Northern Open anglers wrap up season in N.Y.
Oneida Lake event to send 20 anglers to first Open Championship
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The first invitations to the inaugural CITGO Bassmaster Open Championship presented by Busch Beer will be issued in Syracuse Oct. 2-4 as the Northern Open circuit comes to an end on Oneida Lake.
The $300,000 CITGO Bassmaster Northern Open will not only pay off handsomely for the winner (to the tune of $50,000), but there is much more at stake as the top 20 finishers will earn tickets to the no-entry-fee Open Championship at a yet-to-be-announced site in December. The top performers in the championship will receive a ride to the coveted CITGO Bassmaster Classic next summer.
Oneida Lake provides an intriguing place to stage such an important season-ending shootout.
Few of the 200 pros and their amateur partners know much about the 51,072-acre lake that is hosting its first BASS event. The largest inland lake in New York is best known as a walleye fishery, but healthy largemouth and smallmouth bass populations live in the 22-mile-long, 5-mile-wide body of water.
Randy Yager, a past BASS winner from Syracuse, is one pro who knows Oneida well.
"It's a good lake and the fishing should be pretty good," Yager said. "But the lake has gotten stirred up from the leftovers of the hurricane. So the water has gotten a little dirtied up. It's a lot different than it usually looks, but I think it will clear up some each day — as long as the wind doesn't blow again from the East like the hurricane did.
"I'm guessing the (winning weight) will be in the low 50s. It's a lake that has a lot of fish, but it's really hard to catch a 20-pound string. The good fish are all 3½ to 4 pounds. You don't catch many over 4."
Ohio pro and Northern Open competitor Frank Scalish likes the looks of Oneida Lake.
"It's a natural lake. It's got a very prevalent first shelf and shoals formed by glaciers," he said. "It has a prevalent weedbed in the zero to 8-foot range. So I'm going to bet that there will be a pretty heavy spinnerbait and topwater bite going on.
"It definitely has a huge smallmouth population, but its largemouth population is underutilized and could potentially lead to bigger stringers. But you are going to have to really hunt and peck to get a good three-day limit sack of largemouths.
"I'm going to look for largemouths, so hopefully one day I'm going to get a huge string of largemouths and then finish the tournament out on smallies. If you can jump into the lead with a big bad of largemouths, the smallmouths can carry you the rest of the tournament."
Yager believes that about 70 percent of the tournament catch will be smallmouths.
Although he is one of the few pros with an intimate knowledge of the lake, Yager says he shouldn't automatically be labeled a pre-tournament favorite.
"I live 20 minutes from the lake and I've been fishing it for years," Yager said. "I don't think I have an advantage, the way I look at it. It's a very prolific lake and it fishes the same pretty much all the way around. And the fish are everywhere. Just about anybody can get on them.
"It's your typical smallmouth fishing up north. It's a lot of grass and rocky boulders that you go down fishing. Everybody catches fish and you never know who will catch the bigger ones."
Anglers will launch at 6:45 a.m. daily. Weigh-ins will be open to the public at 3:15 p.m. daily at Oneida Shores Park.
BASS is the world's largest fishing organization, sanctioning more than 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation. The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass-fishing tournament circuit and continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship as it has since 1968.
Sponsors
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Chevrolet Trucks, Yamaha Outboards, Mercury Marine, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Kumho Tires, Progressive Insurance, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Diamond Cut Jeans, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, and BankOne.
Associate Sponsors include Bryant Heating and Air Conditioning and G3 Boats.
Local sponsors include Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau.
