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2009 NJ Bass Federation Tournament Report
Bass Boat Insurance
1-800-476-5667
1-800-476-5667
Lake Hopatcong, NJ - July 12th, 09
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McMAHON WINS FIRST NJBF EVENT
The recent New Jersey Bass Federation event held on July 12, 2009 at Lake Hopatcong proved that the State’s largest lake has recovered from its bout with the largemouth bass virus. In this regard, the Federation’s best anglers brought in good bags of fish in an event marked by pleasant temperatures, mostly bluebird skies and strong winds. Given this backdrop, a relatively new Federation angler took the top Boater Division spot, while the Co-Angler Division was taken by one of the most venerable and widely known Federation anglers.
Boater Division
Defeating the other 49 anglers in the Boater Division with an impressive five-fish limit weighing 14.72 pounds was Mike McMahon. McMahon, a member of the Berkley Bassmasters who resides in Hackettstown, New Jersey, indicated that his victory was his first-ever Federation win. He stated that his strategy on the day was to flip one particular weed bed in 10 feet of water and wait for the fish to move in and out. Doing this paid early dividends as he caught several fish in the morning. After the expected mid-day lull, the fish turned on again for McMahon in the afternoon. McMahon stated that his fish were caught on one lure, a green pumpkin four-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged texas style on a 1/8 ounce weight. For the victory, McMahon received the Boater Division first prize of $1,090.
Finishing second in the Boater Division, exactly 1.50 pounds behind, was Rich Boyko. Boyko, from Greenwood Lake, New York, is a member of the highly successful United Bass Anglers. His best five fish on the day weighed in at 13.22 pounds. For his second place Boater Division finish, Boyko received $872. Rounding out the top three Boater Division positions was Mitch Pierson, a TBF Affiliate, who weighed in a five-fish limit totaling 13.12 pounds. Pierson was awarded a check for $599 for his third place Boater Division finish.
The rest of the top placing Boater Division finishers were Ron Schneider with five fish weighing 13.02 pounds, worth $436; Forest Honeywell with five fish, including the lunker winning 6.08 pound largemouth, totaling 12.78 pounds, worth $381; and Scott Weiland with five fish weighing 12.38 pounds, worth $272.
The Boater Division lunker, as stated above, was a giant 6.08 pound largemouth, caught by Federation Executive Officer Forest Honeywell. Honeywell, from Linden, New Jersey, and a member of the Castaways Bassmasters, stated that the fish was caught relatively late in the afternoon in Byram’s Cove. His Boater Division lunker was worth $250.
Co-Angler Division
If you asked the membership as to who is the most recognizable Federation angler, many would rank the Co-Angler Division winner near the top. Maybe it’s due to his gregarious personality or the fact that he served as the Federation’s weigh master for many seasons; or, maybe it’s the nickname. Whatever the reason for his recognizability, Al “Froggy” Kolasa easily took the Co-Angler Division top prize with an impressive five fish total weight of 12.98 pounds. Froggy, who resides in Blairstown, New Jersey, is a member of the Mega Bass Six. Included in his bag of hefty largemouth was the Co-Angler Division lunker, a 4.72 pound largemouth. For his Co-Angler Division victory, Froggy received $590 along with an additional $125 for his lunker.
Finishing second was Al Hudson of the K.O.B.A. chapter with a five-fish limit weighing 9.94 pounds. Hudson, from Elizabeth, New Jersey, stated that he fished mainly in and around the docks in the Bed Bug Island area of the lake. His seven keeper sized fish on the day were caught primarily on a 3/8 ounce jig and secondarily on a Yamamoto Senko. Hudson wished to thank his Boater, Tom Przybysz for a good day on the water. He received a check for $472 for his second place Co-Angler Division finish.
Third place in the Co-Angler Division went to Ken Merlock. Merlock, from Mays Landing, New Jersey, and a member of the Bass Assassin Six, weighed in two fish totaling 4.98 pounds. Merlock stated that he and his Boater, Rich Schneidereit, fished deeper weed areas. His two keeper fish fell for a deep diving crankbait and a Carolina-rigged Zoom Trick Worm. Ken wished to thank Rich for a great day and also stated that he was very happy that he joined the Federation this season. He received $324 for his third place finish.
Rounding out the rest of the top Co-Angler Division finishers were: Marc Goldberg with two largemouth weighing 4.28 pounds, worth $236; Mike Shaleesh with three largemouth totaling 4.20 pounds, worth $206 pounds; and Bob Osman with one largemouth weighing 2.06 pounds, worth $147.
Miscellaneous Notes
1.In all, 15 anglers (21%) brought five-fish limits to the scales and 153 fish totaling 318.24 pounds were weighed in. All but one fish was released alive (99.35%).
2.By virtue of being the first and second highest placing eligible Ranger Boat owners in the event, Mitch Pierson and Skip Lerman 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 two point tournaments.
