Missile Baits Champions: Schmitt and Hawkins Deliver Big Wins on the Potomac
Salem, VA – September 16, 2025 – Missile Baits is proud to applaud two recent outstanding performances on the Potomac River, where our baits played a key role in securing major bass tournament wins. Maryland’s Bryan Schmitt took home a record-setting seventh Toyota Series title, and Virginia’s Rick Hawkins earned a big-bite victory in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Super Tournament.
Bryan Schmitt, fishing on the Potomac in the Northern Division’s final Toyota Series event on September 11-13, built a commanding 44-15 three-day total to claim his seventh Toyota Series win. It’s his fourth win on the Potomac alone, cementing his reputation as one of America’s premier tidal fishermen.
Schmitt leaned heavily into a varied approach, fishing grass, rocks, docks, and wood, mixing shallow hydrilla with hard structure. Critical bait selections were the Missile Baits Chunky D as a trailer on his Hayabusa “Lil’ Schmitty” swim jig, the Missile Baits Magic Worm in three different colors on a drop-shot rig, and the Missile Baits D Bomb for punching mats.
In the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on September 6th and 7th, the final regular-season event for the BFL Shenandoah Division, Rick Hawkins of Roanoke, Virginia, claimed top honors with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 33-5. His strategy was simple but effective: “slow down,” fish the jig and drop-shot, and pick apart cover where large fish live.
Hawkins’ go-to baits included the Missile Baits Micro Football jig in green pumpkin or bruiser colors and an Oxblood Grape colored Missile Baits Magic Worm. He targeted deeper banks and drop-offs north of Mattawoman Creek, moving between wood, rock, and grass to stay on quality bites.
Both Schmitt and Hawkins leaned on Missile Baits’ tools and designs to deliver under pressure. Whether punching mats, fishing deeper structure, or picking apart shallow cover, these anglers showed the versatility and effectiveness of our signature baits. These wins underscore our commitment to producing lures that perform when it counts.