The New York BASS Chapter Federation (NYBCF) held its second event of the season launching out of French Creek Marina on July 18th to fish the mighty St. Lawrence River. The 99 boat field experienced a short summer thunderstorm the night before the event. Tournament day was sunny to 80 degrees with a stout 12-16 mph south by southwest wind. Weights were down a bit from last year’s event, but the river once again delivered the goods and at day’s end the top four boaters were separated by mere ounces. It was a genuine old fashioned shoot out until the last flight weighed in.
Boater Division
Dan Murphy of Wharton NJ piloted his Yamaha powered Skeeter to the Alexandria Bay area to present a drop shot rigged Keitech Shad Impact and Senkos skipped to boat docks to collect his winning weight of 17.89 lbs. good for the first place prize worth $2,500. When asked how his day went, “I caught two LMB over 4.5 lbs on consecutive casts to the same dock and that doesn’t happen too often”. With this win Murphy also collected 100 points toward the Angler of the Year standings.
Dave Diodato (aka ICEMAN) of Fort Plain NY earned second place with a weight of 17.78 lbs. Diodato concentrated his efforts on the Canadian side of the river looking for good healthy weeds next to rocks in shallow water. Diodato said the key to his pattern was finding that flat protected water to work his crankbait and jig to catch for those shallow water bass.
Third place honors went to Hannafin Marine Pro Bill Alexander of Sylvan Beach NY (Statewide Bassmasters) who used his Yamaha powered Skeeter to catch a weight of 17.71 lbs. Alexander said during practice he found what appeared to be a reed bed with an old beaver hut that was washed off the shore, but it started to root up in about 5 ft of water. Alexander said the flotilla of vegetation provided a canopy with small openings with scattered roots holding it to the bottom and the area was just loaded with bass.
Rounding out the top five were 2009 Angler of the Year Randy LaManche with 17.39 lbs. and Chris Flint of Potsdam NY (Northern NY Bassmasters II) with a weight of 16.69 lbs.
Lunker winner was Ron Hill with a nice 5.13 lb. LMB
Non- Boater Division
Jack Dolce of Slate Hill NY (Orange County Bassmasters) captured first place with a weight of 16.70 lbs. Dolce reports fishing a small canal off Wolfe Island in 4-6 ft. Dolce reports his first fish of the day came on a spinnerbait and then he started casting Senkos to cruising fish to get his winning weight.
Second place went to first time NYBCF angler Lee Potteiger of Harrisburg PA. Potteiger wanted to sample the NY waters so he signed up for this event to see what the NYBCF was all about. Needless to say he found out to the tune of a five fish limit that weighed 15.61 lbs. Potteiger says he spent his day fishing a Gulp Leech rigged on a drop shot in 10 ft.
Pete Knight of Fulton NY (Port City Bassmasters) took third place with a weight of 15.54 lbs and reports catching his fish on a wacky rigged Senko fishing in less than 1 ft of water.
Rounding out the top five were Jon Bush of Ossining NY (Westchester Rod & Reel) with a weight of 14.98 lbs. and Ron Kozell of Lancaster NY with a weight of 14.70 lbs.
Lunker winner in the non -boater division went to Rich McCoy with a solid 4.66 lb. LMB
For additional information contact Tournament Director Jeff Edgarton (315) 662-7925 or [email protected]
Trail Sponsors are North Jersey Marine, Hummingbird, Triton Boats, Berkley, Toyota, Mercury, Minnkota, Motorguide, Keitech, Bass Pro Shops, Adirondack Reel Service, Mad-TY Custom Baits, Rapsody Fishing Rods, BMB Custom Baits, Plano Tackle, Ogdensburg Chamber of Commerce and Ticonderoga Chamber of Commerce, US Reel, Basscat Quest, Triton Alliance, Skeeter Reel Money, Bass Pro Shop Tournament Rewards, and the Professional Anglers Association Payday Program, Team E Outdoors, Susquehanna Fishing Tackle, 1,000 Islands Clayton NY, and TungstenWTS.By: Burnie Haney
