During the morning pre-launch briefing Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine brought to the Boaters/Anglers attention, that the concept of the NEPVA Bass Trail is to help the NEPVA Anglers become better bass fishermen, while at the same time allowing them to feel that they have contributed to the teams 5-bass limit.

"Some of you may be wondering why we have a rule change under the 5-Bass limit?"

LaFontaine elaborated, "We have instituted a new policy whereas our Boat Captains are only allowed to weigh-in a maximum of three bass, while their NEPVA partner must catch at least two of the five bass weighed-in. In addition the Boat Captain may Not Cull his NEPVA partners’ bass, yet the NEPVA Angler May Cull his Boat Captains bass!"

According to Jim Wallack, of Derry, NH the Bass Trail Liaison for the New England Chapter of the PVA, "This new rule really levels the playing field for all our NEPVA Anglers, while at the same time developing a partnership with our Boat Captains as each team works together in a combined effort encouraging each other to catch that 5-bass limit."

With the morning briefing completed every angler and volunteer lower their head in prayer. The silence was broken to the recorded singing of our National Anthem by Charlie Daniels, as everyone turned to the American Flag flying high over Congamond Lake!

Under the direction of the Nam Knights, representing the New Hampshire, Boston and Central Massachusetts Chapters (www.namknightsnh.com), volunteer Boat Captains aligned in numeric order in three flights, then maneuvered their bass rigs along side the docks. NEPVA wheelchair anglers were then gently carried by Nam Knight members into their partners’ bass boats, secured in a comfortable seated position, and donned with a life vest for a safe day of fishing; while each boat and wheelchair received matching numbers for easy reference come weigh-in time.

With the tournament underway Nam Knight volunteers moved the NEPVA Anglers wheelchairs to Saunders Marina located at the southern end of Middle Pond, in preparation for their return at weigh-in time. "This number system on both the wheelchairs and boats makes for a smooth transition as the anglers return, but staggering the boats in flights will allow us more time while keeping the unloading process of the NEPVA Anglers in an orderly fashion," said New Hampshire Nam Knight’s ‘Saint’.

While the angling teams were in pursuit of a 5-bass limit, volunteers were treated to pontoon boat rides around Congamond’s Middle Pond where they greeted the competing teams with ice cold water and friendly Bass’n Advice! "I have never been in a bass boat before, so when NEPVA Staffer Charlie McCabe offered my husband and I a ride, along with an opportunity to do a little fishing we jumped in his Ranger Bass Boat," laughed Big "Y" sponsor representative Betti Boggis!

Warm sixty degree temperatures made for a very pleasant day, but when NEPVA Anglers Ken Mumford and John Walls were filmed under the camera lens of local New Station WWLP Channel 22 for an up to date fishing report, these top NEPVA Anglers were to-hot-to-handle. "I have fished the National PVA Bass Trail for years, but nothing compares to the enjoyment and friendly competition offered by the NEPVA Bass Trail," voiced New York NEPVA Angler John Walls. Mumford added, "I believe this is the eighth year for the NEPVA Bass Trail, and every year it just keeps getting bigger and better! It’s simply the best in bass fishing for a disabled angler!"

Nam Knights met arriving NEPVA Anglers with their wheelchairs at dockside, as the 2:00pm weigh-in time brought the first flight of anglers to the scales,. Dock-Talk-Chatter rumors started to spread almost as quickly as relish on a Big "Y" hamburger! "The bite was really tough today," voiced NEPVA Angler Mike Guilbault. As Boat Captain Roger Pratt added, "I can tell you I was impressed with Mike’s enthusiasm and his ability to make continued cast all day long!"

As in any bass tournament someone always seems to find a way to entice the bass to bite! By the time the third flight reached the scales the tournament leader’s position exchanged hands several times. Yet only one team managed to secure a five bass limit by the time the scales were officially closed.

