"We aren't going to let a little rain spoil this event," replied NEPVA Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine when asked if the tournament would still be held in the rain. "Obviously some anglers in electric wheelchairs as well as those with special needs may feel uncomfortable or unable to participate under heavy rainy conditions. However, we have a pontoon boat with a cover for those in the bank division and most of the seasoned NEPVA competitors have rain gear."

Saturday morning Camp Robindel's banquet hall was filled with eager anglers enjoying breakfast from 6-7am, while awaiting the tournament briefing/pairings. "Weigh-in will be at 2pm followed by a BBQ, then our evening awards banquet commences at 7pm coupled with dinner and dancing to an Oldies Band," announced American Eagles Bass Club officer Bob 'Soupy' Campbell.

Under an umbrella of rain, tournament emcee Sandy Oja of Northern Bass Supply, called boat numbers and pairing, as Nam Knights Motorcycle Club members helped NEPVA Anglers into their partners' bass boats matching each boat number to the NEPVA Anglers wheelchair for easy reference come weigh-in time.
Concentrating their efforts within the Moultonborough Neck, Center Harbor and Lees Mill section of Lake Winnipesaukee, thirty seven teams braved the cool bone chilling rainy weather in pursuit of a five bass limit, while seven Bank Division Anglers ventured out under the pontoon boat canopy with New Hampshire Fisheries Biologist John Viar.

Cold front conditions hampered team's efforts in filling their legal limit size of 12" plus bass, yet fifteen teams managed to unlock the door to success carrying mixed bags of smallmouth and largemouth bass to scales.
One by one the teams made their way to the scales as Emcee Sandy Oja of Northern Bass Supply, called out each team's weight. Anglers were more than willing to share their patterns and if they seemed a bit reluctant, Sandy found a way to pry it out of them bringing laugher and smiles to the faces of contestants and fans alike.

When the scales were officially closed NEPVA angler Ed Clark, fishing in his first NEPVA Bass Tournament, and boat-captain Kurt Damery won top honors with a five-bass limit weighing 14.57 lbs anchored with a 4.22lb largemouth, out distancing the rest of the field by over three pounds!

"Our bass fell victim to spinnerbaits worked over grass beds in 12-15 feet of water," revealed Damery as he and Clark received their 1st place trophies and prizes during the awards banquet. (Kurt Damery also won the 2003 Lake Winnipesaukee NEPVA tournament with NEPVA/National PVA Angler Jim Wallack.)

Edging out third place finishers New Hampshire's Nitro Boater Mike McNamara and NEPVA Angler Mike Wisner by a mere .10 lbs, was Boater Steve Hosken and NEPVA Angler Ray Francis. Hosken and Francis's five-bass limit tipped the scales at 11.36 lbs, as an early limit allowed the second place finishers to cull several times during the day. Their efforts were rewarded with handsome NEPVA trophies and rod/reel combos.

No stranger to the winners circle, Mike McNamara and NEPVA Angler Mike Wisner utilized a variety of soft plastic baits and rigging techniques including drop-shot rigs to secure third place with 11.26 lbs. McNamara and Wisner received NEPVA 3rd Place trophies and prizes.

Fishing in her second NEPVA Bass Tournament NEPVA Angler Jamie Linden, paired with boater Rod Taylor, won the Largemouth Lunker Award with her 5.16lb Hawg. "I actually had a larger bass on my line, but was unable to reel it in," revealed Jamie as she and Taylor posed for pictures with their Lunker Trophies.

Smallmouth Lunker Trophies were captured by boater Frank Montmarquet and first time NEPVA Angler Dan Sousa. Their Bronze-Back-Beauty over shadowed all other smallmouths and weighed-in at 3.88lbs.

Call it Lady Luck, but Laureen Oaks dominated the Pontoon/Bank Division when Oaks was the only angler in this division to land a bass! Not only did Laureen Oaks win both Lunker and Division Trophies, but Laureen experienced the thrill of fishing for her very first time ever!!! She even kissed her bass like Jimmy Houston.

As banquet ceremonies continued with prizes being awarded to all NEPVA Anglers, everyone awaited the final Special NEPVA Anglers Only drawing for a fully rigged 12' Aluminum G3 Boat/Trailer and Yamaha Outboard, courtesy of Ken's Yamaha and G3 Boats. With the winning ticket in his hand, sponsor G3 Boats representative Chris Cote called out the numbers and immediately an elated scream ricocheted through the banquet hall. "I won…I won…I won the Boat," voiced Karen Butler, as her and her husband Tom came forward to claim their grand prize.

God Bless and Best Bass'n

There is no entry fee for any of the participating anglers, thanks to the following list of generous sponsors of the NEPVA Bass Tournament Trail who donate food, cash and prizes: Skeeter Boats, G3 Boats, NH BASS Fed., Xtreme Marine, Northern BASS Supply, Anheuser-Busch Inc., Irwin Marine. Marine USA Inc., Woods & Waters USA, Mass BASS Fed., Winchester Coop-Bank, Bob's Bait & Tackle, Reading Coop Bank, Woburn Patrolman & Supervisor Unions, Iron Workers Local 7, Local 651 Mechanics, Laconia Saving Bank, Nissitissit Sales & Services, Barnnett Page & Stone Corp., James Ficociello DDS, Paul The Plumber, Maine BASS Fed., Danvers Savings Bank, Necco Candy, Vellucci Insurance, E.M. Heath Hardware, Wickes Lumber, Larry's Woodcrafts, Coca Cola, Butlee's Outdoor Adventures, Frito Lay For additional information on the NEPVA contact Tiny LaFontaine @ 1.781.935.2480 or visit our web-site @ www.nepva.org