Bass Pro tournament lures local fishers

By Kathleen Barran / The Citizen

Saturday, May 31, 2008 11:32 PM EDT

The Second Annual Multi-Species Owasco Lake Charity Fishing Tournament drew slightly more than 90 contestants to Owasco Lake from sunrise to 3 p.m. on Saturday to benefit organ donation awareness and the Blankets From Home project.
First place winners in adult categories: perch, walleye, northern pike, lake trout and brown/rainbow trout, each won $100 cash, while the big winner, drawn from a lottery of those winners, pocketed a $1,000 gift card from Bass Pro Shops.

Children's categories included gamefish and panfish. An optional lunker pool for $5 paid $235 to whoever had the largest fish and contributed his $5.

Bass Pro's promotional manager, George Fiorille, said the event was organized to promote fishing for adults and children.

Fishermen registered at weigh-in stations at Emerson Park boat launch and South Shore Marina from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on tournament day, but late arrivals were allowed.

Good Ole Boy Bass Club members Bill Kays, of Mexico; Tom Hudson, of Cato; Guy Cromp, of Cicero; Paul Hudson. of Camillus; and Connell Raate, of Clay staffed the Emerson Park weigh station. The sensitive scale weighed fish within a hundredth of an ounce. The early morning crew and the relief crew met up for lunch at about 1:30 p.m. By that time, they said, six or eight fish had been caught at each weigh station.

A second weigh station at South Shore Marina in Cascade, operated by Salt City Bass Club members, Barb Elliott and Richard Mattison, both from Altmar, had weighed-in a 7.45-pound Lake Trout after 15 weigh-ins by 1 p.m.

“I've been kicking myself that I didn't bring a pole myself,” Elliott said.

Other fishermen who hadn't entered the tournament were also out on Owasco Lake Saturday. Brad DeWillt, 12, of Moravia, was fishing for small mouth bass. It is not bass fishing season, so Brad was content to throw them back. He was leading his grandfather, Dan Sullivan, of Throop, to the best fishing spots. Sullivan said this was the first time he had gone fishing with Brad.

“You gotta know the best fishing spots,” Brad said. “Down at the south shore behind the old bean plant, We just have to see what's around. It's kinda special for me when we go.”

“He's teaching me,” Sullivan said. “I'm on my second one (fish). I caught a little small-mouth bass.”

Mike Webster of Auburn was also out fishing with his son Justin, 8, using really juicy earthworms as bait. His wife, Laurie, brought a good book to read.

Early registration at the Bass Pro Shops customer service counter took place from the beginning of May. Pre-tournament registrations took place at Bass Pro Shops, South Shore Marina and Cascade Grill.

Toyota trucks donated $400 in cash to be split up among winners, and Mustaad donated hooks and lures. Rods and reels were also awarded. Among the five adult divisions for each species, first, second, and third cash prizes were awarded in each division. In the two children's divisions, gamefish and panfish, first, second, and third cash prizes were also awarded. Prizes, most related to fishing, were also given to fourth through sixth place in adult and children's divisions.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext.238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net

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