Connecticut’s Paul Carter and his NEPVA partner Paul Reed of Brockton, MA were idling as the top seed with 3-bass weighing 7.87 lbs, at the end of the second flight. "This is unbelievable! I have never seen so much excitement at a bass tournament," smiled Carter. When asked if he thought their weight was strong enough to place in the Top-3 Winners Circle, Carter quickly replied, "I think I’m already a winner just from being with these NEPVA Anglers! And, to brighten my day even more Paul caught two of our three bass on a Mojo rigged French Fry."

The leaders’ position was indeed in jeopardy as the third flight anglers made their way to the scales and Massachusetts’s TBF Vice President Mike Tamburello paired with first time NEPVA angler Bob Swain handed Weigh-Master Larry "Bags’ a huge bag of bass.

"4-bass all alive for a total weight of 10.63 lbs," called the Weigh-Master. Then removing the teams largest largemouth bass "Bags’ called out, "Folks not only do we have a new team leader, Bob Swain’s Big Bass at 3.77 lbs is now the tournament Lunker!" To this a crowd of over one hundred spectators gave overwhelming applauds.

Tamburello a longtime volunteer Boat Captain for the NEPVA Bass Trail retold how Swain caught his Lunker. "Bob has never bass fished before so I had him work a swimming grub on a jig head for staging bass before they moved up onto the beds. When I saw his Lunker move unto a bed, I directed him to cast her way. I couldn’t believe it when Bob put that grub in the middle of the bed and she ate it! I wish everyone could have seen the expression on Bob’s face as he battled his bass to the boat; it was absolutely awesome!"

Only two teams were left to weigh-in, Boat Captain Charlie Jutras and NEPVA Angler Stan Wisenburn made their way to the scales with 4 Congamond Largemouth bass. When Jutras and Wisenburn’s lively bass finally settled down on the scales, they had taken the lead with 13.20 lbs, anchored with a 3.61 lb largemouth!

"Stan caught our big bass on a 1/16 oz black/blue Bitsy Bug, tied to six pound test line rigged to his ultra light rod and reel combination. I have to admit it made me quite nervous when I saw the size of his bass in the water and Stan’s rod bent in half! But, to his credit Stan played it out along side the boat and I reached over and netted it for him!"

When asked if they thought they had enough weight to win the tournament, seventy-two year old United States Marine Boat Captain Charlie Jutras replied, "The last team has a 5-bass limit; it’s going to be really close!"

Carrying the NEPVA Congamond Lake’s only 5-bass limit to the scales Massachusetts’s TBF Angler Mike Bailey paired with Fishkill, New York’s NEPVA angler Larry Grainger listened anxiously, as the Weigh-Master called out,"5-Bass, all alive for a total weight of 13.06 lbs."

With Bailey and Grainger still on the stage, NEPVA Angler Larry Grainger revealed the second place teams’ tactics. "While Mike worked jigs and grubs for bedding bass, I covered the deeper staging bass with a Senko. This was without a doubt a total team effort! Mike Bailey, "Added, Larry’s absolutely correct the new limit rule definitely had us excited! When I finally caught my third bass for our 5-bass limit Larry was as thrilled as I was. The NEPVA Bass Trail is what Team Tournaments should all be about!"

The Top-3 teams received hand crafted wooden plaques, as third place finishers Mike Tamburello and NEPVA Angler Bob Swain also claimed the Congamond Lake Lunker Plaque Award. Thanks to generous donations from the NEPVA Bass Trail Sponsors everyone went home a winner with a full stomach and a host of fishing tackle.

Posing for pictures on stage with Connecticut TBF President Joe Rachiewicz and TBF Vice President Jim Marenzana, NEPVA Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine wiped a tear from his eye as he announced, "The Connecticut TBF raised over $1,400.00 to off-set our expenses for our Totally Free tournament. We can not thank them enough for hosting the NEPVA Congamond Lake Bass tournament!" Connecticut TBF Vice President Jim Marenzana replied, "It has been our pleasure as the NEPVA Bass Trail is truly an experience of a lifetime!"

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. 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 Bill Deoteau @ 1.413.566.3961.