NORTHERN OPEN POINTS STANDINGS:1 346 Art Ferguson, III MI 2 321 Kevin Wirth KY 2 321 Steven McGahan CT 4 313 Rodney Sorrell NC 5 311 Chuck Economou FL 6 307 Mike Hicks VA 7 304 Brian Kirkpatrick VA 8 303 Jack D Bell PA 9 302 Ken McIntosh IN 10 301 Joe Thomas OH 11 300 Gary Giudice OK 12 294 Brian Wilhoit MD 13 292 Dennis L Krell Jr PA 14 283 Kevin Kartesz PA 15 277 Robert Strader OH 16 272 Robert Vogelsang MD 16 272 Thomas O'Bryant TN 18 271 Marcel Veenstra PA 18 271 Steve Daniel FL 20 269 Mike Desforges CN 21 268 Jordan Paullo CT 22 266 Jeff Coble NC 23 264 O.T. Fears, III OK 24 263 Dave Wolak PA 25 257 Chris Price MD 26 255 Grant Goldbeck MD 27 251 Jason Houchins NC 28 250 Wayne Burchett VA 29 249 Larry Mazur NY 30 248 Rick Morris VA 30 287 Takahiro Omori TX 32 247 Koby Kreiger IN
ENTRY LISTS
CITGO Bassmaster Northern Open Lake Oneida, N.Y. Boater Entries
ARKANSAS John Sisemore, Farmington
CANADA Jon Bondy, Windsor, Ontario Gaspare Costabille, Ontario Mike Desforges, Ontario
CONNECTICUT Marc Amtower, Storrs Terry Baksay, Monroe Daryl Biron, South Windsor Ryan Hawthorne, Mansfield Paul H. Kimball, Glastonbury David S. Mathieu, Coventry Steven McGahan, Gales Ferry Mike Murphy, Branford Jordan Paullo, Coventry Lutz Spika, Stamford
FLORIDA Steve Daniel, Clewiston Chuck Economou, Redington Koby Kreiger, Okeechobee
GEORGIA Justin McGuinness, Athens
IOWA Kurt Johnson, Cedar Rapids
ILLINOIS Curt Samo, Creston
INDIANA Curt Day, Warren Ken McIntosh, Pierceton
KENTUCKY Charles Hill, Jr., Franklin Kevin Wirth, Crestwood MASSACHUSSETS Mark Burgess, Norton Danny Correia, Marlboro Vance E. Manchester, Melrose Johnny Nee, Middleboro Scott Wilkins, N. Dighton
MARYLAND Richard Cottone, Bowie Ernest Freeman, Gambrills Michael Grant, Gambrills Frank Ippoliti, Airy Chris Price, Church Hill Edward Riley, Woodbine Darrin Schwenkbeck, Spencerville Swift Spaulding, Germantown Robert Vogelsang, Jessup Brian Wilhoit, Oxon Hill
MAINE Dave Barnes Sr., Weeks Mills Mark Desjardin, Vassalboro Norm DuBois, Lyman Lawrence Hogue, Kennebunk
MICHIGAN Art Ferguson III, St. Clair Shores Lewis Hummel, Constantine Kevin Long, Berkley Chuck Schrader, Centreville Erhardt Tulgestka, Rogers Chris Van Houten, Mears
MEXICO Raul Morineau, Mexico City
NORTH CAROLINA Gerald Beck, Lexington Jeff Coble, Henderson Chuck Douthit, Mooresville Jason Houchins, Stokesdale A. E. "Red" Moore, Graham Rodney Sorrell, Stokesdale Jeff Stoner, Clayton Patrick Tierney, Denver
NEW HAMPSHIRE Rick Lillegard, Atkinson
NEW JERSEY John Carpenter, Marmora Christopher W. Dalfonso, Bellmawr John Erickson, Pine Hill David Mansue, Robbinsville George 'Skip' Morse, Bellemeade Jess Salmon, Milford Christopher M. Smith, Absecon Ed Stiefel, Mahwah
NEW YORK William J. Alexander, Sylvan Beach Tim Carini, Shirley Jason Carleton, Rochester Damian Colavito, Monroe Todd E. Cole, Genesco Mike Cusano, Clay Otto David, Jefferson Valley Ken Golub, Pittsford Frank R Gulla, Utica Mark Hanafin, Endicott Mark Harold, Roschester Jeffrey Hippert, Buffalo Louis Iribarren, Port Jervis Rick Kazmierczk, Orchard Park Kraig Kettelkamp, Clifton Springs Douglas Kirkbride, Beaver Falls Mike Labriola, Wallkill George Lagonia, Jr., Spencertown Robert Marshall, Wappinger Falls Matthew Martin, LaFayette Larry Mazur, Lancaster Bill Pitt, Bloomingburg Nick Radtke, New Hampton Brian Sanson, Chittenango James Schneider, Menandes Charles Stuart, Hempstead Aaron Wessels, Water Vilet Kenneth Woods, Mt. Vernon Randy Yager, Syracuse