4.The Federation gave out a huge amount of merchandise, including fishing rods, shirts and Keitech lures 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.
The recent New Jersey Bass Federation event held on July 12, 2009 at Lake Hopatcong proved that the State’s largest lake has recovered from its bout with the largemouth bass virus. In this regard, the Federation’s best anglers brought in good bags of fish in an event marked by pleasant temperatures, mostly bluebird skies and strong winds. Given this backdrop, a relatively new Federation angler took the top Boater Division spot, while the Co-Angler Division was taken by one of the most venerable and widely known Federation anglers.
Boater Division
Defeating the other 49 anglers in the Boater Division with an impressive five-fish limit weighing 14.72 pounds was Mike McMahon. McMahon, a member of the Berkley Bassmasters who resides in Hackettstown, New Jersey, indicated that his victory was his first-ever Federation win. He stated that his strategy on the day was to flip one particular weed bed in 10 feet of water and wait for the fish to move in and out. Doing this paid early dividends as he caught several fish in the morning. After the expected mid-day lull, the fish turned on again for McMahon in the afternoon. McMahon stated that his fish were caught on one lure, a green pumpkin four-inch Yamamoto Senko, rigged texas style on a 1/8 ounce weight. For the victory, McMahon received the Boater Division first prize of $1,090.
Finishing second in the Boater Division, exactly 1.50 pounds behind, was Rich Boyko. Boyko, from Greenwood Lake, New York, is a member of the highly successful United Bass Anglers. His best five fish on the day weighed in at 13.22 pounds. For his second place Boater Division finish, Boyko received $872. Rounding out the top three Boater Division positions was Mitch Pierson, a TBF Affiliate, who weighed in a five-fish limit totaling 13.12 pounds. Pierson was awarded a check for $599 for his third place Boater Division finish.
The rest of the top placing Boater Division finishers were Ron Schneider with five fish weighing 13.02 pounds, worth $436; Forest Honeywell with five fish, including the lunker winning 6.08 pound largemouth, totaling 12.78 pounds, worth $381; and Scott Weiland with five fish weighing 12.38 pounds, worth $272.
The Boater Division lunker, as stated above, was a giant 6.08 pound largemouth, caught by Federation Executive Officer Forest Honeywell. Honeywell, from Linden, New Jersey, and a member of the Castaways Bassmasters, stated that the fish was caught relatively late in the afternoon in Byram’s Cove. His Boater Division lunker was worth $250.
Co-Angler Division
If you asked the membership as to who is the most recognizable Federation angler, many would rank the Co-Angler Division winner near the top. Maybe it’s due to his gregarious personality or the fact that he served as the Federation’s weigh master for many seasons; or, maybe it’s the nickname. Whatever the reason for his recognizability, Al “Froggy” Kolasa easily took the Co-Angler Division top prize with an impressive five fish total weight of 12.98 pounds. Froggy, who resides in Blairstown, New Jersey, is a member of the Mega Bass Six. Included in his bag of hefty largemouth was the Co-Angler Division lunker, a 4.72 pound largemouth. For his Co-Angler Division victory, Froggy received $590 along with an additional $125 for his lunker.
Finishing second was Al Hudson of the K.O.B.A. chapter with a five-fish limit weighing 9.94 pounds. Hudson, from Elizabeth, New Jersey, stated that he fished mainly in and around the docks in the Bed Bug Island area of the lake. His seven keeper sized fish on the day were caught primarily on a 3/8 ounce jig and secondarily on a Yamamoto Senko. Hudson wished to thank his Boater, Tom Przybysz for a good day on the water. He received a check for $472 for his second place Co-Angler Division finish.
Third place in the Co-Angler Division went to Ken Merlock. Merlock, from Mays Landing, New Jersey, and a member of the Bass Assassin Six, weighed in two fish totaling 4.98 pounds. Merlock stated that he and his Boater, Rich Schneidereit, fished deeper weed areas. His two keeper fish fell for a deep diving crankbait and a Carolina-rigged Zoom Trick Worm. Ken wished to thank Rich for a great day and also stated that he was very happy that he joined the Federation this season. He received $324 for his third place finish.
Rounding out the rest of the top Co-Angler Division finishers were: Marc Goldberg with two largemouth weighing 4.28 pounds, worth $236; Mike Shaleesh with three largemouth totaling 4.20 pounds, worth $206 pounds; and Bob Osman with one largemouth weighing 2.06 pounds, worth $147.
Miscellaneous Notes
1.In all, 15 anglers (21%) brought five-fish limits to the scales and 153 fish totaling 318.24 pounds were weighed in. All but one fish was released alive (99.35%).
2.By virtue of being the first and second highest placing eligible Ranger Boat owners in the event, Mitch Pierson and Skip Lerman 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 two point tournaments.
4.The Federation gave out a huge amount of merchandise, including fishing rods, shirts and Keitech lures 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.