ATHENS, Alabama - In the wind, it took movement to win the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, New York West Division 22 tournament, held July 17, 2010, on Cayuga Lake out of Frontenac Park in Union Springs.
Thomas Shafer of Pine City won the Boater Division with five bass going 20.33 pounds, including a 5.07-pounder as gusts up to 30 knots whipped the 40-mile long lake. Cayuga Lake averages about 1.7 miles wide, but spreads to 3.5 miles wide in places. The second largest of the glacial Finger Lakes covers more than 66 square miles and drops to more than 435 feet deep.
"I practiced for two days, looking for good grass beds," Shafer said. "I caught my fish on a 1/2-ounce white spinnerbait with silver willow-leaf blades. I tried some other colors, but they just didn't cut it. I was just ticking the tops of the grass in seven to 10 feet of water. The fish came up out of the grass to bust it."
Robert Salotti of Geneva took second and tournament big bass honors. He caught five bass weighing 18.46 pounds and anchored his bag with a 5.43-pound lunker.
Ronald Hill of Portville finished third among boaters with 16.82 pounds. He actually caught five bass weighing 17.32 pounds, but a penalty set him back half a pound. His biggest bass weighed 4.29 pounds.
In fourth for the boaters, Kirk McMullen of Mathadon caught a tournament limit of five bass for 15.53 pounds with one 4-pounder. Michael Trickler of Waterloo followed in fifth place with five bass going 13.32 pounds including a 4.03-pound kicker.
In the Co-Angler Division, Matthew Nash of Ithaca took it all. He anchored his three-fish bag with a 4.80-pound division lunker, finishing with 11.25 pounds.
"I found some fresh green weeds because I thought the oxygen would be better," Nash explained. "I had to use moving baits because it was so windy, I couldn't use anything else. I caught my fish on a crankbait.'
In second for the co-anglers, David Hubbard of Nineveh landed a three-bass division limit for 11.02 pounds including one 4.19-pounder. Matthew Kremers of Fairport landed three bass going 10.72 pounds, but finished with 10.22 pounds after the penalty. His largest weighed 4.69 pounds.
Scott Lafaver of Elbridge took fourth with three bass at 9.61 pounds with a 4.24-pound kicker. John Levis of Seneca Falls brought in a three-bass bag weighing 9.58 pounds.
About American Bass Anglers: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, The American 150 Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
Thomas Shafer of Pine City won the Boater Division with five bass going 20.33 pounds, including a 5.07-pounder as gusts up to 30 knots whipped the 40-mile long lake. Cayuga Lake averages about 1.7 miles wide, but spreads to 3.5 miles wide in places. The second largest of the glacial Finger Lakes covers more than 66 square miles and drops to more than 435 feet deep.
"I practiced for two days, looking for good grass beds," Shafer said. "I caught my fish on a 1/2-ounce white spinnerbait with silver willow-leaf blades. I tried some other colors, but they just didn't cut it. I was just ticking the tops of the grass in seven to 10 feet of water. The fish came up out of the grass to bust it."
Robert Salotti of Geneva took second and tournament big bass honors. He caught five bass weighing 18.46 pounds and anchored his bag with a 5.43-pound lunker.
Ronald Hill of Portville finished third among boaters with 16.82 pounds. He actually caught five bass weighing 17.32 pounds, but a penalty set him back half a pound. His biggest bass weighed 4.29 pounds.
In fourth for the boaters, Kirk McMullen of Mathadon caught a tournament limit of five bass for 15.53 pounds with one 4-pounder. Michael Trickler of Waterloo followed in fifth place with five bass going 13.32 pounds including a 4.03-pound kicker.
In the Co-Angler Division, Matthew Nash of Ithaca took it all. He anchored his three-fish bag with a 4.80-pound division lunker, finishing with 11.25 pounds.
"I found some fresh green weeds because I thought the oxygen would be better," Nash explained. "I had to use moving baits because it was so windy, I couldn't use anything else. I caught my fish on a crankbait.'
In second for the co-anglers, David Hubbard of Nineveh landed a three-bass division limit for 11.02 pounds including one 4.19-pounder. Matthew Kremers of Fairport landed three bass going 10.72 pounds, but finished with 10.22 pounds after the penalty. His largest weighed 4.69 pounds.
Scott Lafaver of Elbridge took fourth with three bass at 9.61 pounds with a 4.24-pound kicker. John Levis of Seneca Falls brought in a three-bass bag weighing 9.58 pounds.
About American Bass Anglers: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, The American 150 Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
