Oct 13 & 14, Port Henry, NY… This past weekend NY The Bass Federation (NYTBF) hit mighty Lake Champlain to close out the 2012 season and qualify their 2013 12-man Eastern Divisional Team. Predictions were 40 lbs. to win and a check weight around 30-35 lbs., but it turns out an extreme weather front hit the big lake the day before dropping the water temps by 5-8 degrees and it changed the bite completely.
The winner Darrin Schwenkbeck brought in 34.70 lbs. of smallmouth to win the event. Schwenkbeck was unavailable for post event comments, but during the weigh-in he reported fishing north along the Vermont side of the lake.
NYTBF Vice President Bobby Williams took second place honors with a weight of 33.10 lbs. Williams reports Day 1 fishing 20-26 ft. drop shotting a cross tail shad and a new bait out of Washington called ”sniper bolt” by Sniper Lures in bubble gum color. He also mixed in a Zoom Speed Craw dipped in Chartreuse on a 3/8 oz. stand up jig head. Williams fished both baits on spinning rods with 30 lb. braid using a 4 ft. leader of Segar 8 lb. fluorocarbon. Williams also threw a Reco topwater plug in striper color to take his big fish of Day 1 in about 18 ft. on a windblown shoreline. Day 2 Williams started with his Reco and quickly boated three fish and then he switched to a jerkbait and closed out his limit fishing in 12 – 40 ft. Williams reported catching 30-40 fish each day and as the highest finishing Ranger Boat owner he took the Ranger Cup bonus money.
Brett Carnright was tied with Rob LaMoy with a weight of 28.70 lbs. but his big bass was the tie breaker giving him third place honors while pushing LaMoy back to fourth. Rounding out the top five was Rapsody Rod Pro Staffer Mike Cusano with a weight of 23.90 lbs.
The following anglers also earned spots on the NYTBF 2013 Eastern Divisional State Team, Burnie Haney 6th, Dan Murphy 7th, Chris Benninger 8th, Winchell 9th, Strait 10th, and alternates Brown 11th, Tim Lyons 12th, Nikki Eddy 14th and 2012 Boater AOY Jim Schneider and Non Boater AOY Ben Wright.
Sponsors
Berkley Chevy, Evinrude, Minnkota, Humminbird, Lowrance, National Guard, Ranger Boats, Solar Bat, FLW outdoors, Cabelas Angler Cash, The Bass University, Temple Fork Outfitter Rods and Keitech.
For additional information on NYTBF tournaments contact Ben Wright at 518.593.5681 or bwright@cvph.org
