Syracuse.com - Marcellus bass angler falls short in his bid to qualify for Bassmaster Classic

[HuntingNY-News]

Lamanche finished 53rd out of 56 anglers with a three-day weight of 10 pounds, 7 ounces. He turned in six fish to be weighed during the three-day competition.

Randy LamancheFred Blum photo 

Marcellus angler Randy Lamanche had a disappointing finish at the 2013 BASS Nation Championships at Lake Dardanelle, Arkansas this past weekend.

Lamanche finished 53rd out of 56 anglers with a three-day weight of 10 pounds, 7 ounces. He turned in six fish to be weighed during the three-day competition.

He was hoping to qualify for qualify for the prestigious Bassmaster Classic, which pits the best bass anglers in the country including many at the Elite Series level. That event, with its $500,000 check for first place is slated for Feb. 21-23 on Lake Guntersville in Alabama.

The tournament's top finisher was Jeff Luger, of McGaheysville, Va., with a three- day total of 14 fish, weighing 41 pounds, 13 ounces. He qualified for the Bassmaster Classic, in addition to winning a Skeeter/Yamaha boat package valued at $45,000 and an invitation to fish in the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Series.

The competition began Thursday and ended Saturday.

Lugar will be joining other B.A.S.S. Nation anglers at the Classic. Five other men qualified on Saturday after winning their divisions. Doug Thompson of Arkansas for the Central Division; Paul Mueller, Connecticut, Eastern; Mark Dove, Northern; Coby Carden, Southern; and Tim Johnston, Western.

Lamanche competed in the Eastern Division against eight other anglers and finished last. That division's winner, Paul Mueller, tied for eighth in the overal standings. He boated 13 fish for a total weight of 33 pounds, 15 ounces.

Lamanche qualified for the Arkansas tournament after finishing third in the Eastern Divisional Championship at Sebago Lake in Maine earlier this fall.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog