The New Hampshire BASS Federation held it’s annual Fall Open on Lake Winnipesaukee out of Ames Farm Resort in Gilford on Sunday October 2, 2005. This year’s Fall Open was sponsored by Owen’s Marine in Hookset N.H. Owen’s has recently taken on the BassCat and Triton boat lines. The weather for this final stop of the 2005 season could not have been more perfect. With a warm morning, fog was not a problem and clear skies and bright sunshine prevailed throughout the day. Daytime temps climbed into the mid eighties with almost no wind. Water temperatures on Lake Winnipesaukee ranged from 64F to 67F. Forty-nine boats comprised the field for this event.
The weather may have made for a comfortable day for the anglers, but it certainly put a hurt on the bite. Many teams struggled to catch their eight fish limit and most of the top finishers reported having only 10-12 bites on the day. Smallmouth bass dominated the afternoon weigh-in and indeed comprised the winning limit of Steve and Joe Lucarelli. Team Lucarelli’s 8 fish weighed 22.44 lbs. and provided them with a comfortable margin of victory. Joe reported a slow but steady bite of quality fish that were holding in 24 to 35 feet of water that featured a rock and weed bottom. They used mainly Yamamoto Green Pumpkin Hula Grubs and also a drop-shot rig. Key fish were caught on a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 in a “secret” color. Joe and Steve received a check for $1400 plus a $500 Owen’s Marine gift certificate for their day’s work.
Finishing in second place and earning $1000 was the team of Scott Smith and Pat Kennedy. This team started out on largemouth bass, and managed a lone 3 lb. largie early on. They then switched over to smallmouth and found the going much easier. Scott and Pat worked ½ oz watermelon Yamamoto Hula grubs over sharp break-lines to catch their smallies. Their final limit weighed 21.19 lbs. and along with the cash, they won a BassCat life jacket for finishing in second place.
The team of Dave Banford and Dave Apanell of Contoocook Valley finished third with a mix bag limit that weighed 19.74 lbs. Dave and Dave started on smallmouth bass in 30 feet of water and quickly boated 3 quality smallmouth by Carolina-rigging a sweet beaver. When the bite died, they ran to several largemouth spots and finished their limit by fishing jigs and green pumpkin Yamamoto Senkos in deep cabbage lines. Banford and Apanel took home $715 and a BassCat life jacket for third place.
Tim Carignan and Dave Garrison of Sail-em Bass teamed up to finish fourth. This team focused on smallmouth bass in deep water (30 feet). They fished green pumpkin Bass Pro Shops tubes and cotton candy colored ringworms on a drop shot rig to catch roughly 12 keepers on the day. Tim noted that yellow perch were present and he saw all of the fish that he caught on his Lowrance unit before they bit. Their limit weighed 18.86 lbs and was good for a $500 payday.
Tim Sinclair and Cory Roux grabbed fifth place with an 18.62 lb. limit of smallmouth bass. This team again probed deep grass/rock areas (22 to 38 feet) and used green pumpkin Yamamoto hula-grubs and cut tail worms on a drop shot rig to catch their fish. It took them all day to finish their limit.
Finished in sixth place with 17.78 lbs was the team of Mike McNamara and Greg Day. Finishing in seventh place with 17.76 was the team of Jim Cotton and Ron Plante.
Lunker Largemouth went to the team of Taylor/Saulnier with a 4.97 lb. fish, while lunker smallmouth went to the team of Oja/Coloumbe with a 3.43 lb. smallie. Each lunker was worth $200.
With the Fall Open in the books, it is also time to crown our Team of the Year for 2005. With a total of 562 points the team of Dave Andrews and Scott Leppanen grabbed the top spot this season. They will enjoy paid entry fees for the 2006 season. Second place went to the team of Mark Anthony and John Diaco who had a total of 546 points. Third place went to Brian Morin and Don Gagnon with 536 points.
The NH B.A.S.S. Federation prides itself on taking care of the fish that are caught and this showed again as an amazing 231 of 235 bass were released back into Lake Winnipesaukee following weigh-in.
The NH BASS Federation would like to thank the Title Sponsor Owen’s Marine BassCat/Triton) for Sponsoring the Fall Open. As always we appreciate the support of all of our Federation sponsors: Shimano, Pennzoil Marine, Plano Molding Company, Poor Boyz Scent, Skeeter, Ranger, Yamaha, Minn Kota, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster, Berkley Powerbait, Citgo, Northern BASS Supply, Keep Alive, Mepps/Mister Twister, Lucky Craft, Luhr Jenson, Stealth Stik, Zylas, Yamamoto Custom Baits, Ultimate Lure Saver, Hotspots Outfitters, Hog Sticker, Lil Hustler Tackle, Extreme Bass, Xtreme Marine, Stealth Charging Systems, Netters Inc, J&D Screenprinting and Embroidery, Cull-m-Rite, Rocky Ledge, Havoc Lures, Aqua View.
|
