PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 17, 2010) - Pro Tom Belinda of Hollidaysburg, Pa., caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to win the FLW American Fishing Series Northern Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Champlain with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 55 pounds, 8 ounces. For his victory, Belinda earned $23,526 and a 198VX Ranger boat with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Yamaha outboard motor.
"The past two days I have been really concerned about this wind," said Belinda. "I have been making the run up to Ticonderoga and the wind has made it really nasty. It was taking me over two hours to get there and then I was left with only two - three hours of fishing time, but I knew the fish were there and I knew there was no way to win if I didn't take the gamble and make the run.
"All week I have been fishing with a custom bait my friend makes called a dirty jig swim jig; it is basically green pumpkin with blue flecks. The blue was really key; I saw the bass following the shad and the sunnies all had blue tails so I knew they would follow this jig. It has just been an incredible week and I am so happy to be here."
Rounding out the top five pros were:
2nd: Bill Spence, St. Albans, Vt., 15 bass, 55-6, $7,999
3rd: Pat Eichmann, Nancy, Ky., 15 bass, 55-2, $5,646
4th: David Wolak, Wake Forest, N.C., 15 bass, 53-2, $4,705
5th: Greg Pugh, Cullman, Ala., 15 bass, 51-14, $4,235
6th Matt Greenblatt, Tequesta, Fla., 15 bass, 50-13, $3,764
7th: Jason Knapp, Uniontown, Pa., 15 bass, 50-7, $3,294
8th: Dana Perrotte, Colchester, Vt., 15 bass, 50-2, $2,823
9th: John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 15 bass, 49-10, $2,353
10th:Joe Lucarelli, Center Harbor, N.H., 15 bass, 46-4, $1,882
Paul Noechel and David Wolak each caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Thursday - a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass - that earned them the day's Big Bass award of $136 each.
Robert Sweeney of Baltimore, Md., won the Co-angler Division and $9,457 cash, with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 44 pounds, 4 ounces.
I knew this fishery could produce big bags, but this is ridiculous, I am so excited," said Sweeney. "I only fish one or two tournaments a year, last year I had the win at 1000 Islands I can't wait to come back next year."
Robert Sweeney caught five bass weighing 15-7 Thursday while fishing with pro Michael Yawgel of Cromwell, Conn., to open the tournament in 20th place. On Friday he added five more bass weighing 14 to make the top-10 cut in seventh place while fishing with pro Robert Vogelsang of Home Jessup, Md. Finally, on Saturday, he sealed the win with five bass weighing 14-13 while fishing with pro Dana Perrotte.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers were:
2nd: John Woodroof, Lynchburg, Va., 15 bass, 43-6, $3,783
3rd: Jeff Misaiko, Tolland, Conn., 15 bass, 42-13, $1,891
4th: Marty Gutzman, Deep River, Ontario, 15 bass, 41-13, $1,655
5th: Scott Shafer, Glenville, N.Y., 15 bass, 40-12, $1,419
6th Peter Wright, Eden, Vt., 15 bass, 38-13, $1,182
7th: Dave Kovack, Lancaster, Pa., 15 bass, 38-6, $946
8th: William Capwell, Macungie, Pa., 14 bass, 36-3, $851
9th: Larry Evans, Southpoint, Ohio, 13 bass, 36-1, $757
10th: Masahiro Yanase, Knoxville, Tenn., 12 bass, 34-3, $662
John Woodroof caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Friday - a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass - that earned him the day's Big Bass award of $181.50.
The top pro and co-angler based on point standings from each of the FLW American Fishing Series divisions - Central, Northern, Southeast and Texas - will qualify for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup. The top 50 pros and co-anglers from each division also qualify for the American Fishing Series Invitational on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., Nov. 4-6, with the winning pro and co-angler also advancing to the Forrest Wood Cup.