WVC Bass Warriors Co-Angler of the Month – Jonah Potts
The Wabash Valley College Bass Warriors Team would like to introduce to you our co-angler of the month, Jonah Potts. Jonah is the son of Billy and Tonya Potts of Albion, Illinois. He is a freshman at Wabash Valley College and is currently working towards an associate degree in applied science.
The first event of the season for Jonah was the Wabash Valley College Collegiate Bass Invitational held on East Fork Lake in Olney, Illinois. Potts teamed up with Drew Gill and had three keepers that weighed 8.63 lbs. good for a 14th place finish. His next stop was at Vandalia Lake near Vandalia, Illinois. Potts teamed up with Ethan Weaver and managed to catch nearly twenty fish that would not make the minimum length-limit, so the duo failed to bring a fish to the scales. Potts teamed up with Evan Waters in the Association of Collegiate Anglers AFTCO Open on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas on October 9th and 10th. They had two keepers on the weekend for a two-day total of 2.97 lbs. good for 135th place finish out of 215 boats. Potts and Waters teamed up again the following weekend at Lake of the Ozarks near Osage Beach, Missouri. The two managed to catch one keeper in the final central conference Major League Fishing Abu Garcia College Series event of the season. Their keeper weighed 2 lbs. 2 oz. and secured them a 116th place finish out of the 149 boats in the field. On November 14th, Potts and Gill teamed up once again to fish in the University of Northern Alabama Fall Invitational. Despite challenging conditions, the two managed to capture three keepers on the day for a total weight of 7.05 lbs. Their effort was good enough for a 14th place finish out of the 49 boats in the tournament. Probably the highlight of Jonah's season thus far came a couple of weeks ago in the first Strike King Bassmaster College Series event of the 2022 season that was held on the Harris Chain of Lakes near Leesburg, Florida. Potts and Gill teamed up for a day one weight of 17 lbs. 7 oz. that had them in 23rd place out of the 250 boat field. The next day, Potts and Gill managed to catch five keepers for 22 lbs. 10 oz., bringing their two-day total to 40 lbs. 1 oz. which vaulted them into a 6th place finish and qualified them for the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship that will be held late summer of 2022. It was an exciting event to witness and be a part of.
When asked what his favorite lake was to fish on, Potts replied, Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. Outside of fishing, Jonah enjoys bow fishing and hunting. His highlight for the fall season was weighing in over 40 lbs. at the Harris Chain of Lakes to finish 6th in his first Strike King Bassmaster College event. We expect big things from Jonah the remainder of his freshman season.
Those interested in learning more about the Wabash Valley College Bass Team can visit www.wvcwarriorathletics.com, click on Club Teams and select Bass Fishing. High school juniors and seniors that have an interest in a campus visit can fill out the recruiting questionnaire and Coach Gill will contact them to discuss the team and schedule a campus visit. You can also keep up with WVC Bass Team news by following them on Facebook @WVC Bass Team and on Instagram @wvcbassteam.
Jonah Potts and Drew Gill at the WVC Collegiate Bass Invitational at East Fork Lake. They had three keepers good for 8.63 lbs.
Evan Waters and Jonah Potts had a two-day total of 2.97 lbs. in the AFTCO Open on Lake Dardanelle near Russellville, Arkansas.
Evan Waters and Jonah Potts had one keeper in the MLF Abu Garcia event held on Lake of the Ozarks. That keeper weighed 2 lbs. 2 oz.
Jonah with a nice spotted bass in practice at the UNA Fall Invitational on Smith Lake near Cullman, Alabama
Jonah Potts and Drew Gill had three keepers in the UNA Fall Invitational. Their total weight was 7.05 lbs. good for 14th place out of 49 boats.
Jonah Potts and Drew Gill had five keepers on the first day of the Strike King Bassmasters College event on the Harris Chain of Lakes good for 17 lbs. 7 oz.
Jonah Potts and Drew Gill had five keepers day two for 22 lbs. 10 oz. and a two day total of 40 lbs. 1 oz. 6th place out of 250 teams at the the Strike King Bassmaster College event on the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Back to back 6 lbers. caught at the Harris Chain helped significantly on the first day for a total weight of 17 lbs. 7 oz.
22 lb. 10 oz. bag called for the bass slides to be worn on stage. Jonah and Drew both received a set for Christmas without either one knowing about it.
Qualified for the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship in the first event of the 2022 season.
Jonah's family drove down for the event at the Harris Chain. Pictured L-R are his sister Shayla Potts, Tonya Potts, Jonah Potts, and Billy Potts
Jonah at his signing in May of 2021. Pictured L-R are Billy Potts, Jonah Potts, Tonya Potts and standing is Jonah's sister, Shayla Potts