Bergen Bassmasters provide major support for the 2nd Annual Open Bass Tournament to benefit the Troops c/o the USO

August 29, 2010
 
Perfect weather greeted 40 teams who fished in this year’s Open tournament to benefit the troops c/o the USO. The Lake Champlain event was coordinated and managed by the Plattsburgh Bass Club c/o Rick Perry and Ben Wright (president NY TBF). The weigh-in was managed by the National FLW staff c/o Bill Taylor and Chris Hoover.  Karen Clark, USO at Fort Drum Director, was on hand and was pleased to take back approximately $3,000 for the Fort Drum NY USO Center. Assisting Rick in garnishing sponsors and supporters were Nick Albano, Bob Murphy, Robert Curtis, John Ernest, Lance Cahoon, Scott Mitchell, John Williams and Dave Lipari of the Bergen Bassmasters (NJBF). Placing in the money (and ahead of many pros), were Scott Mitchell and Lance Cahoon. Their six bass limit of 19-14 exceeded the 19-10 bag weighed in by Chris Hall and Dave Wolak. Chris had won the FLW non-boater division the day before and Dave Wolak finished in the Top Five of the FLW pro division.
 
After cash pay outs to the first 8 teams, 13 other teams were awarded top quality prizes. Finishing in the prize category were Bergen’s Dave Lipari and Plattsburgh native Jim Jefferies. They weighed in 18-12 for 11th Place. With a 14-15 limit, Nick Albano and Joe Sancho won a free entry for the annual November Mohawk River Snowball Tournament (courtesy of Iceman) and a $100 Rangerwear Gift Certificate (six were donated via Duane Sennett of Ranger Boats). Plattsburgh Bass Club members, making the prize category; included Tony Bushey, Jim Jefferies and Ben Wright.
 

Sponsors donating non cash prizes via the Bergen Bassmasters were, North Jersey Marine c/o Harvey Knight, Reynolds Marine c/o Tom Reynolds, Northern Bass Supply c/o Sandra, Ranger Boats, The Iceman Dave, Bearpaws c/o Johnny Olsen, Ramsey Outdoors c/o Bob Murphy, Daiwa, NY Giants c/o Robert Curtis, The Meadowlands Renaissance Hotel, the WFN, MegaStrike c/o Bobby Urhig and Optima Batteries. Rick Perry and his club obtained additional support such as $1,000 in lunker money from the Econo Lodge and airline tickets from Direct Air.

Bergen’s USO Core Committee confirmed a 3rd Annual Open Benefit event and it will be held on Lake George (Mossy Point) out of Ticonderoga NY. The date of our third event is set for Sunday – September 11, 2011. For this major event, Robert Cartlidge will have his staff and professional caliber TBF trailer on site. With the support of the FLW, TBF, NY TBF and the NJBF, we are expecting over 100 boats! What better way to honor 9/11 than to conduct a benefit tournament for our troops! The recipients will be the troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan c/o the USO of Metropolitan New York.

Once again, congratulations are in order for Bergen’s Scott Mitchell and Lance Cahoon.

 
1    Jacob Powroznik / Ralph Mylhousen      6 bass              21-14
2    Chip Harrison / Renee Shley                  6 bass              21-9
3    John Cox / Keith Carson                         6 bass              21-2
4    Brian Bylotas / Brian Bylotas Jr             6 bass              20-14
5    Brad Rightour / AC Campbell                 6 bass              20-4
6    Scott Mitchell / Lance Cahoon                6 bass              19-14
7    JJ Ziolkowski / Craig Henry                   6 bass              19-13
8    Chris Hall / Dave Wolak                         6 bass              19-10
9    Tony Bushey / ED Pecore                       6 bass              19-1
10  Tom Reynolds / Todd Wysmuller           6 bass              18-12
11  Jim Jefferies /  Dave Lipari                    6 bass              18-7
12  Brian Travis / Ben Wright                       6 bass              18-2
13  Bryan La Belle / Adam Stretter              6 bass              18-1
13  Dave Diodato / Christine Potter             6 bass              18-1
15  Scott Monsoor / Ken Hoffman                6 bass              17-9
16  Gary Yamamoto / Derek Yamamoto      6 bass              17-7
17  Derrick Hughes / James Smith               6 bass              15-12
18  Randy Yarnell / Kathleen Yarnell           6 bass              15-8
19  Joe Sancho / Nick Albano                       6 bass              14-15
20  Eric Low / Steve Wilson                          6 bass              14-10
21 Craig Powers / Howard Hammond           6 bass              13-12
22  Bobby Urhig / Mystery Man                   6 bass              13-5
23 Bill Vella / John Williams                         6 bass              13-4
24  Dale Brown / Duane Son                         6 bass              13-1
25  John Ernest / Robert Curtis                    6 bass              12-10
26 Dave Dixon / Bob Murphy                       6 bass              12-0
27  Pat Golden / Mike McDonald                 4 bass              10-14
28  Robin Aguglia / Dan Konkoski               5 bass              9-15
29  Darreck Martineau / Jim Martineau      3 bass              9-1
30 Jeffrey Randal / Amber Randall             5 bass              8-8
31  John Hines / Larry Belrose                     3 bass              5-2
32  Mark Melnyk / Dave Mayette               2 bass              3-9
33  Dennis Fontaine / Michael Clark            2 bass              3-2
34  Jason Bezio / Dave Bezio                        1 bass              1-8

Remaining teams did not weigh in; 179 out of 181 bass released alive