A Day of Dealing With Low, Muddy Water

Such was the reality which greeted those 14 anglers in 8 boats that showed up to fish today's tournament. Most started the day bundled up but were down to shirt sleeves by weigh-in time.

Claiming first place was this duo (from left): Randy Conkle and Bob Glass. They had a bag of five fish weighing 8.75 lbs., with a 2.48-lb. big fish.

Finishing in 2nd place was this team of (from left) Jim Wilder and Chris Vitovich, who weighed five fish totaling 8.63 lbs. Their big fish came in at 2.31 lbs.

Big-fish honors went to the team of (from left) Cody Cousineau and Stephen Warren. Their 3.84-lb. bass was one of four fish they brought to the scales, with a total weight of 6.85 lbs..

Here's Cody with his big fish of the day. Photo courtesy Rob Chatham.

Winner of the mystery-weight drawing was this angler, Steve Bailey, who weighed three bass with a total weight of 3.21 lbs. That weight was closest to the 2.35 tab which was drawn.








Here's how all the other contestants finished:

     * The team of Jake and Robert Milligan, five fish, 8.62 lbs. total weight, 2.75-lb. big bass.
     * The team of Lenny Hall and Gary Coderre, five fish, 8.11 lbs. total weight, 1.86-lb. big bass.
     * Ken Testorff, five fish, 7.94 lbs. total weight, 2.15-lb. big bass.
     * The team of Mitch Portervint and Skip Schaible, four fish, 4.39 lbs. total weight, no big bass.

Overall, the anglers today weighed a total of 32 fish with a combined total weight of 56.5 lbs. The average weight was 1.76 lbs.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and thanks to everyone who came out to fish.

For planning purposes, our next event is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th, from safe light (about 6 a.m.) to weigh-in at 2 p.m. Incidentally, please disregard the "26th" date I accidentally posted on the board in the West Neck Marina Store's window before leaving to come home today. I'll correct the date in the next day or two--I promise.

"Oh so close, but oh so far"--that's what I was saying to myself a half-hour before weigh-in, when I managed to get a big bass to the side of my boat. He/she would have gone at least 4 and maybe 5 lbs. The fish made no effort to leap until right beside the boat, and then, with one head-shaking jump, it spit the crankbait at me and was gone...along with what would have been 1st place and big fish.

A couple fellas across the way, watching me play the fish, saw it jump and hollered "nice fish."

My response was "thanks, but it still doesn't count."

They countered, "True, but if it helps, we'll gladly be your witnesses if you need any."