|
2005 BASS Federation Championships
Report #2 - Day 1
By Will Wegman,
OBF Media and Conservation Director
DAY 1, Wed. April 27, 2005
Today was the first day of competition out on the rough and windy waters of Lake’s Toho and for some that locked thru – Kissimmee. All anglers will spend the first two days fishing these lakes before the field is cut to the top 15 anglers – or the top three from each of the 5 divisions. The top three anglers in the division the Ontario BASS Federation is in are: Jamie Fralick from South Dakota with 13.05 pounds, Thad Takes from Iowa with 12.2 and Brian MacNeil from Ohio with 10.12. Our Canadian angler Bill Todd didn’t fare as well with three bass weighing in at 3.10.
At dinner tonight Bill said he had the fish going but just couldn’t seem to get them in the boat. “Tomorrow, I’ll be fishing for pride more than anything else … but I will be pitching and flipping to some real heavy cover for big fish, cause it’s all I can do at this stage,” said Todd. With the top three anglers in the Northern Division in the top ten overall …and Bill currently in 44th spot, it sure would seem to be an uphill battle from here on.
The weigh-in today featured Ray Scott back as MC … and the first thing that came to my mind when seeing him up there was how easy for him it is to do such a great job working the crowd and relating to the anglers. It was like riding a bike for the master … once you know how you never forget. Ray had them both eating out of his hands with shtick ranging from betting the anglers a dollar what their biggest fish weighed, to bringing young toddlers on stage and carrying out wacky conversations with them. I can only imagine what he has up his sleeve during the last two days at Disney.
Conservation Directors Meetings:
The day for conservation directors has been a busy one so far. We began with in-depth presentations that focused on bass biology, fish health, and fisheries management. All were excellent, informative sessions that conservation directors from across the US and yours truly from Canada, enjoyed thoroughly. From there we had a quick lunch before we headed off to a field trip to Disney World. No, we didn’t go and play with Mickey … it was way better than that – we got a first hand tour thru the back-seldom-used entrance to the resort and witnessed dozens of large alligators along the lagoon leading into where our next presentation was. Here we learned about the fisheries management involved with running the fishing related component of Disney Lakes, and the amazing water and sewage filtration system Disney has.
Stay tuned for more daily reports from the world amateur bass fishing championships here in the bass crazed state of Florida.
So, for now, this is Wil Wegman signing off.
Day 1 Standings
2005 Federation Championship
04/27-04/30
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee-St Cloud, Fla.
Angler Hometown D No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Joe Lucarelli Center Harbor, N.H. (N E 5 17-02
2. Todd Schaaf Hume, Va. (VA) E 5 16-10
3. Reid Sanders Newton, Miss. (MS) C 5 14-04
4. Marc Gilliland Louisburg, Kan. (KS) C 5 14-01
5. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. (SD) N 5 13-05
