NEPVA Bass Trail Dedicates Charles River Tournament

June 10th, 2006 Brighton, MA.: With NEPVA Bass Trail Tournament Director Tiny Lafontaine announcing the 8th Annual NEPVA Charles River Team Tournament would be dedicated to Marine USA (www.marineusainc.com) in the Memory of Paul Tsourides, torrential rains continued to fall heavily upon the Newton Yacht Clubs metal canopy.
“Eight years ago the NEPVA Bass Trail was only a dream, a concept to get a few disabled veterans out on the water for a totally free day of friendly competition within a bass tournament format,” says Lafontaine. Wiping a tear from his eye Lafontaine continued, “When I approached Paul Tsourides, owner of Marine USA, the world’s largest Nitro Bass Boat dealership, for his advice Paul told me dreams can come true, but you have to believe in them, and you have to do it for all the right reasons……………put the anglers at the top of your list! Paul then became our first and largest monetary sponsor.”
Obviously Lafontaine, teamed with his bass club the American Eagle Bass Anglers, listened to Mr. Tsourides advice! “Our first NEPVA Bass Tournament, which was held on the Charles River, registered approximately twelve paralyzed veterans paired with twelve volunteer able-body Boat Captains,” recalled Bob ‘Soupy’ Campbell, youth director for the Massachusetts TBF. “Under the inclement rainy weather conditions we have experienced all week long, today we registered thirty-eight teams in our Boater Division, that’s seventy-six anglers,!”
According to volunteers Laurie Campbell and Clara McCabe, the original pre-registration listed approximately forty-five paralyzed and disabled anglers for the Boater Division, while nine anglers pre-registered for the Bank/Pontoon Division.
Unfortunately the rain forced LaFontaine to cancel the Bank/Pontoon Division, as most of these NEPVA Anglers are in electric wheelchairs. “We have established a wonderful working relationship with the Brockton Veterans Hospital and their participation in our bass tournaments has been growing every year, it’s just regrettable the weather didn’t cooperate, but I’m sure we will see them at our Lake Winnipesaukee Tournament in September,” replied NEPVA Chapter President Ken Medeiros.
Once the NEPVA Anglers were paired with their volunteer Boat Captains, members from the New Hampshire, Boston and Central Massachusetts Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club (www.namknightsnh.com) delicately loaded each paralyzed angler into the bass boats with precision team work. “The Nam Knights have developed unique relationships with every one of our NEPVA Anglers over the last eight years, taking into consideration their individual disabilities and specific needs as we transfer them to and from the bass boats,” says NH Nam Knight President ‘Hunter’.
The Nam Knights not only assist the disabled NEPVA Anglers during the loading and unloading process, they also make suggestions to the NEPVA Bass Trail’s Executive Board, in ways to better coordinate the safety of the NEPVA Anglers while continuing to establish a smooth running tournament concept. Such as, the newly instituted staggered boat flight system, placing anglers competing in the Boater Division into smaller groups with staggered weigh-in return times.
Having successfully loaded all the NEPVA Anglers into their perspective bass boats, coordinating matching boat and wheelchair labeled numbers for easy reference come weigh-in time at 2:00 pm; the Nam Knights then dried off all of the NEPVA Anglers wheelchairs, placing them under a secured covered canopy.
With anglers on-the-water in search of a five-bass limit, facility host The Newton Yacht Club (www.newtonyachtclub.org), treated Nam Knights, NEPVA Bass Trail Staff, as well as a large continent of volunteers to a warm breakfast, before volunteers began resuming their pre-weigh-in setup duties of raising tents, assembling weigh-in scales, hanging sponsor banners, gathering trophies, donated fishing tackle and of course the cooks cleaned up the grilles for the traditional all inclusive NEPVA Weigh-in Cookout.
Water levels on the Charles River continued to rise and fall throughout the day, causing sudden large draws of water as the locking system in the Boston harbor open and closed. “This miserable wet weather just might produce a good day of fishing,” smiled Ranger Boat’s Erik Kaplan a member Wood Boat and Motors Pro staff.
An array of busy water activities usually fills the surface of the Charles River as crowded parks lining its banks give way to joggers, softball games and a variety of outdoor sports. However, on this day the historic scenic Charles River echoed an occasional ‘Fish on get the net’, to the back ground music of rain splashing upon the waters surface.
Under an aroma of grilled hamburgers and hotdogs filling the dampen air, Nam Knight members continued unloading the three flights of NEPVA Anglers. Reaching the scales dressed in several layers of rain gear, the returning anglers had one thing in common….. Huge smiles.
 Having weighed-in the teams’ 3-bass, liaison for the NEPVA Anglers Jim Wallack, of Derry, NH replied, “Today, I was paired with Nitro’s Johnny Nee Pro Staff for Marine USA; Mr. Tsourides would have been elated to have witnessed the growth and enthusiasm of the New England PVA Bass Trail has accomplished over the pass eight years.”
Weighmaster Butch Gioco and his crew had their work cut out for them to say the least! “I have never witnessed so many teams carrying five-bass limits to the scales with weights being only ounces apart!” Check Tank volunteer Charlie McCabe said, “Twenty-six teams carried bass to the scales, and another eight teams released their bass early just to get out of the heavy rains knowing they were not in contention to win.”
