Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open
Guessing his primary spot would be taken, Jesse Tacoronte went to his Plan B spot and took over the pro-division lead at the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open on Lake Champlain.
“Since I was the last boat (during takeoff), I figured I would go to my worst water first, but it turned out we were done there by 9 o’clock,” Tacoronte said. The Orlando, Fla., angler quickly caught his limit of smallmouth bass and culled to accumulate 21 pounds, 3 ounces by 9 a.m.
“I didn’t expect that quality of fish to be in that one spot because that was my ‘B’ water,” he said. The rest of the day Tacoronte “dinked around” because he wanted to save the best spots he found in practice for the rest of the tournament.
“God willing those spots will be there for me tomorrow,” he said.
Tacoronte found a spot loaded with bait during practice Monday, and he noticed the baitfish were still there on the first competition day.
“As long as the bait stays there the big fish will be there,” he said. Even though he will be the first boat out in Thursday’s takeoff, he plans to start again on his “B” spot since it produced so well.
Despite a long drive to reach Champlain and limited practice time, Adrian Avena still managed to catch a 20-15 limit to move into second place. Avena and his dad drove 30 hours from the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship at Mille Lacs Lake in Minnesota. They made it to Champlain on Tuesday so the Bassmaster Elite Series pro could practice for four hours before the Open.
Avena relied on a junk fishing pattern that produced a victory for the Vineland, N.J., pro at Champlain in a Rayovac tournament in 2011. “It’s a grind,” said Avena, who had a mixed limit of smallmouth and largemouth.
“I had a couple of really good largemouth bites and that‘s what you need out here are those kickers to put you over the top.”
The Elite Series pro had about a 10-pound limit by 10 a.m. and then started catching kicker largemouth. “From there on every hour I got a 4-pound-plus bite,” he said.
The rest of the Top 5 contenders in the pro division are Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., third place, 20-9; Scott Pellegrin, Eau Claire, Wis., fourth, 19-13; and Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., fifth, 19-9.
Paired with Elite Series pro Carl Jocumsen, Robin Roystan caught a three-fish limit weighing 11-15 to take over the lead in the co-angler division. The 54-year-old retired logger from Bath, N.H., frequently fishes Champlain and was happy Jocumsen allowed him to catch bass on his favorite Champlain lure. “I got to fish my jig all day long,” said Roystan, who weighed in two largemouth and a smallmouth.
Hosting this week’s Northern Open is The Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau (www.goadirondack.com). The launches and weigh-ins each day will be held at Dock Street Landing at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh.
2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, GoPro
2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Shimano, A.R.E. Truck Caps, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines, Bassmaster website, television show (The Bassmasters), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
By: Helen White, Bassmaster
