The New Hampshire Bass Federation held it’s annual State Championship on Lake Ossipee out of Ossipee Marina on September 9 and 10, 2006. This is the first time that our Federation has held the STQT on Ossipee and there was a good buzz going into the event about the potential for a big weight event. This was also the first State Championship since the Federation aligned with TBF/FLW. The weather for the event featured near perfect conditions on Day 1 with morning fog turning to sunny skies and light winds. For those setting down on the right spots, there was a good morning bite for the smallmouth, but it didn’t last very long. Long-time Federation angler Alan Denise was one of the fortunate ones as he set down on a good school of feeding bass and secured his limit early and checked in with all smallmouth bass caught on a zara spook that stretched the scales to 13.78 lbs. Mark Anthony secured a solid limit of largemouth bass and held down the second position with 12.22 lbs. Hardcore’s Don Gagnon grabbed third with 11.61 lbs. Overall, weights were way down and limits were hard to come by.
A great Barbeque followed the Day One weigh-in and special thanks go out to John Woodman and Wayne & Sharon Frost for setting up and cooking for all the hungry anglers. As luck would have it, a severe thunderstorm ended the event a bit prematurely, and the driving rain and severe temperature drop set the stage for bluebird skies and post front conditions on Day Two. The early top-water bite was history and many anglers struggled for keepers on Sunday. Weights fell again at the afternoon weigh-in. Alan Denise struggled for two fish that weighed 5.09 lbs. and dropped into 4th place. Scott Parker of MBC remained consistent and found a big bite to check in with 4 bass for 11.47 lbs and a two-day total of 21.58 lbs. Scott targeted largemouth and flipped a Lake Fork Ring Fry into weed clumps both days. Scott will be making his 9th trip to Regionals.
Bruce Acox targeted mostly largemouth bass in the back ponds with jigs and tubes and brought back the biggest limit of Day Two weighing 12.29 lbs. His combined total left him with 22.30 lbs. and this secured second place and another trip to Regionals for the Bass Hookers angler. Bruce will be fishing his second Regionals.
The day however belonged to Mark Anthony who brought back 4 largemouth that weighed 10.59 lbs. and combined with his excellent Day One weight of 12.22 lbs. pushed his total to 22.81 lbs. and provided him with his first ever State Championship. Mark pitched black tube baits into thick weed clumps both days and targeted largemouth bass exclusively. Mark will be making his third trip to the Regional Championship.
Rounding out the rest of the top six boaters are Robert Neely from Tri-City with 18.84 lbs. Robert will be making his first trip to Regionals. Finishing in 6th place and making his first State Team is Jeremy Dunlap of Contoocook with a 2-day total of 18.29 lbs.
The non-boaters making the State Team are as follows:
7th place: Don Gagnon, Hardcore Bass: 16.47 lbs.
8th place: Scott Leppanen, Back Bay: 16.35 lbs.
9th place: Robert Hurst, Bubba Bassin: 15.46 lbs.
10th place: Wes Pitre, Manchester Bass Club: 14.76 lbs.
11th place: Paul Gelinas, Manchester Bass Club: 14.64 lbs.
12th place: John Diaco, Lakes Region: 14.02 lbs.
Day One lunker largemouth was caught by Chris Jean and weighed 5.37 lbs. Lunker smallie was captured by Alan Denise and weighed 3.89 lbs.
Day Two lunker largemouth was 5.30 lbs and belonged to Scott Parker. Lunker smallie weighed 3.93 lbs. and was caught by Jeff Carr.
Ossipee Marina proved to be an excellent venue for the first ever NHBF/TBF State Championship. The running slide show with the angler’s weights was also a big hit. Special thanks go out to President Rob Frye, Tournament Director Bob Hurst, Wayne and Sharon Frost, John Woodman, the Castaways Club, and all of the volunteer staff.
The NH Federation continued its excellence in fish handling as an amazing 301 of 302 fish weighed in were returned alive and in good shape to the deep water outside Ossipee Marina.
As always we appreciate the support of our NHBF/TBF sponsors: Shimano, Castrol, Plano Molding Company, Poor Boyz Scent, Northeast Prop Repair, Ranger, Yamaha, Minn Kota, Quantum, Lowrance Electronics, Berkley Powerbait, Northern Bass Supply, Keep Alive, Mepps/Mister Twister, Lil Hustler Tackle, Extreme Bass, J&D Screenprinting and Embroidery, Tournament Force, Rocky Ledge, National Guard, Aqua View
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