Lake Winnipesaukee, NH Tournament Results

The tournament morning briefing-pairing and breakfast ran like clock work, as Sandy Oja of Northern Bass Supply (www.northernbass.com) called out boat numbers and teams headed to the loading docks anxious to reel in their five-bass limits.

"All of our NEPVA Anglers have been paired with a Boat Captain, or if they have registered for our Bank Division competition, assigned to one of our two pontoon boats," smiled NEPVA Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine, as volunteer members of the Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club carefully loaded each NEPVA Angler into their partners’ bass boat.

Under the watchful eye of television celebrity Dan Kenney and his camera crew, of the ‘Go Fish’ cable network fishing series (www.gofishdan.com), thirty-four angling teams in the Boater Division boosted huge NEPVA Bass Smiles as they departed the docks in search of Lake Winnie’s smallmouth & largemouth bass population before the 2:00pm weigh-in.

"I have fish competitive bass tournaments, but I have never witnessed such energetic enthusiasm from an entire group of anglers," remarked Dan Kenney. "Maybe it’s just the opportunity to get out fishing and enjoy this beautifully scenic body of water," replied one of Nam Knight volunteer members.

"I think it’s a combination of all that with a turbo charge from the ‘RED BULL’ energy drink (www.redbull.com) everyone had this," echoed another Knight!

Whatever the reason there was no doubt both anglers and volunteers received an extra boost of energy thanks to Dave and Chris from the RED BULL Mobile Team! "This RED BULL energy drink just might excel me into a turbo-charge mode," replied NEPVA John Walls of New York, as he a Boat Captain Steve Hosken idled away from the docks.

With the ‘GO FISH’ camera crew loaded unto my camera boat, we headed towards the sheltered waters of Lee’s Mill. Coming off plane, we idled towards a group of boats rotating around Ganzy, Lincoln and Birch Hill islands.

It was obvious even these New England Paralyzed Veterans of America Bass Anglers like to Ham-it-up when being viewed by the lens of a television camera! Laughter framed with ‘I caught it….No I caught-it, How’s everyone else doing, don’t tell anyone what we’re throwing for baits, all seemed to be script lines memorized by each NEPVA Angler.

Overcast skies paired with windy conditions as the day wore on, however each angling team our camera boat visited managed to entice a few bites and most teams had their livewells pumping! From our on-the-water filming it look as though the weigh-ins were going to be an exciting Bass-Battle of mixed bags of smallmouth and largemouth bass!

An aroma of hotdogs and hamburgers filled the air greeting each arriving team approaching the docks. While a host of volunteers prepared for the FREE Weigh-in Cookout, Nam Knight Members retrieved NEPVA Anglers wheelchairs, unloading each angler and then helping them to the weigh-in site.

"Once, all of our NEPVA Anglers are out of their partners boats and escorted to the weigh-in site, we will then call boaters to the scales in groups of five," announce tournament emcee Sandra Oja of Northern Bass Supply (1-800-BASS-032)).

Cold front conditions and easterly winds foretold the story of where most of the five bass limits were! Yet, ten teams managed to find the secret in enticing enough bites as they carried their limits to the scales for weigh master Larry ‘Bags’ Batignani. "This is going to be a battle of ounces," whispered Bob Duffy as he checked each teams catch for the legal 12 inch size requirement.

Sandy Oja kept the weigh-ins exciting as a crowd of over two-hundred huddled around the scales cheering on their favorite team. But, when New Hampshire’s B.A.S.S.

Federation angler Paul Gelinas and NEPVA partner Ray Granduit reached the scales the crowd went wild, as Sandy called out an official five bass limit weighing 11.57 lbs., "Folks we have a new leader!"

"We started out working weedlines in the Lee’s Mill area for largemouth bass, by throwing, drop shot rigs, and weightless Senko’s rigged both Texas and Wacky style, but the bite was really slow and just about died as the day worn on," said Boat Captain Paul Gelinas. Then, adding with a Bass Winning smile, "So we moved to deep water for smallmouths!"

Gelinas and NEPVA partner Ray Granduit dragged ½ oz & ¾ oz spider jigs along 20-25 foot break lines. "As long as the bottom had some grass we were able to get bit. But, the best part of the whole day, for me at least, was watching Ray reel in that 3 lb smallie as it kept jumping and diving…It was awesome!"

Second place finishers with a five bass limit weighing 9.95 lbs went to the New England PVA Angling Team of PVA Angler Ken Munford and PVA Angler Lon Hilde. With Munford driving Hilde’s bass boat these NEPVA Anglers, who by the way also compete on the National PVA Bass Trail, almost pulled-off what some might consider an impossible feat!

Working slow falling Yamamoto Senko’s rigged weightless in a variety of colors; they managed to dissect Lake Winnie’s weedlines to earn Quantum Rod/Reel combinations, along with beautiful handcrafted NEPVA Second Place Plaques.

It was no secret as to which baits the top teams turned to for their winning limits! But, what was a surprise was the 9.62 lb three-bass third place finish of Boat Captain Bill Church and NEPVA first-time angler Chris Young! Young and Church anchored their creel with the tournaments Lunker Largemouh tipping the scales at 4.09 lbs., to secure both third place and Lunker plaques along with a host of tackle!

"The bite was extremely tough today yet Justin (Arbogast) and I had a great time fishing together and were blessed when that big smallie devoured our Senko," replied NEPVA angler Jim Wallack upon receiving their Lunker Smallmouth prizes.

Bank Division Top honors went to first-time NEPVA Angler Stefan Bozdaj, of New York. Stefan’s 2.5 lb smallmouth bass, which entertained the entire pontoon boat crew with acrobatic jumps and deep diving antics under the boat and around the outboard motor, earned Bozdaj both 1^st Place and Lunker awards. His bait of choice…green pumpkin Senko!!! Each participating NEPVA Angler received a tournament bag of prizes before preparing for the evenings Banquet Dinner and awards ceremonies.

With music playing in the background, Nam Knight’s New Hampshire Chapter president ‘Hunter’ called NEPVA Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine and NEPVA President Ken Medeiros to the stage. "On behalf of the Nam Knights and our sponsors we would like to present to the NEPVA Bass Trail this check for over $5,000.00."

Holding back his teary eyes, as NEPVA President Ken Medeiros held up the check for pictures, Tiny LaFontaine replied, "With the approval of Ken, the NEPVA Bass Trail would like to take $1,000 of this huge donation and send it to our PVA members in Louisiana to help in rebuilding their needs from Hurricane Katrina."

NEPVA President Ken Medeiros immediately announced the funds would be added to the Louisiana PVA donations. Then added with a smile, "I also promise to be back here for next year’s tournament, and I just might try my hand at fishing as well!"

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. 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, Bill Deoteau @ 1.413.566.396