Syracuse.com - Marcellus bass angler facing off against some of the nation's best in Arkansas tourney

[HuntingNY-News]

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Randy Lamanche is competing in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, which begins Thursday and ends Saturday at Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas. He's fishing for a berth in the prestigious Bassmaster Classic, slated for late February.

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<p>Marcellus bass fisherman Randy Lamanche, the top angler for the the New York State B.A.S.S Chapter Federation squad, is competing in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Thursday through Saturday at Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas.</p>

<p>At the nationals, Lamanche will be competing for a berth in the prestigious <a href="http://www.bassmaster.com/news/bassmaster-classic-field-filling">Bassmasters Classic</a>. The Classic, which pits the best bass anglers in the country including many at the Elite Series level, is slated for Feb. 21-23 on Lake Guntersville in Alabama. The winner will receive $500,000.</p>

<p>He qualified for the Arkansas tournament after finishing third in the Eastern Divisional Championship at Sebago Lake in Maine earlier this fall. There he competed against bass fishermen from throughout the Northeast, Canada and Spain.</p>

<p>He has a good shot to make it to the Classic. Lamanche has to finish first in a group of nine anglers from across the country in this national competition to make it to the Bassmasters Classic.</p>

<p>Lamanche has been New York State "Angler of the Year" twice before and has now made it to the next level, said said Fred Blom, vice president of the New York B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation. </p>

<p>"To make the Classic is the ultimate dream and our Eastern Division is the only BASS Nation division to have had their angler actually win the Classic," Blom said. "So there is a lot of history here and Randy is an excellent ambassador for our sport."<br /></p>

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog