NEPVA
CT-TBF Supports
NEPVA Bass Tournament
Cord Word
By Bill Decoteau
Lauri Oaks
NEPVA Bass Queen
As the synchronized morning registration continued, I stood back in amazement watching a loving caring group of volunteers laughing and joking with each other. While over twenty wheelchair participants mingled with the Volunteer Boat Captains comparing their baits of choice in preparation for the NEPVA Bass Trail Season Opener on April 28th on Congamond Lake.
"It is always astonishing to me to witness the smiles on everyone's faces, especially when a first time Boat Captain has his paralyzed angler carefully transferred from his wheelchair into his partners bass boat by the Nam Knights," voiced NEPVA CT-TBF Liaison Jim Marenzana.
While fifteen teams were on the water competing in the Boater Division, eight anxious Pontoon Division Wheelchair Competitors patiently awaited the arrival of the two Pontoon Boat Captains. "This has to be the first time we needed two pontoon boats," questioned an elated Kurt Saunders, owner of Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. (1.413.569.9080)."I'm really looking forward to everyone coming back to our marina for the afternoon weigh-in and huge Big "Y" cookout feast!"
Leaving LaFontaine and his crew of volunteers setting up the weigh-in site, rearranging grills and hanging sponsor banners, my camera Boat Captain Ranger Boat Pro Staffer Erik Kaplan and I idled out of Saunders Marina in search for some on-the-water bass action!
Kaplan suggested we start in the North Pond section of Congamond, and his advice proven to be correct! The first boat we approached, Nitro Boat Captain Chris Blais of Marine USA (www.marineusainc.com), and New York NEPVA Angler Ray Clary had two nice bass in their Nitro 901 livewell. Five competitor boats were scattered within the North Pond section, but no other teams caught bass. That is until we came upon the Team of CT-TBF President Joe Rackiewicz (www.ct-tbf.com) and NEPVA seasoned angler Lauri Oaks!
As I zoomed in for a camera shot, I heard Kaplan echoed any bass yet? "Not I responded Rackiewicz, but Lauri christened by new Ranger 188VS livewells with two largemouths!"
Covering all three sections of Congamond Lake, it was obvious the bass bite was tough! However, Pontoon Boat Captain Butch Gioco's reported everyone on his vessel was catching bluegills and a few small largemouths on night crawlers. Before, heading for the 1:00pm Pontoon Divisions weigh-in Erik Kaplan and I gave Big "Y" Southwick, MA store manager Phil Lemire an up front on-the-water experience watching our NEPVA Paralyzed and Disabled Anglers in action. (www.nepva.org) Needless to say the Big "Y" kindhearted store manager was overwhelmed.
As the Nam Knights unloaded the Pontoon Division Competitors the aroma of delicious Big "Y" hamburgers and hotdogs filled the air. First time Pontoon Boat Captain Dr. Peter Conserva, made sure to report his NEPVA Competitors results. Backed by an actual cell phone picture it appeared first time NEPVA Angler Ulf Londberg landed the Pontoon Division Big Fish...... a 30" eel. "I didn't realize there were eels in Congamond responded Dr. Conserva, as first time NEPVA Angler Ulf Londberg received his Big Fish Plaque. New York's Mike "Popeye" Hicks caught fourteen bluegills on Captain Gioco's craft easily capturing the Pontoon Boat Divisions Championship title.
Once, all NEPVA anglers were assisted out of their partners' boats, Weigh-master Butch Gioco called the teams to the scales according to their flight numbers. Marine USA (www.nitro.com) Nitro Pro Staffer Chris Blais and NEPVA Angler Ray Clary's three bass totaled 5.50 lbs chalking them as early leaders at the end of the first flight. Until, second flight angler's Gary Zielanski and NEPVA Angler Joe Slattery claimed the top-seed with three bass at 5.75 lbs. Carrying only the second four bass creel to the scales was third flight anglers CT-TBF President Joe Rackiewicz and NEPVA Angler Lauri Oaks.
"I want everyone to know that Lauri caught three of our four bass today and I was the net-man most of the day," laughed Rackiewicz. When the Weigh Master called out 8.91 lbs the crowd started cheering and whistling in excitement. Asked by LaFontaine what she caught her bass on Lauri Oaks replied, "Why Yamamoto Senko's of course!" And, what color did Lauri cast? Well, that is one secret the 2007 NEPVA Congamond Lake Champion plans on keeping to herself! Lunker Honors, a 4.41 lb largemouth, were claimed by Connecticut TBF Boat Captain Michael Wiston and NEPVA Angler John Walls.
Thanks to sponsor Trantolo & Trantolo Attorneys at Law, (www.trantololaw.com) the weigh-in was extremely attractive; captivating everyone's attention model 'Crystal' melted every anglers heart with her beautiful smile, while her loving effectuate personality and good humor during the awards presentation kept anglers smiling from cheek-to-cheek!
The NEPVA Bass Trail would like to thank their Congamond Lake sponsors; Connecticut TBF, Viking SupplyNet, FPPF/JP Fire, Yankee Bait & Tackle, Shakespeare Fishing Tackle, CT-TBF Youth Director Mike Kane and Tournament Force Tackle (www.TFBass.com), Saunders Marina, Northern Bass Supply, Nam Knights (www.namknightsnh.com), Trantolo & Trantolo, Woods & Waters USA, Tibby's Harley Davidson (www.tibbysharley.com), Marine USA, Inc. (www.marineusainc.com), Gary Yamamoto Baits (www.baits.com), Guest Battery Chargers (www.guestco.com) and Jack Roy from Trojan Battery the Strongest and Best Bass Boar Batteries in New England (www.northeastbattery.com), with a very special thanks to the Big "Y" We Care Program as well as all the individual donations. (For complete tournament results log ontowww.nepva.org
God Bless and Best Bass'n
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 Tiny LaFontaine or Bill Decoteau @ 1.413.566.3961.