6. Thad Takes Center Point, Iowa (20 N 5 12-02
7. Joshua Mabee Kennebunkport, Maine ( E 5 11-11
8. Tyler Swaney Craig, Colo. (WY) W 5 11-10
9. Greg Lownds Dunbury, Conn. (CT) E 5 11-09
10. Jeff Hager Alexis, N.C. (NC) S 5 10-15
11. David Mehalechko Glendale, Ariz. (AZ) W 5 10-13 $1,000.00
12. Bryan McNeal Springfield, Ohio (OH) N 5 10-12
13. Ed Cowan Greeley, Pa. (NJ) E 5 10-10
14. Greg Alexander Hebron, Md. (DE) E 5 9-15
14. Robert Lechel Santa Fe, N.M. (NM) W 5 9-15
16. Russell Hosick Smithland, Ky. (KY) S 5 9-08
17. Gary Pope Georgetown, S.C. (SC) S 5 8-14
18. Gerry Jooste Harare, Zimbabwe, Zimb C 5 8-11
19. Dave Palmer Roseburg, Ore. (OR) W 5 8-10
20. Donald Gossett St Joseph, Mo. (MO) C 4 8-06
21. Brian Plank Mt. Zion, Ill. (IL) N 5 8-05
22. Nate Wellman Jenison, Mich. (MI) N 5 8-02
23. Jason Pittman Covington, La. (LA) C 5 8-01
24. Paul McKenney Chelan, Wash. (WA) W 3 7-11
25. Jamie Long Bear Creek, Ala. (AL) S 4 7-04
26. Doss Briggs Muskogee, Okla. (OK) C 5 7-02
26. Mike Mapes Sparta, N.J. (NY) E 5 7-02
28. Justin Booth Sunninghill, South Afr S 3 6-15
29. Michael DiChiaro N Scituate, R.I. (RI) E 5 6-13
30. Jimmy Johnson Canado, Texas (TX) C 4 6-09
31. Grant Johnson Perryville, Ark. (AR) C 4 6-02
32. Eddie Camara Shawnee, Okla. (PVA Ch S 4 6-01
33. Randy Burch Ladysmith, Wisc. (WI) N 3 5-09
34. Yoshikazu Sato , Japan (Japan) W 3 5-07
35. Jay Evans Hamilton, Mont. (MT) W 4 5-05
35. Leon Roy Tallahassee, Fla. (FL) S 4 5-05
37. J J Judd Sheldon, Vt. (VT) E 4 5-01
38. Bill Bennett Balitmore, Md. (MD) E 2 4-14
39. Jamie Worth Milford, N.H. (MA) E 4 4-13
39. Jason Lambert Pickwick Dam, Tenn. (T S 2 4-13
41. Rich Cottone Bowie, Md. (DC) E 4 4-11
42. Jim Bishop Grand Junction, Colo. W 3 4-09
43. Michael Rold Galt, Calif. (CA) W 2 4-07
44. Bill Todd Elmvale, Canada (ON) N 3 3-10
45. Andy Sommerfelt Denver, Iowa (IA) N 2 2-15
46. Eric Stewart Morgantown, W.Va. (WV) E 2 2-07
47. Richard Witushynsky Gettyburg, Pa. (PA) E 2 1-09
48. Bob Ellis Vidalia, Ga. (GA) S 1 1-08
49. Dennis Kotas Milligan, Neb. (NE) C 1 1-07
50. Joe Conway Security, Colo. (CO) W 1 1-05
51. Javier Villarreal United States Of Ame C 1 1-04
52. Chuck Steinbauer Baxter, Minn. (MN) N 1 0-15
53. Dewey Allen Connersville, Ind. (IN N 1 0-13
54. Franco Mancini Florence, Italy (Italy N 0 0-00
54. Brent Shores Boise, Idaho (ID) W 0 0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 David Mehalechko Glendale, Ariz. (AZ) 6-01 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 25 201 388-05
----------------------------------
25 201 388-05
DIVISIONAL STANDINGS Day 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joe Lucarelli Center Harbor, N.H. (NH) 5 17-02
2 Todd Schaaf Hume, Va. (VA) 5 16-10
3 Joshua Mabee Kennebunkport, Maine (ME) 5 11-11
4 Greg Lownds Dunbury, Conn. (CT) 5 11-09
5 Ed Cowan Greeley, Pa. (NJ) 5 10-10
6 Greg Alexander Hebron, Md. (DE) 5 9-15
7 Mike Mapes Sparta, N.J. (NY) 5 7-02
8 Michael DiChiaro N Scituate, R.I. (RI) 5 6-13
9 J J Judd Sheldon, Vt. (VT) 4 5-01
10 Bill Bennett Balitmore, Md. (MD) 2 4-14
11 Jamie Worth Milford, N.H. (MA) 4 4-13
12 Rich Cottone Bowie, Md. (DC) 4 4-11
13 Eric Stewart Morgantown, W.Va. (WV) 2 2-07
14 Richard Witushynsky Gettyburg, Pa. (PA) 2 1-09
Central
