Following one of the longest and coldest winters in recent memory and after enduring a postponement due to ice conditions, the New Hampshire B.A.S.S. Federation held it's annual Spring Open on Saturday May 10, 2003. Spring finally arrived in the Lakes Region and weather conditions were favorable for a pleasant day on the water, as well as a good bite for the anglers. Following a spectacular sunrise over Lake Winnipesaukee, the 64 teams that assembled to fish the Open were greeted with a cold, sunny take-off. Conditions improved as the sun warmed the region and temperatures moderated to a high of 65°F by the afternoon. A steady Northeast breeze of 10-15 MPH kept the lake stirred up for the entire day but put the bass on the feed. Lake temperature ranged from 45°F on the main lake to 58°F in the sun-warmed backwaters.
The big decision facing teams competing in the tournament was whether to concentrate on the numerous smallmouth bass, or go for the less dependable, but heavier largemouths. With only a 4 fish creel, limits were not hard to come by. In fact, almost every team checked in a limit and weights were very good overall. Coming in at the top was the recently reunited team of Brian Viellette and Ricky Horne. This veteran team fished together for a number of years until Brian was transferred to Tennessee three years ago. Now back in New Hampshire, he was anxious to make up for lost time. The pair reported catching over 60 keeper smallmouth bass by working ½ oz Silver Buddies and Lucky Strike CB350 crankbaits in American Shad color over scattered rock shorelines in 14 to 20 feet of water. They also had success by working hand-painted Smithwick Rouges (blue/chartreuse/white) along sharp breaklines to catch pre-spawn smallies. Their big fish weighed 4.51 lbs. and anchored their winning bag of 14.56 lbs. For their efforts, Brian and Ricky collected nearly $1600 in prize money and a Keel Guard from Amherst Motor Sports.
Finishing in second place and winning $1100 was the father and son team of Jim and Tyler Hannatow of Alstead NH. This team also chose to target smallmouth bass and reported catching 50 to 60 keepers on the day. All of their fish came by dragging green pumpkin Bass Pro Shops Tender Tubes on a 3/8 oz. head through boulders in 12 to 14 feet of water. Jim and Tyler used light spinning outfits and 6 lb. test to accurately present the tubes. Their big smallmouth weighed 4.44 lbs. and boosted their limit to 14.24 lbs. They also received a 3 Bank Charger courtesy of Amherst Motor Sports.
The team of Chris Bolduc and JimWolford finished third with a total weight of 14.00 lbs. This team weighed in a mixed bag of 2 largemouth and 2 smallmouth bass. They reported catching their smallies on 20 foot break-lines using ½ oz. Silver Buddies. Once a decent limit was secured, they went hunting a kicker fish. Their strategy paid off as they busted a 5.56 lb. largemouth late in the day. Their big fish grabbed a watermelon/orange Hi-Tek jig pitched under a dock in 6 feet of water. The third place finish netted this team $915 and 2 gallons of Yamalube courtesy of Amherst Motor Sports.
The veteran Husband and Wife team of Danny and Lynne Todd from Windham Hill Bassmasters finished 4th with 14.00 lbs. This Triton Sponsored team worked a combination of Silver Buddies, Husky Jerks and Norman DD-22 Crankbaits along rocky drop-offs in 12-18 feet of water for a solid limit of smallmouth bass, then switched gears and chased largemouth bass. Again, this strategy paid off as Danny and Lynne boated a 4.31 lb. kicker largemouth late in the afternoon. The big bass hit a green Yamamoto Hula-grub fished up shallow in a sun-warmed cut.
Fresh off the birth of his second child (daughter Faith 6 lbs. 2 oz.) two days earlier, Federation President Rob Frye teamed up with Bruce Acox to take 5th place with 4 bass weighing 13.97 lbs. This team worked Silver Buddies in 20' depths to get a solid limit of smallmouth bass, then headed for the shallows where they enticed a 5.09 lb. largemouth to grab a junebug colored Mister Twister Salatube. They collected $550 for their efforts. Congratulations on a busy and productive week!
The following teams finished in the money:
6th place: Oslizlo/Damery - 13.41 lbs.
7th place: Carr/Lisiewicz - 13.19 lbs.
8th place: Germain/Gauthier - 13.04 lbs.
9th place: Ingoldsby/Clawson - 13.01 lbs.
10th place: May and Faro - 12.98 lbs.
Lunker Largemouth and big fish for the tournament went to the team of Karl Ingoldsby and Gary Clawson who boated a whopping 6.83 lb. largemouth bass. The fish hit a perch colored Berkley Frenzy crankbait in 8 feet of water in scattered grass.
Lunker Smallmouth was an equally impressive fish and weighed 5.05 lbs. It was captured by the team of Joe Oslizlo and Kurt Damery. They reported catching the fish late in the day on a wind-blown shoreline using a suspending Bomber Long-A.
Both teams that won the lunker award received $320 plus an additional bonus of $125 for using Mega-Strike Attractant.
The tournament staff had another amazing performance, with help from the cool water and good care from the anglers, the release boats returned 100% of the fish back into Lake Winnipesaukee alive and well.
Overall, the 2003 N.H. Federation Spring Open was a tremendous success. Tournament Director Jim Orrok and President Rob Frye and the entire State Team staff did an outstanding job in running this event. Special thanks go out to our main sponsor Amherst Motor Sports and also to all of our sponsors for their continued support: Red Bull, The Alliance (Triton Boats/Mercury Outboards, Skeeter Boats/Yamaha Outboards), Mega-Strike, Strike-On, Pennzoil Marine, Quantum/Motorguide, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster, Berkley Powerbait, Citgo, Chevy, Kumho Tires, Eagle Claw, Armstrong Tools, Northern BASS Supply, Keep Alive, Mepps/Mister Twister, Back Bay Boat -n- Sled, Lucky Craft, Luhr Jenson, Stealth Stik, Plano Molding Company, Zylas, Cul-M-Rite, Falcon Rods, Hog Sticker, Stealth Charger, HotSpot Outfitters, J&D Embroidery and Yamamoto Custom Baits
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