Jason Suter with his dad Bryan Suter.

Local angler and Sistersville Hospital administrator Jason Suter, alongside his father Bryan Suter, made waves on the Ohio River over the weekend, capturing first place in the prestigious West Virginia River and Rails Bass Festival held June 14-15.

The two-day tournament, which brought together 132 top anglers from across the region, tested competitors on their ability to haul in the heaviest five smallmouth bass each day. The Suters delivered a dominant performance, weighing in a combined total of 27.32 pounds for both days, a remarkably consistent showing that secured them the top podium spot and a check for $20,000.

Jason Suter set the tone early on day one with an explosive start. “I knew it was going to be a good day when my first two casts brought in a 3.75-pound smallmouth followed by a 4.75-pound smallmouth,” he said. That 4.75-pound catch would not only be the biggest fish of day one but also held up as the biggest fish of the entire tournament which yielded another $1,000 for the father son duo.

The father-son team credited their success to teamwork, timing, and local knowledge of the river’s structure and fish behavior. “We’ve been fishing together for years, and that chemistry really pays off in tournaments like this,” Bryan Suter said.

With the win, the Suters not only took home the tournament trophy but also solidified their reputation as one of the top angling duos in the region.