Lamanche the Man After Oneida

 

            The Salt City Bassmasters ended their Regular Season on September 18, 2006 at Oneida Lake, the finale was sponsored by the Alexander Law Offices.  At stake were the usual Angler, Rookie and Non-Boater of the Year awards, as well as the last few slots for the 2007 Club Team.

 

The field of 21 boats found the late September weather more summer like, with a high around 80 degrees.  Forecasted SW winds were, as usual, out of the NE on Oneida, but pretty light.  A dense morning fog broke to bright skies at about 10 am. 

 

            Randy Lamanche had a few guys on his heels for AOY going into this event, including Howard Krause, Mike Cusano and Jack Harrington – and Randy needed to have a good showing.  Lamanche did better, having an great tourney and lugging a limit of Largemouth to the scales going a tourney best 16 pounds 10 ounces.  Randy showed his versatility, fished shallow water and docks pretty much all day long.  Like Biffle back in July, the pattern wasn’t great for numbers of fish but the average fish was better than 3 pounds.  They were all eating Senkos.

 

            Tom Pavlot secured a spot on the Club Team and 3-Peated as Non-Boater of the Year by bringing in a mixed bag at 16 pounds 6 ounces good for 2nd Place.  Pavlot’s boat was captained by Steve Houseknecht, who came in 3rd Place with limit of Largemouth going 14 pounds 3 ounces.  The duo started fishing Smallies and Tom jump started his day with a nice limit of 12 pounds by 8 a.m. Tom dragging a green pumpkin tube and spider grub on a ½ ounce head.  TP got a couple of 3-4 pounders on a spinnerbait to upgrade, then got a bookend Largie at the end of the day.

 

            Houseknecht had a tough go at it early but was able to put together a great limit in just under two hours pounding docks.  Steve skipped Senkos way up under the docks in the bright sun.  Steve said that for some of his fish, it was important to stew the bait or make multiple casts under the same dock.  The technique was good for Lunker also, as a 4# 9 ounce pig fell prey to magic of the Senko. 

 

            In Fourth Place was Craig Terpening who harassed Smallmouth all day long Sunday.  On a day that most of the field found tough, Craig was able to bring in over 50 Smallies and a limit of 13 pounds 9 ounces.  Craig’s approach involved a sequence of presentations starting with Jerk Baits, then Tubes and then drop shot rigs on light line.  Craig says that the bigger fish keyed in on a single color.  What it is, he won’t say.  The mighty Goby played a part though.  Craig’s fish came on and around a hump topping off at about 10’ and along the drop down to about 20’covered with mussels.  Active fish were taken on top and when the action slowed they could be coaxed along the drop off.   Craig relied heavily on his GPS to comb the structure in a pattern, and his graph to get on top of the neutral fish.

 

            Carl Moore’s mixed bag at 12 pounds 6 ounces was good for a Fifth Place finish.  Carl took all of his fish alternating between a chatterbait and a spinnerbait.  Carl focused on a 9’ to 12’ weed edge.

 

 

Lamanche, Pavlot and Potts Snag Awards

 

            What was a tight race coming into the final points event turned out to be a runaway victory for Randy Lamanche for Angler of the Year.   Mr. September, Randy Lamanche scored 975 points out of a possible 1000 for four events – only Salt legends Chris Bowes and Pete Anderson have been more dominant in recent years.  Congrats Randy.  Congrats too to Mike Cusano, Howard Krause and Jack Harrington for great seasons and putting the heat on.

 

Non-Boater of the Year Tom Pavlot came from nowhere to regain his Crown.  Tommie started slow but in his last four tourneys, he had a 2nd place at Cayuga, a 2nd place here and a 3rd place at Chaumont.  Charles Pritchard pressed Pavlot, but “TP” ran away with the honors after his 16 ½ pounds at Oneida. 

 

Howard Krause predicted that Len Potts would win NBOY after he fished with him way back at Sandy.  Pavlot was too strong, but Potts easily won Rookie of the Year. 

 

Lunker of the Year goes to Mike Cusano, with the 5 – 11 St. Lawrence Largemouth.  The fish was taken on a Jig n’ Pig.  Mike says that the fish hit twice.  The first time, Mike was so stunned at the size of it he just froze.  Luckily, the “mailbox” came back to the jig and for a boat ride back to the weigh in.

 

Most improved this year goes to TD Patrick Grady.  Grady finished in 7th place in the Club this year, 20 spots better than the year before.  I think the lack of mechanical failures played some part here.

 

Six Man Team Set

 

Randy Lamanche will Captain the 2007 Club Team.  He promises the Team will be in the hunt, no matter where they fish.  The team is as follows:

 

1.                  Randy Lamanche (Boater)

2.                  Mike Cusano (B)

3.                  Howard Krause (B)

4.                  Craig Terpening (Non-Boater)

5.                  Tom Pavlot (NB)

6.                  Jack Harrington (NB)

7.                  Patrick Grady (Alternate)

8.                  Ralph Alexander (A)

 

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