The NY BASS Chapter Federation held its final event of the season on Cayuga Lake Sunday October 2nd with a field of 118 anglers competing for their share of a total purse valued at $12,000. The weather conditions were ever changing leading into this event. At mid-week the skies were sunny with water temperatures running 70.5o, but the conditions changed daily. Winds were SE one day, then from the SW the next combined with scattered thunderstorms and overcast skies, and finally on tournament morning the anglers launched into a NE wind of 12-20 mph with a steady rainfall. NY Bass anglers are resilient by nature, they’ll usually figure out how to catch the fish, and this tournament was no exception. Under less than ideal conditions Tom Shafer brought in a 16.12 lb limit for the win narrowly beating Sean Wilkes’ 16.11 lb limit. Here’s a review of the top three anglers and lunker winners in each division.
Boater Division
Winner Tom Shafer, Chemung Valley Bassmasters, brought it 16.12 lbs and reports fishing the southern end of the lake using crank baits and jerk baits to generate his strikes. His target depth was 18 – 22 ft and he reports being on fish most of the day. When asked about the colors of his baits Shafer reluctantly replied…”Oh… just a plain ole crankbait”. Since Shafer just won $2,500 on that plain ole crank bait, I guess we can?t fault him for not wanting to share the color pattern.
Sean Wilkes of Capital District Bassmasters earned second place ($1,240) with a weight of 16.11 lbs. This makes Wilkes second time in the top five this season. Wilkes started shallow with a spinnerbait for a quick fish, but said they weren’t eating it real well so he knew the cold front had pushed his fish into deeper water. Wilkes adjusted by slowing down and he presented a no-name bait on a drop shot rig with 8 lb test line in 15 ft and deeper for the majority of his catch.
Kerry Rice from Edison NY took third place money of $1,040 with a weight of 15.70 lbs. Rice said he didn’t have much until around noon when he relocated his fish and went to work. Rice reports taking the majority of his fish on Senkos and tubes in 7-10 ft fishing the southern end of lake. He also took home the Senior (over 50) pool earning an additional $250, but unbeknownst to him he wasn’t done yet. When the last fish was weighed and the scores tallied Rice won his first NY BASS Chapter Federation Angler of the year title scoring 283 points out of a possible 300.
Rounding the top five are Ken Bracey, Port City Bassmasters with 14.67 lbs ($860) and George Yund with 14.62 lbs good for $660. David Morrisette captured the US Reel Lunker with a 4.73 lb. fish.
Non-Boater Division
Chris Johnson, New Jersey Hog Hunters, captured the non-boater title with a weight of 14.51 lbs earning a check worth $1,500. Johnson anchored that catch with the US Reel Lunker winner that weighed 4.64 lbs. Johnson reports catching his fish on a Tricky Phish, Phish Stick, Texas Rigged with a 1/8 oz. weight using 8 lb test in 8-10 ft of water on the southern end of the lake. Johnson also took home the Non-Boater Angler of the Year title with 293 points out of a possible 300.
Second place ($770) went to Lenny Potts with a weight of 12.40 lbs. Potts reports fishing a shad colored crankbait in 12 foot of water. When asked what model bait Potts smiled and replied… just a crank bait.
Richard White, Predator Bassmasters, claimed third place honors $540 with 11.94 lbs. White reports dead stickin Senkos in 4-5 ft of water on the North end of the lake. White said he rigged the Senko wacky style with no weight and that worked the best and his best color of the day was green pumpkin.
Rounding out the top five are Tricky Phish Pro Staffer Greg Pavlic with 10.88 lbs ($440.00) and Bruce Nethercutt, Watershed Bassmasters with 10.77 lbs taking home $320.
Final Club Standings
To determine the club standings the top three weights of participating club are totaled at each event and carried over the course of the season. After this final event the top three clubs are
| Port City Bassmasters | 109.90 lbs. |
| Salt City Bassmasters | 108.15 lbs. |
| Rochester Bassmasters | 106.94 lbs. |
Sponsors
Minnkota, Triton Boats, Humminbird, Mercury Motors, Rapsody Rods, Ticonderoga Chamber of Commerce, Greater Massena Chamber of Commerce, Greentourisum.com, Bass Pro Shops, Team E Outdoors, North Jersey Marine, Mad-Ty Custom Baits, BMB Custom Baits, Adirondack Reel Service, Aztec Lakes BASS Fishing, SFTtackle.com, Invisaswivel, Tungstenwts.com and US Reel
For additional information about the NYBCF tournament trail contact Tournament Director Jeff Edgarton at (315) 391-9992.By: Burnie Haney