OHIO Ray Craig, Crooksville Jamie Fabian, Pleasant City Marlin Hines, Chilo Wesley Kemper, New Straitsville Greg Mills, Dayton Frank Scalish, Cleveland Robert Strader, Castailia Joe Thomas, Milford
OKLAHOMA O. T. Fears III, Sallisaw Gary Giudice, Norman Kenyon Hill, Norman
PENNSYLVANIA Rick E. Anderson, Dover Rick Ash, Pottstown R. Kevin Baldwin, Vandergrift Jack Bell, Kane Jack C. Bell, Kane Gerald Brumbaugh, Martinsburg Brian Bylotas, Olythant William D. Capwell, Allentown John L. Chaffo, Pittsburgh Brian Clark, Plumsteadville James C. Fiato, Birdsboro Douglas Foulke, Warrington Rob Genter, Tidioute David Hall, Kunkletown Edward Hargraves, Langhorne Joe Horvath, Dauphin Kevin Kartesz, Ludlow Gary Krammes, Pottsville Dennis L. Krell Jr., Palmerton Matthew Lazaroff, Mercer David Lefebre, Erie Larry E. Lewellyn, Lehighton Daniel Lyle, Kittanning Eric Picarella, Shamokin Joby Poster, Dingman's Ferry Randall R Romig, Barto John Schoner, Robersonia Scott Shafer, Dallas Frank Sipe, Hummelstown Marcel Veenstra, Newtown Christopher J. Wilson, Moosic Dave Wolak, Warrior Run Warren Wolk, Newtown Randy Yarnall, Womelsdorf
RHODE ISLAND Michael Wolfenden, Warwick
SOUTH CAROLINA Bobby Wilson, Manning
TENNESSEE Bret King, Lenoir City Thomas O'Bryant, Drummonds
TEXAS Gary Riffle, Paris
VIRGINIA Tony Black, Manassas Wayne Burchett, Draper Robert A. Clark, Woodbridge Chris Daves, Spring Grove Woo Daves, Spring Grove Robert F deGrandcourt Jr, Alexandria Kurt Dove, Warrenton Grant Goldbeck, Bumpass Mike Hicks, Mineral Brian Kirkpatrick, Colonial Heights Steve Miller, Mechanicsville Rick Morris, Virginia Beach Philip Wolcott, Midlothian
VERMONT Brian Gates, Mendon Jimmy D. Kennedy, Plainfield Thomas C. LaVictoire Jr, West Rutland Skip Sjobeck, Randolph Ctr
WISCONSIN Cary Bever, Rhinelander Christopher Davidson, Watertown David Jagodzinski, Suring Steve R. Linzmeyer, Suring Mike Weiss, Union Grove
WEST VIRGINIA Paul Noechel, Lost Creek Shelley Perry, Hurricane
CITGO Bassmaster Northern Open Oneida Lake Non-Boater Entries
CANADA Jason Cottell, Huntsville, ON Alan Roy Nick, Ridgeway John O'Neil, Ontario Cory Reeves, Mt. Forest, ON Don Sangster, Ontario Bill Wray, Welland, Ontario
CONNECTICUT Ken Brodeur, Niantic Alonzo Evans, East Hartford Leo Keating, Bethel David K. Paul, New London David Sylvester, East Hampton
DELAWARE Charles Shelton, Frederica
INDIANA Paul Benjamin, Hobart Paul Redar, Lake Station Larry Wagner, Crown Point
MASSACHUSSETS George E. Barnes, Cambridge Victor Dragone, III, Everett Victor G. Dragone, Jr., Everett Brian Klerks, Westfield Robert Melanson, Springfield Stanley Rutkowski, Natick Donald Vantassel II, North Egremont Roger Winn, Saugus
MARYLAND Phil Civitarese, White Hall Lee Cox, Hagerstown Ben Gusciora, Williamsport Jim Iden, McHenry Charles King, Waldorf Jim Kline, Hagerstown Randy Knopp, Jarrettsville Donald Muir, Baltimore Rich O'Brien, Frederick Bob Redar, Stevensville William E. Sanders, Baltimore Butch Thompson, Freeland David L. Wickenheiser, Edgewood
MAINE Phil Paradis, Vassalboro Michael Sills, Oakland Jim Staszewski, W. Gardiner
MICHIGAN Travis Green, Gand Blanc W. Scott Murphy, Waterford Larry Thompson, Walled Lake
NORTH CAROLINA Carl Pyrtle, Stokesdale Michael David Strange, High Point
NEW HAMPSHIRE John Breen, Strafford Jess McNeill, Swanzey
