NEPVA Tournament – Roger Williams Park Zoo

Providence RI.

July 25, 2009

Article by Jim Marino

The fourth stop on the NEPVA Tournament trail, found bright sunny skies, high water levels and Blue Bird conditions at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence Ri.

The Roger Williams Park Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the country, and has entertained and delighted Rhode Islanders since it opened in 1872. Its beautiful Victorian buildings have been home to many legendary animals. The interconnecting ponds that wind through this park provide miles of shoreline structure for the fishermen.

The uniqueness of Rogers Williams Park is the trolling motor only rule, while the pathways and roads surrounding the ponds allow spectators to actually enjoy the tournament while visiting the park.

During morning registration coffee anddonuts were provided by the The Bass Federation of RI. The Boat Captains and PVA anglers also received commemorative NEPVA tee shirts, fishing towels and tackle packs.

Rhode Island federation anglers both TBF and BASS Nation were paired with members of the NEPVA Bass Trail in a random drawing, then were loaded into their boats and the Tournament began at 7:45 am with a short meeting and a shotgun start.

According to TBF Federation President Joe Cinguegravo, the two federations pooled their resources when it comes to helping organizations such as the NEPVA. Rhode Island’s The Bass Federation (TBF) www.tbfri.com and the BASS Federation Nation www.ribassfed.org compete for tournament lakes and permits, memberships as well as sponsorship dollars, howeverwhen it comes to opportunities within the Ocean State of Rhode Island that are beneficial to others such as the NEPVA, we have collectively pulled our resources together as one to get the job done.

TBF liaison John Candelmo got the necessary permits coordinated with the Park and was on hand all day to keep things running.

Not only was the tournament date moved from the October to July but also was the way we weighed in the competitors. In the previous two years the boats were pulled out and escorted to the weigh in site in front of the Dalrymple Boat House where the fish were taken out of the boats and weighed in.

This year the weigh in was held right on the dock behind the boat house where the anglers were unloaded and weighed in as they pulled up to the dock and checked in.

Cold soda and water (by the TBF of RI) and Pizza donated by Casual Catering & Deli of Barrington RI. was served during the weigh in.

Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine started the results of the days fishing with a recap of what the NEPVA Bass trail is all about. “This trail is Dedicated to the memory of Ken Medeiros, Past President of the NEPVA, and two disabled anglers John Walls and Larry Grainger who fished the trail as they will always be remembered for what they, in the short time they were with us brought to the trail”.

Starting off with 3rd place with 4 bass for a total weight of 4.10 lbs was the team of Boat captain Greg Mazur from Ct. and PVA angler Larry Harris. They caught their fish on Berkley power tubes and spinner baits. Both Larry and Greg said all but 4 of their bites turned out to be short of the 12” limit as they caught fish during most of the day.

2nd place went to the team of Dave Breault and Lloyd Jones with 3 keepers weighing in at 6.87 lbs. They used Yamamoto Senco’s to lure their fish into the net and also encountered many short fish.

1st place and winning by less than a ½ lb was the team of Captain Scott Basasco and PVA angler Frank (yes I can fish) Vogeli with 4 fish for 7.23 lbs.

Scott and Frank used Yamamoto Senco’s and Berkley power worms fishing structure along the shorelines of the ponds. They also encountered those pesky 11 ½ “ bass through out the day.

Big fish Lunker award went to Dave Breault for a nice 4.37 Roger Williams Largemouth…

The trail directors would like to thank the following sponsors, for without them this tournament would not be able to function:

The Bass Federation of Rhode Island(TBF), The BASS Federation Nation of Rhode Island. The Roger Williams Park Zoo, Casual Catering & Deli of Barrington RI.

GE Aviations Good Neighbors Fund, Riverworks Lynn, Gary Yamamoto Baits, Harmonix Rods & Reels, Skeeter Boats, Nam Knights of America, Northern Bass Supply, Winchester Co-operative Bank, Rockland Eagles, Erickson’s Bait &Tackle, Reservoir Dogs, Mayo’s Hand Poured Baits, Marine USA of Worc. and Campbell Post 101.

All NEPVA Bass Trail Tournaments are totally FREE to ALL participates 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 the NEPVA office @ 1.800.660.1181 or visit their web site www.nepva.org.

FLORIDA IS HORRIBLE…at water management !!!

Lake Okechobee is in trouble…the Everglades is critically injured…the Kissimmee River flood control plan was (and is) a disaster (Which we are now trying to correct by restoring most of the original channel.) and now the St Johns River is in line for our next catastrophe… Surface Water Withdrawal.

