Team Skeeter  Claims Historic Charles River Crown

“We are celebrating our ninth year as the New England Paralyzed Veterans of American Bass Trail, and it all began right here on the historic Charles River, thanks to the encouragement, guidance and monetary support of our very first sponsor, Paul Tsourides and Marine USA, Inc.,” announced Tiny LaFontaine, Tournament Director for the NEPVA Bass Trail. “In honor of Paul’s memory from now on all of our Charles River NEPVA Tournament T-Shirts will have his name on the front!” (www.marineusainc.com)

Soupy Campbell and daughter Laurie Campbell had a major sandbar to navigate around due to a shortage of volunteer Boat Captains. “With twenty-six anglers signed up for the Boater Division, and thirteen of these NEPVA Anglers competing for entrance in Northern Bass Supplies Tournament of Champions competition, we have decided to host two tournaments at the same time!” (www.northernbass.com)
Obviously hooking every angler’s interest Soupy Campbell landed everyone’s attention. “Each Boat Captain will have two NEPVA Anglers in their boat, one will be their partner for today’s competition and the other will be one of our NEPVA TOC competitors who will compete by themselves against the other TOC Anglers. TOC Anglers will utilize their culling tags and weight-in bags for a five-bass limit, while normal NEPVA rules will apply for the Boat Captains and their NEPVA partners.”

In numeric order paralyzed anglers were loaded into their partners’ bass boats by Nam Knights representing two New Hampshire Chapters along with Boston and Central Mass chapters. (www.namknights.com) Once the Boater Division was underway; two pontoon boats were loaded with Bank/Pontoon Division anglers anxious to get their baits in the water.

Sitting back teasing one another Nam Knights enjoyed what has become a traditional Newton Yacht Club event……….”Full Course Breakfast for everyone of our Volunteers,” echoed the busy Newton Yacht Club Chefs from the kitchen. (www.newtonyachtclub.org)

As soon as the aroma of bacon and eggs disappeared, Newton Yacht Club’s chefs entice arriving anglers with their famous ‘Clam Chowder’. Bank/Pontoon Division anglers quickly make their reported catches before sitting down to the luncheon tables. “I always catch bass on a green pumpkin lizard,” laughed Bank/Pontoon winner Harold Gay, a former NEPVA Charles River Boater Division Champion when paired with Yamaha Outboards Danny Corriea five years ago. First time NEPVA Angler Pete Moore decided to venture out on one of the pontoon boats, and was rewarded with some Charles River largemouths. Smiling while enjoying his free sponsored Newton Yacht Club lunch, Pete replied, “Those largemouths ate my Banjo Minnow almost as fast as I ate this Newton Yacht Club hamburger!”
NEPVA Anglers competing for the coveted Top-4 spots in the Northern Bass Supply Tournament of Champions competition finished as follows: Jim Wallack of New Hampshire edged out Larry Harris of Massachusetts for 100 points by .15 pounds with his 5.88lb creel, thanks to Jim’s Tournament Lunker tipping the scales at 2.87 lbs. Harris’s four bass at 5.73 lbs was more than enough for second place over Rick Nelson’s 4.04 lbs claiming third place while New York’s Ray “Big Indian” Clary settled for fourth place with 3.81 pounds.

Team competition had the fans sitting on the edge of their seats, once Team Skeeter’s Mark Burgess and his son Jamie handed weigh master Vance Manchester their five bass limit! When the scales finally settled, Tiny LaFontaine called out ‘Folks we have a new leader with 10.06 lbs! Our 2007 Charles River Championship title goes to our good friend and tournament trail sponsor, Skeeter Boats North East Representative Mark Burgess!”

During the awards presentations Mark Burgess revealed their wining pattern, “Herring run the banks and all day long Jamie and I worked our normal Charles River technique. Bomber crankbaits along the shoreline, followed by weightless Yum Dingers!” before leaving the stage Burgess presented LaFontaine and the NEPVA Bass Trail a check for $1,000.00 from Skeeter Boats.

Second Place finishers with 9.33 lbs, Boat Captain Mark Nugent and NEPVA Angler Phil Paquette had the best ‘Fish-Tale’ of everyone. “We were working a shoreline along Sparrow Drive and Phil threw his Yamamoto Senko onto the road, popped it off a Jersey barrier, then it fell into the water, as soon as it hit the water a largemouth inhaled it and Phil landed our fifth bass……….it was hilarious!” Yamamoto Baits Pro Staffer Jim Gildea and NEPVA Angler Ray Francis claimed third place with five bass at 6.94 lbs, as long time NEPVA Boat Captain Bean Lefebvre and NEPVA Angler Mike Guilbault claimed fourth place with five bass at 5.70 lbs.

Besides receiving beautiful NEPVA trophies the top-2 Teams received Marine USA, Inc Tracker/Nitro gift certificates valued up to $1,500.00. Also, receiving a Marine USA, Inc, gift certificate valued at up to $1,500.00 was Nitro Boat‘s Top finisher Paul Fiorelli and NEPVA Angler John Walls of New York. Fiorelli and Walls also won free entry into Marine USA, Inc Champions Challenge to be held on Lake Winnipesaukee in October with the Championship Team receiving a completing rigged Nitro 591 powered by a 150 HP Mercury Outboard. (www.marineusainc.com under events)

God Bless and Best Bass’n

The NEPVA Bass Trail would like to thank their Charles River sponsors; Marine USA, Inc (www.marineusainc.com), Shakespeare Fishing Tackle, Northern Bass Supply, Nam Knights (www.namknightsnh.com), Skeeter Boats (www.skeeterboats.com), Jack Roy and Trojan Battery (www.northeastbattery.com ), Woods & Waters USA, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits (www.baits.com), OSEG (www.osegshows.com) Trojan Batteries, , Local #4, Harmonic Rods & Reels, and a very special thanks to the Newton Yacht Club and all of their volunteer members, as well as all the individual donations. (For complete tournament results log onto www.nepva.org
 

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.