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Reid Sanders Newton, Miss. (MS) 5 14-04
2 Marc Gilliland Louisburg, Kan. (KS) 5 14-01
3 Gerry Jooste Harare, Zimbabwe, Zimbabw 5 8-11
4 Donald Gossett St Joseph, Mo. (MO) 4 8-06
5 Jason Pittman Covington, La. (LA) 5 8-01
6 Doss Briggs Muskogee, Okla. (OK) 5 7-02
7 Jimmy Johnson Canado, Texas (TX) 4 6-09
8 Grant Johnson Perryville, Ark. (AR) 4 6-02
9 Dennis Kotas Milligan, Neb. (NE) 1 1-07
10 Javier Villarreal , United States Of Americ 1 1-04
Western
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Tyler Swaney Craig, Colo. (WY) 5 11-10
2 David Mehalechko Glendale, Ariz. (AZ) 5 10-13 $1,000.00
3 Robert Lechel Santa Fe, N.M. (NM) 5 9-15
4 Dave Palmer Roseburg, Ore. (OR) 5 8-10
5 Paul McKenney Chelan, Wash. (WA) 3 7-11
6 Yoshikazu Sato , Japan (Japan) 3 5-07
7 Jay Evans Hamilton, Mont. (MT) 4 5-05
8 Jim Bishop Grand Junction, Colo. (UT 3 4-09
9 Michael Rold Galt, Calif. (CA) 2 4-07
10 Joe Conway Security, Colo. (CO) 1 1-05
11 Brent Shores Boise, Idaho (ID) 0 0-00
Northern
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. (SD) 5 13-05
2 Thad Takes Center Point, Iowa (2004 5 12-02
3 Bryan McNeal Springfield, Ohio (OH) 5 10-12
4 Brian Plank Mt. Zion, Ill. (IL) 5 8-05
5 Nate Wellman Jenison, Mich. (MI) 5 8-02
6 Randy Burch Ladysmith, Wisc. (WI) 3 5-09
7 Bill Todd Elmvale, Canada (ON) 3 3-10
8 Andy Sommerfelt Denver, Iowa (IA) 2 2-15
9 Chuck Steinbauer Baxter, Minn. (MN) 1 0-15
10 Dewey Allen Connersville, Ind. (IN) 1 0-13
11 Franco Mancini Florence, Italy (Italy) 0 0-00
Southern
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jeff Hager Alexis, N.C. (NC) 5 10-15
2 Russell Hosick Smithland, Ky. (KY) 5 9-08
3 Gary Pope Georgetown, S.C. (SC) 5 8-14
4 Jamie Long Bear Creek, Ala. (AL) 4 7-04
5 Justin Booth Sunninghill, South Africa 3 6-15
6 Eddie Camara Shawnee, Okla. (PVA Champ 4 6-01
7 Leon Roy Tallahassee, Fla. (FL) 4 5-05
8 Jason Lambert Pickwick Dam, Tenn. (TN) 2 4-13
9 Bob Ellis Vidalia, Ga. (GA) 1 1-08
BASS News
Eastern Division Struts Its Stuff in Federation Championship Opening Round
Kissimmee, Fla. - The Federation Championship is the stuff that dreams are made of. This week 55 amateur anglers fishing Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga are hoping it will be a bridge to the big time, to a career in professional bass fishing - to the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh, July 29-31. They all hope to accomplish what the late Bryan Kerchal did in 1994 - to win the Classic coming from the Federation ranks.
Those 55 anglers have qualified to be here through the 46 state Federations, the District of Columbia and six international Federations (Canada, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa and Zimbabwe). The anglers are organized into five geographical divisions (North, South, Central, East and West).
Today it was two anglers from the Eastern division who took charge and grabbed solid positions leading into Day Two. Joe Lucarelli of Center Harbor, N.H., and Todd Schaaf of Hume, Va., brought in the two heaviest limits (17 pounds, two ounces and 16 pounds, 10 ounces, respectively) to take the top two spots in their division and the overall tournament. Joshua Mabee of Kennebunkport, Maine, is third in the East with 11-11.