I’m sure that the ‘Science of the Day’ supported sucking water out of Lake Okechobee to supply the surrounding communities and Miami with water… I’m also sure that the Sugar interests in south Florida ‘Scientifically’ justified sucking additional water from the Lake…

The Kissimmee River flood control plan was also supported by ‘Science’ but straightening the channel has dried up wetlands that replenish our aquifer and had numerous other negative environmental side effects. We are now trying to undo the damage by restoring most of the original river channel… We will see how that works out.

We have a giant canal system in south Florida engineered to divert water and that has had a disasterous effect on the Everglades. You know what …I’ll bet that project was supported by volumes of ‘Scientific Data’ that said it would cause no harm…

The latest “Victim to Science” is the St Johns River…on April 13, 2009 the St Johns River Water Management District board of governors voted 5 to 4 to issue a permit for Seminole County Utilities to suck up 5.5 million gallons of water per day to support their reclaimed water system…In other words this water will be used to water their lawns… How stupid is that?

In just a few short years we will go from being the Bass Capital of the World to some sort of salt water fish that has already made its way 100 miles inland. The Bass population has been hit hard by this intrusion of salt water and only “Science” will tell the tale.

This is the latest example (I’m sure there are more to come) of how bad Florida is at water management!

Dennis Harvin, Conservation Director, Florida Bass Federation, Inc

Jim Fowler, President, Florida Bass Federation, Inc

South Carolina comes from behind to win, 14 will advance to National contest

June 12, 2009 – Suspense was mounting, as everyone awaited the results of the final day of the TBF Southern Division Championship on Lake Murray, in Lexington, SC.   In the team standings, we knew it was going to be close; with more than half the weigh-in over only a pound separated the top three teams. But, the home state of South Carolina made a late push, launching them far above the rest, and seized the title of the 2009 TBF Southern Division Champions. 

It was neck and neck in the individual standings as well, with everybody fighting to claim the top spot in their state, in order to advance to the TBF National Championship. The top angler from each state advances as the boater and the second place finisher as the co-angler. These anglers compete close to home for over a year to qualify for the state team and the opportunity to advance to nationals. On average, it only costs around $200 a year in total entry fees and dues, and now these qualifiers will advance to fish for a prize purse of almost a quarter of a million dollars, the largest in federation history. The anglers who have qualified to advance are as follows and are listed, boater then co-angler: Ala., Joseph Webster and James A Boyle; Fla., Leon Roy V and J Nobel Willits; Ga., Tony Green and Mike Morris; Ky., Greg Hoskinson and Karl Snyder; N.C., Gary Cline and Chuck Murray; S.C., Jay Keith and Adam Williamson; Tenn., Michael Wooley and John J Talton.

Jay Keith from Camden, S.C., battled all week to claim the number one spot, and on the final day he did just that, making him the 2009 TBF Southern Division Champion. Keith brought in a limit of bass that weighed 14lb 14oz. He caught a limit all three days, which made his total tournament weight 41lb 11oz. This will be his first time to compete at the national tournament, and he seemed pretty excited about that. “Today went good, they didn’t jump off today,” Keith said. “I caught 8 or 9 fish using a fluke, a flugger iron reel and an all-star rod.” Keith’s fellow teammate was yesterday’s leader, Adam Williamson from Ridgeway, S.C., who was only a pound away. Williamson caught a limit of bass that weighed 13lb 12oz, making his total tournament weight 40lb 15oz. Today, he ran into a few problems, but still managed to grab second in his state and overall. “I lost two 4 pounders,” Williamson said. “Then, I caught a fish that was already hooked and was about to die. I worked on the fish for about two hours. I had such an outstanding partner; he let me come in early to weigh the fish so it wouldn’t cost me 8oz.” Williamson showed great character in the effort that kept his fish alive. He will advance to nationals on the co-angler side for the state of South Carolina, and this will be his first time as well. “I have fished on three state teams, and been close; but, this will be my first time and I’m excited.” In third place, is Michael Wooley from Collierville, Tenn., who caught a limit of bass that weighed 13lb 12oz, making his total weight 36lb 5oz. Close behind him is Gary Cline from Lexington, N.C., who caught five bass, which weigh d 10lb 15oz, making his total weight 35lb 1oz. Cline said he caught the majority of his good fish on a jig, but he also did some top water fishing. “The day was great; my partner let me have the boat all day,” Cline said. “I had three days with good partners; I couldn’t have done it without my partners.” This will also be Cline’s first time to compete at nationals.

