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2009 NJ Bass Federation Tournament Report
Bass Boat Insurance
1-800-476-5667
1-800-476-5667
Candlewood Lake, CT - June 7th, 09
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LAUFENBERG and CLUBMATES TAKE CANDLEWOOD TO THE LIMIT
Given the outcome, some would say that the second New Jersey Bass Federation point event of the season proved to be a club event. With that said, the event, held on scenic Candlewood Lake in Connecticut on June 7, 2009, was highly competitive. In this regard, the lake itself showed why it is considered one of the top bass fishing lakes in the northeast. In this regard, notwithstanding the tough bluebird conditions as well as the nearly inconceivable amount of pleasure boat/watercraft traffic, the lake still produced many limits and some impressive weights. Most amazing is the fact that three individuals from the same club posted the three highest weights and took the top three spots in the Boater Division. Equally impressive is the fact that the Co-Angler Division winner posted his second consecutive Co-Angler victory.
Boater Division
Defeating the other 58 anglers in the Boater Division with an impressive five-fish limit weighing 16.80 pounds was Rob Laufenberg. Laufenberg, a member of the Limiters who resides in Rockaway, New Jersey, weighed in a sack of five hefty largemouth. He indicated that he caught all of his fish on the day fishing mid-lake shallow inside weed edges with a carolina-rigged pumpkin colored lizard. He wished to particularly thank his club mate, Dan Ardin, for tipping him off on the tournament-winning technique. For the Boater Division victory, Laufenberg was awarded a $1,250 check.
Finishing second in the Boater Division, nearly two pounds behind, was Doug Peabody, another member of the Limiters with a five-fish limit of largemouth weighing 15.08 pounds. Peabody, who resides in Brick, New Jersey, stated that he also fished mid-lake shallow inside weed edges with a carolina-rigged lizard in green pumpkin. As with Laufenberg, Peabody was cued into the pattern by Dan Ardin, who he wished to thank. Peabody also indicated that he caught several fish by pitching a texas-rigged lizard along the weed edges. For his second place Boater Division finish, he received $1,000.
Making it a Limiter clean sweep was the third place Boater Division finisher, Dave Frost. Frost, from North Haledon, New Jersey, weighed in four largemouth and one smallmouth totaling 13.86 pounds. Frost gave essentially the same report as his club mates, stating his fish were caught mid-lake on shallow inner weed edges on a carolina-rigged green pumpkin lizard. As per his club mates, he wished to thank Dan Ardin for his vital information. Frost was awarded a check for $687 for his third place Boater Division finish.
The rest of the top placing Boater Division finishers were Derick Olson with three largemouth and two smallmouth weighing 13.26 pounds, worth $500; Chris Lee with five largemouth totaling 13.08 pounds, worth $437; and Scott Weiland (also of the Limiters) with five largemouth weighing 12.96 pounds, worth $312.
The Boater Division lunker, a 4.32 pound largemouth, was caught by Bob Gilbert, from Old Bridge, New Jersey, and a member of the South Jersey Hawg Hunters. Gilbert reported catching the lunker winner on a weed edge in six feet of water on a drop shot tipped with a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko. His Boater Division lunker was worth $290.
Co-Angler Division
While only 29 Co-Anglers participated in the event, the finish was a nail-biter. Coming out on top for the second consecutive event was Marc Goldberg with a five-fish limit of largemouth weighing 11.88 pounds, good enough to take the Co-Angler Division by just over one ounce.
Goldberg, from Jackson, New Jersey, and a member of the Bass Kickers, fished the inner weed edges early on and moved out into the weeds later in the day to secure his winning limit. He reported catching his fish on a texas-rigged green pumpkin Berkley Gulp Fry as well as a green pumpkin Zoom Meathead. Goldberg wished to thank his club mate, Joe Sancho. For his Co-Angler Division victory, Goldberg received $630.
Narrowly finishing second was Aaron Melnick of the Over the Ridge crew. Melnick, who resides in Vineland, weighed in four largemouth and one smallmouth that totaled 11.80 pounds. He reported catching the bulk of his fish in shallow water on rocky shorelines in the north end of the lake. Melnick wished to thank his boater, Tim Finnegan, for the day. He received a check for $504 for his second place Co-Angler Division finish.
