The NH BASS Federation held it’s annual Mid-Summer Open on the Connecticut River on Sunday, July 10, 2005. This year’s event was headquartered out of Norm’s Marine in Hinsdale NH. Fifty-four teams showed up to compete for the $1500 first place prize. The weather was typical of summers in New England with mostly sunny skies with an occasional cloudbank rolling through. It was hot, mid eighties, with a light breeze. Remnants of Hurricane Cindy had passed by the evening prior to the Tournament and heavy rains had muddied the River and caused it to go up approximately two feet over night. Compounding problems was the power company that was generating heavy power that day. The current was racing up North, but didn’t move much in the Southern end of the river. As usual, approximately half of the field headed north to the shallow gravel bars in search of smallmouth, while the rest of the boats stayed in the broader southern section seeking largemouth in the many weedy setbacks.
The river was unusually tough on most of the competitors, but not on the team of Jim Sweeney and Brian Reynolds who landed approximately 20 keepers and culled to an 8 fish limit that dropped the scales to 21.00 lbs. This team, from nearby Brattleboro Vermont concentrated on main river weed lines in the southern end of the river and targeted largemouth bass exclusively. They flipped Yamamoto Senkos into holes in the weeds and reported catching most of their fish in the early afternoon, when the wind picked up. Anchoring their catch was a beautiful 4.68 largemouth bass that was also the lunker of the tournament. Sweeney and Reynolds pocketed $1800 and a tackle package from Hotspots Outfitters for their efforts.
Finishing in Second place and pocketing $1080 and a Hotspots Outfitters tackle pack was the Back Bay Bassmasters team of Jim and Tyler Hanatow. Jim and Tyler headed north, but stayed out of the crowded upper section of the river and targeted smallmouth bass that were holding along deep grass lines and gravel bars. Most of their 19.56 lb. limit was caught while slinging ½ oz. gold-colored tandem willow leaf Stanley spinnerbaits.
The team of John Rafuse and Rod Richmond who boated an 18.38 lb. mixed bag limit secured third place. This veteran team ran north for smallmouth, but found the going tough in the strong, muddy current and after boating 4 smallmouth on crankbaits and spinnerbaits pulled the plug and ran back south to fish Senkos in main river wood to boat 4 largemouth bass and finish their limit. Rafuse and Richmond pocketed $864 for third place.
The team of Jim Cotton and Ron Plante boated a limit that weighed 16.99 lbs and landed in fourth place. This team ran north and targeted smallmouth bass while casting tubes along shoreline drop-offs. A kicker largemouth topped off their limit and was caught casting a Senko to main river grass.
Veteran Back Bay Bassmaster anglers Dave Andrews and Scott Leppanen placed fifth with 15.14 lbs. of bass. Andrews and Leppanen ran north and targeted smallmouth bass in the fast current by ripping gold colored Bomber Long A jerkbaits along gravel bars. Dave and Scott wished to thank Chris Bolduc for allowing the use of his new Basscat Puma for the day. It was one cool ride!
Teams finishing in the money are as follows:
6th place: Phaneuf and Boone – 15.05 lbs.
7th place: Peckham and Peckham – 14.97 lbs.
8th place: Roberts and Penza - 14.96 lbs.
9th place: Worth and Soule – 14.93 lbs.
Lunkers for the day went to Sweeney and Reynolds for a 4.68 lb. largemouth bass that grabbed a Senko and Roberts and Penza who caught an enormous 4.65 lb. river smallmouth on a Pop-R. Each team received $270 in prize money.
The NH BASS Federation takes great pride in caring for the fish and this showed in a 99% release rate as 244 out of 246 fish were released alive and kicking back into the Connecticut River. Congratulations to Tournament Director Bob Hurst and his fine staff.
As always we appreciate the support of our Federation sponsors: Special thanks go out to title sponsor Hotspots Outfitters and to our Connecticut River host, Norm’s Marine. Thanks to all of our sponsors: Shimano, Skeeter Boats, Irwin Marine, Pennzoil Marine, Plano Molding Company, Poor Boyz Scent, Ranger, Yamaha, Minn Kota, Lowrance Electronics, Berkley Powerbait, Citgo, Northern BASS Supply, Keep Alive, Mepps/Mister Twister, Lucky Craft, Luhr Jenson, Stealth Stik, Zylas, Yamamoto Custom Baits, Ultimate Lure Saver, Hog Sticker, Lil Hustler Tackle, Extreme Bass, Stealth Charging Systems, Netters Inc, J&D Screenprinting and Embroidery, Cull-m-Rite, Rocky Ledge, Havoc Lures, Aqua View.
The Fall Open is scheduled for October 2, 2005 on Lake Ossipee out of Ossipee Lake Marine.
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