CATSKILL, N.Y. (July 25, 2005) - Boater Robert Johnson of Orwigsburg, Pa., earned $2,266 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Northeast Division bass fishing tournament on the Hudson River. The tournament was the third of five regular-season Northeast Division events and earned Johnson 200 points in the Boater Division.
Johnson's winning catch of five bass weighed 17 pounds, 10 ounces. Johnson threw spinnerbaits around rocks and bluffs to catch his bass.
Finishing second was David Wolack of Warrior Run, Pa., with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 6 ounces that earned him $1,133. Robert Soley of Ewing, N.J., claimed $743 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces. In fourth was Russell Colwell of Baltimore, Md., with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces worth $577, and finishing fifth and earning $474 was Thomas Lavictoire of West Rutland, Vt., with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces.
Colwell took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $270 for a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a crankbait. Wolack earned an additional $500 as winner of the Ranger Cup award. Chad Shutty of Northern Cambria, Pa., earned $1,133 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces that he caught on Senkos and crankbaits.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are William Higgins of Monroe Township, N.J. (four bass, 10 pounds, 11 ounces, $567); Geoff Evans of Turnersville, N.J. (four bass, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, $370); Dan Phillips Jr. of Aberdeen, Md. (five bass, 7 pounds, 3 ounces, $288); and Frank Boncore of Pottsville, Pa. (four bass, 6 pounds, 13 ounces, $237).
Higgins earned $135 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 3-pound, 13-ounce bass he caught on a worm.
The Northeast Division's next event will be held Aug. 27 on the Potomac River near Marbury, Md. The Northeast Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 17-18 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Hopatcong near Cedar Knolls, N.J.