Original post from the Press-Republican
Ryan Latinville runner-up in Weekend Series on Lake Champlain; Fristik takes first
PLATTSBURGH — Henry Fristik started the season in style by winning the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, New York East Division 23 tournament, held Saturday on Lake Champlain.
Running out of Wilcox Docks Landing in Plattsburgh to fish the 490-square-mile lake on the New York-Vermont border, the Chester, Mass., angler landed five bass weighing 19.07 pounds.
"I made the long run to the lower lake," Fristik said. "The water was a little stained, but not too bad. I started flipping a craw into weed lines about five to seven feet deep. I caught about 40 fish off one spot. Later, in the day, I culled some fish. My last cull came at 12:30 p.m., just before I had to leave and head back to the landing."
In second was Ryan Latinville of Plattsburgh, who brought in one of 36 five-bass tournaments limits pulled from the huge flooded lake on a stormy day. His bag weighed 19.06 pounds, helped by a 4.33-pound kicker that took division big bass honors.
Frank D. Appaluccio of Sparta, N.J., took third among the boaters with five bass going 18.33 pounds including one 3.68-pounder. Thomas C. LaVictoire of West Rutland, Vt., followed with five bass weighing 17.87 pounds with a 4.17-pound kicker. Wrapping up the top five boaters, Jeremiah "JJ" Judd of Sheldon, Vt., brought in five bass for 17.82 pounds with a 4.10-pound kicker.
In the Co-Angler Division, Kevin Wilkes of Troy landed three bass for 10.98 pounds. Fishing with LaVictoire, he caught about 25 keepers with his best bass weighing 4.29 pounds.
"We headed south and mainly fished shallow water, about four to eight feet deep," Wilkes explained. "The water was stained in some places and clear in others. I caught all three of my fish by fan casting with shaky heads. I culled about three times."
Right behind, Ryan Ovitt of Bakersfield, Vt., took second with a three-bass limit, one of 37 division limits, for 10.79 pounds. Alex Canepa of Plattsburgh placed third with three bass going 10.55 pounds with a 3.29-pound kicker.
In fourth for the co-anglers, Lutz Spika of Stamford, Conn., landed three keepers for 9.81 pounds. Carl Alexander of North Clarendon, Vt., took fifth place among the co-anglers with three bass weighing 9.76 pounds including a 3.96-pounder. Taking the tournament lunker title with a 4.54-pounder, Robin J. Reome of Malone also placed seventh with three bass at 9.15 pounds.
"It was rainy and overcast all day with winds gusting up to 25 miles per hour," said Joe Angelone, tournament manager. "The lake levels were five feet above flood stage. With the help of the chamber, Rick Perry and the people with Wilcox Docks Landing, we were able to hold this tournament."
