Lake Winnipesaukee, NH Tournament Results

Moultonborough, NH September 13^th, 2008: Threaten by constant rain, anxious competitors registered with NEPVA Volunteer Laurie Campbell for the 6^th Annual NH Camp Robindel Lake Winnipesaukee NEPVA Bass Tournament. Dedicated seasoned NEPVA Anglers continued to arrive throughout the evening, as others talked tournament strategy and prepared their tackle for the fourth tournament of the 2008 season.

“I told you not to worry about the weather,” replied always positive thinking NEPVA Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine, as he sipped a warm cup of coffee and enjoyed Chef Marino’s hearty breakfast, prelude to the morning briefing and Team Pairings. 

The rumbling sound of Harley Davidson Motorcycles signaled the arrival of the New Hampshire Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club. (www.namknightsnh.org) Escorting each NEPVA Angler to their partner’s bass boat, the Nam Knights loaded and safely secured anglers with life vest for a safe day of fishing competition. While the Boater Division left the Robindel docks in two separate flights, the Nam Knights proceeded to load NEPVA Anglers in electric wheelchairs competing in the Pontoon/Bank Division unto two awaiting pontoon boats. Assisting, as deck mates on the pontoon boats were volunteers Bill Breach of the Mass Federation Nation and trail sponsor Paul Marcotte from the New Hampshire Budweiser Brewery.            

As the sun peeked over the White Mountains, twenty-five New England PVA Teams kept their lines wet in an effort to secure a five-bass tem-limit. For the first time in along time anglers actually removed their anticipated rain gear, as they rolled up their sleeves welcoming sunshine accompanied with warm seventy-degree temperatures. 

When the scales were officially closed Connecticut’s NEPVA Angler Joe Slattery paired with Marine USA, Inc (www.MarineUSAinc.com) Nitro Pro Staffer Mitch Glick captured the Lake Winnipesaukee Championship Title, their total weight of 8.92 lbs out distanced 2^nd Place finishers Boat Captain John Goldberg and NEPVA Angler Paul Reed’s 5-bass limit of 7.68 lbs. Two-time Lake Winnipesaukee NEPVA Champion Boat Captain Paul Gelinas and first-time NEPVA Angler Scott Carruthers of Vermont managed only 4-bass, thus settling for third place honors with 7.62 lbs. Tournament Toyota Tundra Lunker award went to Boat Captain Greg Mazur and NEPVA Angler Ken Mumford with a 2.77 lb largemouth bass. 

Nitro Z-7 Pro Staffer Mitch Glick revealed he and Joe Slattery started culling bass at 9:30 am. “We basically utilized two techniques all day long, and in fact caught bass all day long as well,” states Glick. Working a Drop-Shot rig paired with a YUM (www.YUMbaits.com)  ‘Big Show’ paddle worm in a watermelon fleck color and a ¼ oz weight the Champions drifted over contour lines dropping from 3’into 20’. According to Slattery when the drop-shot bite slowed down they switched to weightless NEPVA Bass Trail sponsor Gary Yamamoto Senko’s in green pumpkin colors. (www.baits.com)   

God Bless and Best Bass’n

 The NEPVA Bass Trail would like to thank their Lake Winnipesaukee sponsors; Marine USA, Inc (www.marineusainc.com), Shakespeare Fishing Tackle, Nam Knights Motorcycle Club of America (www.namknightsnh.com), Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits (www.baits.com), NH Federation Nation, Reel Time Designs-Harmonic Rods, and a very special thanks to the Angler Productions Camera Crew, NH BASS Federation Nation Youth Anglers, and all of the Volunteers, especially the kitchen workers and Boat Captains.  (For complete tournament results log onto www.nepva.org)

All NEPVA Bass Trail Tournaments are totally FREE to ALL participants 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 Decoteau @ 1.413.566.3961