Third place in the Co-Angler Division went to Mark Donio. Donio, from Millington, New Jersey, and a member of the Raritan Valley Bassmasters, weighed in one largemouth and four smallmouth that totaled 11.00 pounds. Donio indicated that he caught his fish on the inner weed edges on a three inch Yamamoto Senko thrown on a Shaky Head jig. He received $346 for his third place finish.
Rounding out the rest of the top Co-Angler Division finishers were: Vince Troiano with three largemouth and two smallmouth weighing 10.72 pounds, worth $252; Ken Merlock with five largemouth totaling 10.10 pounds, worth $220 pounds; and Al Hudson with two largemouth and three smallmouth weighing 9.76 pounds, worth $157.
The Co-Angler Division lunker, a beautiful 5.56 pound largemouth, was caught by Ken Bertles. Bertles, from Pennsville, New Jersey, and a member of the Gloucester County Bassmasters, reported catching the lunker winner off a dock with a Keitech swimbait. He stated that promptly after getting the fish in the boat, the hook fell from its mouth. His Co-Angler Division lunker was worth $135.
Miscellaneous Notes
1.In all, a full 41 anglers (47%) brought five-fish limits to the scales and 292 fish totaling 578.19 pounds were weighed in. All but four fish was released alive (98.63%). The average weight brought in was 6.64 pounds per angler which is a testament to how good a bass fishery exists at Candlewood Lake.
2.By virtue of being the first and second highest placing eligible Ranger Boat owners in the event, Chris Lee and Karl Ulmer will receive $100 and $90, respectively, in Ranger Cup bonus money.
3.An extra $600 ($300 per Division) in prize money was added to the purse for this event by the Federation Board of Directors. The same amount will be added to each of the remaining four point tournaments.
4.The Federation gave out a huge amount of merchandise, including fishing rods, tackle bags, shirts and dozens of Keitech swimbaits in a free raffle at the end of the event. All anglers who did not receive prize money in the event were eligible for the raffle so long as they were present when it was drawn. Free raffles of this nature will be held at the end of every point event, so it is important to stay until the completion of the event.
5.Any angler who competes in all five regular Federation tournaments this season is eligible to win one of four $500 prizes to be raffled off at the season-ending Northern Chesapeake/Susquehanna Flats event.
Given the outcome, some would say that the second New Jersey Bass Federation point event of the season proved to be a club event. With that said, the event, held on scenic Candlewood Lake in Connecticut on June 7, 2009, was highly competitive. In this regard, the lake itself showed why it is considered one of the top bass fishing lakes in the northeast. In this regard, notwithstanding the tough bluebird conditions as well as the nearly inconceivable amount of pleasure boat/watercraft traffic, the lake still produced many limits and some impressive weights. Most amazing is the fact that three individuals from the same club posted the three highest weights and took the top three spots in the Boater Division. Equally impressive is the fact that the Co-Angler Division winner posted his second consecutive Co-Angler victory.
Boater Division
Defeating the other 58 anglers in the Boater Division with an impressive five-fish limit weighing 16.80 pounds was Rob Laufenberg. Laufenberg, a member of the Limiters who resides in Rockaway, New Jersey, weighed in a sack of five hefty largemouth. He indicated that he caught all of his fish on the day fishing mid-lake shallow inside weed edges with a carolina-rigged pumpkin colored lizard. He wished to particularly thank his club mate, Dan Ardin, for tipping him off on the tournament-winning technique. For the Boater Division victory, Laufenberg was awarded a $1,250 check.
Finishing second in the Boater Division, nearly two pounds behind, was Doug Peabody, another member of the Limiters with a five-fish limit of largemouth weighing 15.08 pounds. Peabody, who resides in Brick, New Jersey, stated that he also fished mid-lake shallow inside weed edges with a carolina-rigged lizard in green pumpkin. As with Laufenberg, Peabody was cued into the pattern by Dan Ardin, who he wished to thank. Peabody also indicated that he caught several fish by pitching a texas-rigged lizard along the weed edges. For his second place Boater Division finish, he received $1,000.
