Gristwood Spanks on ‘Em at Oneida – Kind of

The Salt City Bassmasters held their first event of the season with their annual Walleye Tournament on May 7^th at Oneida Lake. The tournament was sponsored by Mike’s Marina. The field was small with only 7 boats and 14 entrants as there was a conflict with the Lion’s tourney. The weather was clear, cold and with light easterly winds.

At the end of the day, Matt Gristwood topped the field with a limit of fish going 5 pounds and 10 ounces. Matt took his fish in about 14’ to 16’ of water with rock and sparse deep weeds. Matt used a black bucktail. He had only three fish on the day, but putting things in perspective, the rest of the field of 13 anglers had only three fish on the day. Great job on a tough day Matt, and in his first tournament.

In Second Place and with Lunker was new Tournament Director Patrick Grady. He had one fish going 2 pounds 2 ounces. Patrick had his usual boat troubles in the days leading up to the tourney (major electrical). But this was nothing that Larry Arnold couldn’t diagnose in time to get Grady back on the water to defend his Lunker title from last year. With help from Larry and Curtis LunkerMan, Patrick couldn’t miss. He took his fish on a jerk bait in 10’ with scattered weeds.

Cashing her first check in a Salt City uniform was Kim Major. Kim stuck a 1 pound 5 ouncer on a Bomber Long A fished in 10’ with weeds. Rob Goffredo threw her the money bait from his stash the night prior. Kim’s slow cadence kept the Pickerel off her baits, and the Walleye following.

Tied with Kim was Jesse “The Body” Herbert. Jesse’s arms were whipped from throwing weights around all week and it was the slow dragging technique that suckered in another 1 pound 5 ounce marble eye.

The rest of the field can claim a top five finish as no one else brought any fish to the scales. We could have done better fishing for Lake Sturgeon. All fish were released alive.

rsa