meal and event location. Pastor Tim and his members have supported us for 25 years!!! Former FOM director Ian Godwin delivered an excellent message about the principle of multiplication in our spiritual lives. Will you step out in faith and allow God to do great thing through your life?!
We would also like to thank our local sponsors Fishermens-Heaven.store, John Fillmore Motors. Native Tungsten, and Missile baits has also provided a 35% off code for FOM-MD members.
Fishers of Men would like to thank all our National Sponsors Berkley , BassCat Boats, Abu Garcia, Mercury, Fenwick, Realtree Fishing, FireFly Outdoor & Marine, Power-Pole, T&H Marine, Frogg Toggs, and Fish 4:19 Performance Gear.
Potomac River - 05/24/25
DIVISION YEAR TO DATE STANDINGS: | 2025 | 2024 |
| Place | Team | Members | # Fish | Big Fish | Gross | Penalty | Net Wt | Points | |
| 1 | 36154 |
Tom bateman Tyler Schroyer | 5 | 6.37 | 20.86 | 0 | 20.86 | 200 | |
| 2 | 35719 |
Shawn Skobel Gary Crayton | 5 | 5.17 | 17.92 | 0 | 17.92 | 199 | |
| 3 | 30392 |
Jacob VanDeVander Dylan Otte | 5 | 4.44 | 16.28 | 0 | 16.28 | 198 | |
| 4 | 32128 |
Shawn Ramey James Roache | 5 | 0 | 15.34 | 0 | 15.34 | 197 | |
| 5 | 30390 |
Robert Wolf John Dell | 5 | 3.44 | 14.73 | 0 | 14.73 | 196 | |
| 6 | 30396 |
Paul Wiley Jon Crans | 5 | 0 | 13.94 | 0 | 13.94 | 195 | |
| 7 | 36127 |
Robbie Henderson Corey Henderson | 5 | 0 | 13.49 | 0 | 13.49 | 144 | |
| 8 | 36155 |
Joe Dixon James Richards | 5 | 3.59 | 13.12 | 0 | 13.12 | 193 | |
| 9 | 30405 |
Jonathan Werner Jody Werner | 5 | 0 | 13.07 | 0 | 13.07 | 192 | |
| 10 | 30388 |
Tom Rufenacht James Rufenacht | 5 | 0 | 11.62 | 0 | 11.62 | 191 | |
| 11 | 35717 |
Sean Peddicord Lonell Merchant | 5 | 0 | 11.54 | 0 | 11.54 | 140 | |
| 12 | 35718 |
Mickey McCleary Dylan Missimer | 4 | 3.67 | 10.47 | 0 | 10.47 | 189 | |
| 13 | 35722 |
James (Jamie) Johnson James (Mason) Johnson | 4 | 0 | 7.91 | 0 | 7.91 | 188 | |
| 14 | 35720 |
William Johnson William Johnson III | 4 | 0 | 7.7 | 0 | 7.7 | 187 | |
| 15 | 36100 |
William Gartner | 1 | 2.06 | 2.06 | 0 | 2.06 | 378 | |
| 16 | 31006 |
Michael Saganich Raymond Saganich | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 185 | |
| 17 | 32091 |
Jeffrey Pelkey Ian Godwin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 185 | |
| 18 | 36121 |
Thomas Harden John Ashcraft | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 185 | |
| 19 | 32082 |
Richard Windsor jr Richard Windsor 3rd | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 185 | |
 Tom Bateman and Tyler Schroyer with First Place with 20.86lbs.  Shawn and Gary with 17.92lbs for 2nd Place  Jacob and Dylan with 16.28 lbs for 3rd place.  Evan and Shawn finished 4th with 15.34 lbs.  John and Bob with 14.73 lbs. for 5th  Jon and Paul finished 6th with 13.94 lbs.  Robbie and Corey Henderson with 13.49 lbs. for 7th.  Randy Roberts and Joe Dixon placed 8th with 13.12 lbs. .JPG) Ian holds 2 great fish from the bag that didn't make it bag.  Tyler Schroyer holds up the John Fillmore Big Bass Big Check!  Beautiful plaques for 1st and Big Bass made by Nate Hess (Hess Creations) |
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