Making it a Limiter clean sweep was the third place Boater Division finisher, Dave Frost. Frost, from North Haledon, New Jersey, weighed in four largemouth and one smallmouth totaling 13.86 pounds. Frost gave essentially the same report as his club mates, stating his fish were caught mid-lake on shallow inner weed edges on a carolina-rigged green pumpkin lizard. As per his club mates, he wished to thank Dan Ardin for his vital information. Frost was awarded a check for $687 for his third place Boater Division finish.
The rest of the top placing Boater Division finishers were Derick Olson with three largemouth and two smallmouth weighing 13.26 pounds, worth $500; Chris Lee with five largemouth totaling 13.08 pounds, worth $437; and Scott Weiland (also of the Limiters) with five largemouth weighing 12.96 pounds, worth $312.
The Boater Division lunker, a 4.32 pound largemouth, was caught by Bob Gilbert, from Old Bridge, New Jersey, and a member of the South Jersey Hawg Hunters. Gilbert reported catching the lunker winner on a weed edge in six feet of water on a drop shot tipped with a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko. His Boater Division lunker was worth $290.
Co-Angler Division
While only 29 Co-Anglers participated in the event, the finish was a nail-biter. Coming out on top for the second consecutive event was Marc Goldberg with a five-fish limit of largemouth weighing 11.88 pounds, good enough to take the Co-Angler Division by just over one ounce.
Goldberg, from Jackson, New Jersey, and a member of the Bass Kickers, fished the inner weed edges early on and moved out into the weeds later in the day to secure his winning limit. He reported catching his fish on a texas-rigged green pumpkin Berkley Gulp Fry as well as a green pumpkin Zoom Meathead. Goldberg wished to thank his club mate, Joe Sancho. For his Co-Angler Division victory, Goldberg received $630.
Narrowly finishing second was Aaron Melnick of the Over the Ridge crew. Melnick, who resides in Vineland, weighed in four largemouth and one smallmouth that totaled 11.80 pounds. He reported catching the bulk of his fish in shallow water on rocky shorelines in the north end of the lake. Melnick wished to thank his boater, Tim Finnegan, for the day. He received a check for $504 for his second place Co-Angler Division finish.
Third place in the Co-Angler Division went to Mark Donio. Donio, from Millington, New Jersey, and a member of the Raritan Valley Bassmasters, weighed in one largemouth and four smallmouth that totaled 11.00 pounds. Donio indicated that he caught his fish on the inner weed edges on a three inch Yamamoto Senko thrown on a Shaky Head jig. He received $346 for his third place finish.
Rounding out the rest of the top Co-Angler Division finishers were: Vince Troiano with three largemouth and two smallmouth weighing 10.72 pounds, worth $252; Ken Merlock with five largemouth totaling 10.10 pounds, worth $220 pounds; and Al Hudson with two largemouth and three smallmouth weighing 9.76 pounds, worth $157.
The Co-Angler Division lunker, a beautiful 5.56 pound largemouth, was caught by Ken Bertles. Bertles, from Pennsville, New Jersey, and a member of the Gloucester County Bassmasters, reported catching the lunker winner off a dock with a Keitech swimbait. He stated that promptly after getting the fish in the boat, the hook fell from its mouth. His Co-Angler Division lunker was worth $135.
Miscellaneous Notes
1.In all, a full 41 anglers (47%) brought five-fish limits to the scales and 292 fish totaling 578.19 pounds were weighed in. All but four fish was released alive (98.63%). The average weight brought in was 6.64 pounds per angler which is a testament to how good a bass fishery exists at Candlewood Lake.
2.By virtue of being the first and second highest placing eligible Ranger Boat owners in the event, Chris Lee and Karl Ulmer will receive $100 and $90, respectively, in Ranger Cup bonus money.
3.An extra $600 ($300 per Division) in prize money was added to the purse for this event by the Federation Board of Directors. The same amount will be added to each of the remaining four point tournaments.
4.The Federation gave out a huge amount of merchandise, including fishing rods, tackle bags, shirts and dozens of Keitech swimbaits in a free raffle at the end of the event. All anglers who did not receive prize money in the event were eligible for the raffle so long as they were present when it was drawn. Free raffles of this nature will be held at the end of every point event, so it is important to stay until the completion of the event.
5.Any angler who competes in all five regular Federation tournaments this season is eligible to win one of four $500 prizes to be raffled off at the season-ending Northern Chesapeake/Susquehanna Flats event.