The annual Susquehanna Fishing Tackle (www.sfttackle.com) annual Bash on the Bay was held September 28 out of Anchor Marina on the Upper Chesapeake Bay. The festivities took place at the Nauti Goose Restaurant on the North East River.
This tournament was sponsored by Shimano, G.Loomis, Jackall, and Power Pro, and the only way teams could enter the tournament was by purchasing a minimum of $200 in sponsor product from Susquehanna Fishing Tackle in Lancaster, PA or online at www.sfttackle.com.
Mike Machmer of Rhino Linings of Delaware offered a $200 gift card to one lucky team and Pete Gluszek donated 3 subscriptions to Bass University TV. Over $5000 in cash and prizes awaited the 47 teams participating in this event. Almost 60 teams entered this tournament through the buy-in entry format but must have been content with their purchase as they were not present at registration.
Teams began arriving as early as 2:30AM ready to launch their boats and draw a number for their starting position. Each team was given the option to enter the lunker pool and a side pot and the majority, but not all, chose to register for these bonus pots.
As each team registered, they were presented with a promo pack stuffed full of goodies from Shimano, G.Loomis, Jackall, and Power Pro. Representatives from each sponsor was on hand throughout the day to answer questions, offer demos on current and new product, and conduct the Cast, Pitch, and Flip competition following weigh-in. Each angler was invited to participate in the contest to determine the fastest time in the “casting course”. The winner would receive Shimano and G.Loomis product valued at $950!
Tournament Director Dave Kilby, from PAYCHECK Tournament Series conducted a pre-tournament briefing just prior to blast off and reviewed rules and protocol. Immediately following, the tournament was underway!
What a cool way to start! Two video drones were launched from the dock and, thanks to the skills of their operators, flew around the marina area filming boats as they staged, idled, and kicked up a rooster tail.
Each team was scheduled to check in with a tournament official at one of three designated times based on their launch order. Three staggered check-in times kept the weigh-in moving fluently which also meant no back-up at the casting competition course and a quick transition into the BBQ provided by the Susquehanna Fishing Tackle.
All teams were back at the dock on time and early reports seemed to indicate feast or famine on the Upper Bay. Only 11 teams were able to produce a limit so that means it would be neck and neck at the finish… or so you would think!
John Heller and Jeff Flickinger finished in 12th place and received a subscription to Bass University TV thanks to their weight of 12.73.
Ken Cassella and his partner, Glenn finished just ahead with 12.75 and also were the recipients of a TV subscription to Bass University. They had an 11th place finish.
Joe Hunt and Bill McDermott finished in 10th place with 13.40 and received the $200 gift card courtesy of Rhino Linings of Delaware.
With a 9th place finish, Barry Townsend and his partner Kevin collected $200 for 5 nice bass that weighed 13.49 pounds.
Winding up in 8th place were Steve Myers and Chris Lang, who put 14.04 pounds on the scale.
7th place belonged to Mike Piccolo and Mary, his partner. They weighed 5 largemouth that totaled 14.20.
Bill Barlow fished alone in this tournament and did just fine, thank you! He was one fish shy of a limit but still finished 6th with 14.86 pounds.
Chuck Rife and Pete Faverio had a great weight of 16.97 pounds including a nice 5.61 green fish that carried them to a 5th place finish.
Jack Rinkers and Eric Galasso cracked the 17 pound barrier with 5 bass that totaled 17.01 pounds. This was good for 4th place.
Mike Sentore and Greg DiPalma finished in 3rd place today with a fine limit that weighed 17.57. Their heaviest Bass weighed just under 6 pounds.
JT Lang and Andrew Wiley teamed up to capture 17.98 pounds today. That stellar weight landed them in second place where the won 2nd place option pot loot in addition to the regular prize money.
Today’s champions are no strangers to big bass as they have dropped a 7-pounder on the scale more than a handful of times in their careers. OK, no 7 pounder today but how about a couple of 6′s and a few 5′s for good measure? The father/son duo of John and Johnny Martin had to muscle their sack of bass onto the scale then watched intently as the digital readout settled at 24.21 pounds. Nestled in their huge limit of bass was the tournament lunker, a monster 6.72 largemouth! They received the winner’s check, the lunker check, and first place Option Pot bounty for well over $2000 in prize money.
I’m not sure what you would call a blowout with regards to bass tournament fishing but given the caliber of anglers participating in this event I would surmise that almost a 7-pound margin of victory comes about as close as it gets. Talk about your “small town throwdown”. Congratulations to John and Johnny.
Larry Moore and his partner Kevin Chaney had the second largest bass of the event and also received a Bass University TV subscription. Their bass weighed 6.07 pounds!
Corbin Gotwalt had the fastest time in the Casting Competition and received 2 G.Loomis IMX rods and 2 Shimano Curado reels for he and partner Ben Cluster, thanks to his talented efforts. Total value of this awesome prize package…$950!
Susquehanna Fishing Tackle would like to thank all of the volunteers that helped make this event a great success!
Keep checking the www.sfttackle.com website for information on next year’s Bash on the Bay as it may take place earlier in the year.
See the full results here.
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