The 2009 TBF South Division state team champions, the South Carolina Bass Federation caught 42 bass, which weighed 91lb 8oz, bringing their three day tournament total to 133 bass that weighed 261lb. The Georgia Bass Federation overcame a 20lb deficit yesterday, to become the day two leaders, but, didn’t quite have enough to hold their spot on the top. In second, the Georgia state team caught 46 bass, which weighed 72lb 8oz, making their tournament total 138 bass that weighed 250lb 7oz. Less than three pounds away from Georgia, is the defending champions, the North Carolina Bass Federation. They brought in 47 fish that weighed 96lb, making their total 126 bass, which weighed 247lb 15oz.

South Carolina comes from behind to win, 14 will advance to National contest

June 12, 2009 – Suspense was mounting, as everyone awaited the results of the final day of the TBF Southern Division Championship on Lake Murray, in Lexington, SC. In the team standings, we knew it was going to be close; with more than half the weigh-in over only a pound separated the top three teams. But, the home state of South Carolina made a late push, launching them far above the rest, and seized the title of the 2009 TBF Southern Division Champions.

It was neck and neck in the individual standings as well, with everybody fighting to claim the top spot in their state, in order to advance to the TBF National Championship. The top angler from each state advances as the boater and the second place finisher as the co-angler. These anglers compete close to home for over a year to qualify for the state team and the opportunity to advance to nationals. On average, it only costs around $200 a year in total entry fees and dues, and now these qualifiers will advance to fish for a prize purse of almost a quarter of a million dollars, the largest in federation history. The anglers who have qualified to advance are as follows and are listed, boater then co-angler: Ala., Joseph Webster and James A Boyle; Fla., Leon Roy V and J Nobel Willits; Ga., Tony Green and Mike Morris; Ky., Greg Hoskinson and Karl Snyder; N.C., Gary Cline and Chuck Murray; S.C., Jay Keith and Adam Williamson; Tenn., Michael Wooley and John J Talton.

Jay Keith from Camden, S.C., battled all week to claim the number one spot, and on the final day he did just that, making him the 2009 TBF Southern Division Champion. Keith brought in a limit of bass that weighed 14lb 14oz. He caught a limit all three days, which made his total tournament weight 41lb 11oz. This will be his first time to compete at the national tournament, and he seemed pretty excited about that. “Today went good, they didn’t jump off today,” Keith said. “I caught 8 or 9 fish using a fluke, a flugger iron reel and an all-star rod.” Keith’s fellow teammate was yesterday’s leader, Adam Williamson from Ridgeway, S.C., who was only a pound away. Williamson caught a limit of bass that weighed 13lb 12oz, making his total tournament weight 40lb 15oz. Today, he ran into a few problems, but still managed to grab second in his state and overall. “I lost two 4 pounders,” Williamson said. “Then, I caught a fish that was already hooked and was about to die. I worked on the fish for about two hours. I had such an outstanding partner; he let me come in early to weigh the fish so it wouldn’t cost me 8oz.” Williamson showed great character in the effort that kept his fish alive. He will advance to nationals on the co-angler side for the state of South Carolina, and this will be his first time as well. “I have fished on three state teams, and been close; but, this will be my first time and I’m excited.” In third place, is Michael Wooley from Collierville, Tenn., who caught a limit of bass that weighed 13lb 12oz, making his total weight 36lb 5oz. Close behind him is Gary Cline from Lexington, N.C., who caught five bass, which weigh d 10lb 15oz, making his total weight 35lb 1oz. Cline said he caught the majority of his good fish on a jig, but he also did some top water fishing. “The day was great; my partner let me have the boat all day,” Cline said. “I had three days with good partners; I couldn’t have done it without my partners.” This will also be Cline’s first time to compete at nationals.

The 2009 TBF South Division state team champions, the South Carolina Bass Federation caught 42 bass, which weighed 91lb 8oz, bringing their three day tournament total to 133 bass that weighed 261lb. The Georgia Bass Federation overcame a 20lb deficit yesterday, to become the day two leaders, but, didn’t quite have enough to hold their spot on the top. In second, the Georgia state team caught 46 bass, which weighed 72lb 8oz, making their tournament total 138 bass that weighed 250lb 7oz. Less than three pounds away from Georgia, is the defending champions, the North Carolina Bass Federation. They brought in 47 fish that weighed 96lb, making their total 126 bass, which weighed 247lb 15oz.