NEW JERSEY Christia Bench, Annandale Steven Brinster, Highland Lakes Bob Gilbert, Old Bridge Randall W. Iorio, Marlton Dan Martin, Sonersport John Musto, Howell Christopher Oeser, Egg Harbor Town Steve Patrick, Erma Mitch Pierson, Newton Darren Pincus, Hewitt Ed Pitlak, Norwood Sam Wisnewski, Forked River
NEW YORK Joe Abt, Newfare Jora Airapetyan, North Babylon Kenneth Anderson, Newburgh William C. Beekman, East Quogue Daniel Bentley, Rome Dan Bickom, Canastota Benjamin Bowman, New York City Chris Brown, Rodman Howard Bucci, Otego Jonathan Bush, Ossining Oreste Camerota, Beacon Anthony Christian, Stromville William Clute, Hogansburg Charlie Coliskey, Poughquag Chris Coppola, Hyde Park Wesley Coy, Vernon Matthew Daddio, Mahopac Craig Daino, Central Square Jeffery Dallimore, Rochester Corey DiLorenzo, Corinth Robert Elliot, Olean Chris Gore, Blauvelt Robert Gray, Cooperstown Andrew Hammond, Fulton Donald Hoag, Cooperstown David Hovanec, Unionville James Johnsen, Mastic Robert Jorgensen, Mahopac Sean Kelly, Greenlawn Kyle Kimball, Pheonix George E. King, Sr., Highland Falls William Kooi, Utica Daniel LaManna, Webster Tom Luciano, Pottersville Carl Luther, Rochester Mark Mahar, New Baltimore Dominick Maio, Bernhards Bay Les Malovicz, Rochester Dave Marion, Cold Springs James Matthews, Camden Don McCarver, Johnson City P.J. McManamon Jr., Ruby Mike Merz, Werster Frank Microni, Oneonta Eric Miller, Gengeo Mike Murphy, Norwich Curt Murray, Liverpool Michael O'Hearn, Watertown Ron Plocek, Liverpool Bob Popp, Minetto Donald Pritchard, Oswego Dale Rathbun, Piffard Mark Salisbury, Rome Steve Sanca, North Syracuse James D. Schafer, Liverpool Michael Schmitt Jr., Poughkeepsie Roger Stahl, Chittenango Thomas Tennity, Marion Paul Toarmino, Avon Karl Tripple, Ilion Bill Westerberg, Waterloo
OHIO Robert C. Burns, Cincinnati Jonathan Davidson, Cleveland Glenn Delong, II, Belleville Ed Dennis, Logan Joel Hazelbaker, Columbus Thomas Wickersham, Minerva
PENNSYLVANIA Kevin Addy, Barto Gerald Adrian, Expon Brian Aungst, Pine Grove Ronald Bane Jr., Frackville William Barlow, West Grove Michael Carl, Bethlehem John Chacosky, Media Jeff Cutler, Pottsville John Detweiler, Harleysville Arnold D. Duck, Jr., Williamsport Harold Dunlap, Orefield Daniel C. Eckerd, Carlisle Jamie Ferdarko, Dubois Alfred K. Ferraioli, Berwyn Tim Gavek, Sayre Drew Gross, Northampton Jeffrey C. Grove, Willow Street Paul D. Grove, Mount Joy Ed Hargraves, II, Levittown David Harris, Noxen Mike Henry, Venetia Bob Hodgen, Manhelm Jeff Kashuba, Stroudsburg Jason Knapp, Uniontown Richard Lang, Matamoras Bill Langille, Tafton Tim Martin, Lancaster John Martin, Ridley Park Harold McChesney, Finleyville George Miller, Springfield William Parry, Palmerton Richard Pekarik, Macungie Harold Range, Gouldsboro Charles Robison, Allison Park Merrill Showers, New Columbia David Soper, Pine Grove Steven P. Steiner, Columbia Marc Strini, Saltsburg Robert Sylvester, Milford Stanley Sypeck,Jr., Weston J. Graydon Thomas, Reading Scott M. Thomas, Reading Valeri Timofeev, E. Stroudsburg
SOUTH CAROLINA Jon Newman, Greenville
VIRGINIA Preston Crum, Nokesville James Golliday, Stephens City Tim Hartzell, Manassas Wayne Hayes, Virginia Beach Jere Hayslett, Alexandria Mark Letosky, Warrenton
VERMONT Larry C. Butler, New Haven Ronald Taylor, N. Clarendon
WEST VIRGINIA Brad Weese, Petersburg
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