Despite describing the competition as "stressful," Lucarelli seemed calm, cool and collected when he described the methods that carried him to the first round lead.
"I'm catching fish several different ways," the 2003 New Hampshire State Champion and 2004 Eastern Divisional Champion said. "I'm fishing a Senko on a weighted Falcon Lures hook (1/32 oz.) and I'm pitching and flipping a 3 1/2-inch Yamamoto Craw with a 1 3/8-ounce tungsten sinker in an area that I found during practice. I'm covering a lot of water and think I can do well again tomorrow. A sunny, calm day would really help me out."
Schaff, a member of the Virginia BASS Federation six-man championship team in 2002, 2003 and 2004, shared Lucarelli's game plan of covering lots of water.
"I'm running and gunning and burning a lot of gas out there," he said. "I'm fishing fast baits and caught everything on top."
Schaaf also echoed Lucarelli's sentiments regarding the stress level of the tournament.
"I'm just 34 years old, but I feel like a might have a heart attack at any moment. This is really exciting."
Two anglers from the Central Division hold third and fourth overall. Reid Sanders of Newton, Miss., and Marc Gilliland of Louisburg, Kan., came to the scales with 14-4 and 14-1 respectively. Gerry Jooste of Zimbabwe is a distant third in the Central with 8-6.
Gilliland, who made the Kansas Federation team in 2002 and 2004, is fishing in his first Federation Championship and is optimistic about his chances of qualifying for the final two rounds.
"I'm flipping and pitching grass mats and was culling by 8:40 this morning," he said. "The bites slowed down as the day wore on, but my better fish came later in the day."
In the Northern Division, Jami Fralick, 29, of Martin, S.D., is fifth overall and leading his division. He says the weedy waters of Lake Toho remind him of home.
"I'm working vegetation and catching most of my fish in less than three feet of water - just like in South Dakota," Fralick said. "The key for me has been finding clear water. If the wind blows from the wrong direction and dirties up the water, you might as well leave."
Right behind Fralick in the North is 2004 Federation champion Thad Takes of Center Point, Ia. Takes fished Toho earlier this year on the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Tour and used the experience to his advantage, bringing in a limit that weighed 12-2. He, too, is covering lots of water and reports catching plenty of bass.
"Fishing the Tour this year was a real learning experience," Takes said. "It's so important to have confidence as you approach an event like this. Last year at the Federation Championship, I was a bundle of nerves. This year, I expect to win."
Trailing Fralick and Takes for the third spot in the North going into the second round is Springfield, Ohio's Bryan McNeal with 10-12.
The top anglers in the Western Division are Tyler Swaney of Craig, Colo., David Mehalechko of Glendale, Ariz., with 10-13 and Robert Lechel of Santa Fe, N.M., with 9-15.
In the Southern Division, Jeff Hager of Alexis, N.C., leads the way with 10-15. He's trailed by Russell Hosick of Smithland, Ky., with 9-8 and Gary Pope of Georgetown, S.C. with 8-14.
The Purolator Big Bass of Day One weighed six pounds, one ounce and was caught by Dave Mehalechko, who also competed in the 2003 Federation Championship.
"I caught my fish shallow - including the big one - but there's some deeper water nearby," Mehalechko said. The determined 36-year-old angler also commented that the competition was a little easier to handle the second time around.
"This time I'm more focused," he said. "This time, I'm out to win."
The first two days of competition take place on Lake Tohopekaliga. After two days, the three anglers with the highest cumulative weight total in each of the Federation's five geographic divisions (for a total of 15 anglers) will make the cut and fish Saturday and Sunday at Disney's Bay Lake. Weights will carry over from first two days of fishing and a winner will be crowned based on the four-day total.
At the end of four days, the top angler from each of the five geographic divisions will earn a berth into the Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh.
The overall winner of the BASS Federation Championship will also earn a spot on the 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Tour.
|
|