Eleven teams carried a five-bass limit to the scales with nine out of the Top-10 Winning Teams registering a 5-bass limit. Nitro Team Marine USA member Keith Wilson paired with NEPVA Angler Raymond Clary’s four-bass bag of 7.13 lbs gave the team a ninth place finish.
Mike Tamburello, Massachusetts TBF’s Vice President teamed with P.V.A. National Vice President Jack Franklin of Vina, Alabama, registered 8.20lbs on the scales for a fifth place finish.
Questioned by tournament emcee Sandy Oja, of Northern Bass Supply (www.northernbass.com), how he enjoyed his day on Boston’s Charles River, Franklin replied with his Southern drawl, “Y’all have a great bass fishery and the NEPVA shared weight concept for a five bass limit is what all team tournaments should incorporate, referring to the limit-rule stating NEPVA anglers must catch at least two of the teams five-bass limit! But does it ever stop raining here?”
Once again New England PVA Anglers Lon Hilde and Ken Mumford teamed-up in Lon’s Ranger Bass Boat rigged with their competitive attitude in hopes of landing their first NEPVA tournament win. This time the two NEPVA Anglers settled for a forth palace finish with 9.07 lbs. (This awesome dual also compete on the National PVA Bass Trail.)
Paired with Hog Sticker Spinnerbait Pro Staffer Jim Halpin, NEPVA Angler Mike Hicks of Fishkill, New York, headed south towards the Boston Science Museum, casting chartreuse and white, single Colorado bladed spinnerbaits along rock and tree laden shorelines to land third place with a 5-bass sack of largemouth’s at 9.74lbs. Hicks anchored the teams’ creel with a 2.83lb Charles River Hog securing the Largemouth Lunker Award. Halpin revealed the team spent most of the day just slow rolling the Hog Sticker blades along the bank in current eddies. (www.spinnerbaits.com)
 Both members of the Charles River Bassmasters, second place Boater James Gildea and Tournament Champion Boater Mark Nugent, assembled identical patterns with their NEPVA partners……light line and wacky style rigged 4” Senkos! Gildea’s NEPVA partner Larry Harris disclosed his teams’ tactics while accepting their second place trophies. “I have always had problems fishing plastic worms. Today, Jim taught me how to fish a plastic worm and by the end of the day we landed approximately 40-50 bass, with three of our 10.06 lb five-bass limit being contributed by me, thanks to Jim!”
With a wining weight of 10.59lbs, NEPVA Angler Damon Isles was speechless. “I almost didn’t come today due to the weather and a cold I have been battling. But, I know how dedicated our volunteer Boaters are, so I made the extra effort to get here.” With Boat Captain Mark Nugent standing at his side Isles continued. “Mark was the best mentor any angler could possibly wish for, his patience and knowledge for catching bass was unbelievable. We actually caught bass right behind other anglers as we worked our green pumpkin or black/blue fleck Senkos on spinning gear spooled with 6 lb test line along banks in three-five feet of water.”
Smallmouth Lunker award at 1.10 lbs went to Boat Captain Bean Lefebvre of Malden, MA. and North Reading, MA NEPVA Angler Tom Blanchard. In the NEPVA Angler only free drawing, Beacon, New York’s NEPVA Angler Ray Clary was overwhelmed when he realized he was holding the wining ticket for a twelve foot aluminum PrinceCraft boat donated by NEPVA Bass Trail sponsor Tom Burke and Irwin Marine.
As the awards ceremony approached its ending, NEPVA Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine along with NEPVA Chapter President Ken Medeiros accepted several large monetary donations, starting with a $4,200 donation raised by the Nam Knights of New Hampshire, a $1,000 check from Anheuser Busch, another $1,000 check from Skeeter Bass Boats presented by Lisa Burgess, wife of Skeeter Northeast Representative Mark Burgess, as well as $100 check from Local#111 Carpenters Union.
In a special pinning presentation, NEPVA Chapter President Ken Medeiros, gave praise as he respectfully honor each Nam Knight with New England Paralyzed Veterans of American official Volunteer pins, for their unselfish dedicated never ending service to All American Veterans!
The 8th Annual New England Paralyzed Veterans of America Bass Tournament on the Charles River dedicated in Memory of Paul Tsourides concluded with a heartfelt presentation of a NEPVA Bass Trail plaque. Paul Tsourides son, Mark stood on stage with his wife and Team Nitro Bass Boat Pro Staff volunteer Boat Captains at his side, as NEPVA Bass Trail Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine made the presentation. Then with a loving smile on his face Mark Tsourides announced, “I want to thank the New England PVA for honoring my father today. We cannot express the depth of our gratitude to each and every one of the anglers who braved today’s weather to be here in record numbers. I can assure you this New England Paralyzed Veterans of America Bass Trail Memorial Plaque will be hung in our showroom with pride!”
God Bless and Best Bass’n

All NEPVA Bass Trail Tournaments are totally FREE to ALL participates and open to all individuals with disabilities whether veterans or non-veterans! Individuals interested in fishing the tournaments may contact Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine @ 1.781.935.2480, or visit the www.nepva.org. As a non-profit organization the tournament trail is funded only by generous donations from its sponsors, with all sponsor donations being tax deductible. For information on becoming an NEPVA sponsor, contact Tiny LaFontaine or the NEPVA office @ 1.800.660.1181.