Syracuse.com - Big Bassmaster tournament slated for Oneida Shores this week

[HuntingNY-News]

The Bass Pro Shops Bassmasters Northern Open tournament is set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Oneida Lake. The contest is a pro-am format, with anglers being teamed on each boat with co-anglers. The tournament promises about $250,000 in cash and merchandise for prizes.

Big-time bass fishing is coming this weekend to Oneida Lake, and a number of local fishermen are participating.

The Bass Pro Shops Bassmasters Northern Open tournament is set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday on Oneida Lake. The contest is a pro-am format, with anglers being teamed on each boat with co-anglers.

The entry fee is $1,250 for anglers and $350 for co-anglers.

The tournament will feature more than 140 boats and 20 elite pros, including Michael Iaconelli, Boyd Duckett, Dave Wolak, Peter Thliveros and Ish Monroe.

The roster lists 143 anglers from 33 states. Twenty-eight are from New York — many from Central New York.

The tournament promises about $250,000 in cash and merchandise for prizes, depending on the final participation numbers. The winner of the angler division will get a Triton/Mercury boat-and-motor package. The top finishing co-angler will receive a Skeeter/Yamaha boat-and-motor package.

Randy LaManche, of Manlius, said this is the highest level of bass fishing he’s ever entered.

“Number one, because of the cost of the entry fee,” he said. “I chose to give this one a try because it’s local and I’ll save on travel expenses. Plus, I’m familiar with the lake.”

LaManche said he’s honored to be in the competition with elite-level anglers.

"iI want to see how I stack up,” he said. “I’m excited. Actually, I’m a fan and will probably try and get some autographs when I’m out there at the weigh-ins. Hey, I’m not ashamed.”

The competitors will take off each day at 6:30 a.m. at Oneida Shores Park in Brewerton, with weigh-ins set for 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Oneida Shores. The final day weigh-in will be at 3:30 p.m. at the Bass Pro Shops store at the Fingerlakes Mall.

Most, if not all, competitors will be practicing before the competition, said Christopher Bowes, senior tournament manager for B.A.S.S. He said there are three official practice days (Monday through Wednesday), but there are no limits because many of the anglers “are already there.”

Bowes said the tournament is an “AAA event,” which is a qualifying league for the Elite Series. The Oneida Lake competition is the third in the Northern Open Series.

Previous tournaments were held in Richmond, Va., and Sandusky, Ohio. The points leader after the three-part series qualifies for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport in February, with its $500,000 first prize.

Dereck Bigford, of Cicero, is also eager to try his luck against the pros.

“I’ve fished the Northern Open before as a boater back in 2003,” he said. “It was a $1,100 entry back then and my wife was a nervous wreck about me spending that much on a bass tournament. I placed 50th and got my entry fee back.”

I asked if his wife was nervous this time around.

“She’s kind of used to it by now,” he said.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog