PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.- New Hampshire angler Brian Morin, whose 16-pound, 10-ounce catch of smallmouth bass on Thursday gave him a combined total of 32-14, led the second day of the BASS Federation Nation Eastern Divisional bass fishing tournament on Lake Champlain.
Morin had the lead by a slim margin of 11 ounces over second-place angler Joe Matt of New York, but the anglers employed two different strategies to catch their keepers.
Morin targeted Lake Champlain's smallmouth population, predominantly centered in the upper region of the 110-mile long fishery known as the sixth Great Lake. Meanwhile, Matt ran down-lake and targeted largemouth.
The tight-lipped Morin rotated through five areas and said bottom structure and habitat were the keys to his pattern. This time of year, the smallmouth congregate around grassy ledges, submerged islands and other rocky habitat they use as ambush cover for preying upon baitfish.
"My key adjustment today was moving shallower," said Morin. "Tomorrow I'll make the call on how to adjust by depth according to the wind direction."
Far to the south, Matt fished crankbaits and spinnerbaits to coax largemouth from 2 to 20 feet deep into biting. "I have two large schools of largemouth that I'm targeting," he said. "The deep bite is best early, and then they seem to spread out and go shallow."
Even though he searched for new water during practice, Matt made the long run to fish for largemouth in an area he said produced in previous tournaments. Thursday's effort produced a 5-pound largemouth that anchored Matt's 32-3 overall limit. His fish stood as the heaviest of the tournament.
Naming an overall winner Friday is only one part of this unique tournament format. The top finisher from each of the eight state and province Federation Nations represented here advance to the BASS Federation Nation National Championship.
Leading their states were Morin (New Hampshire), Matt (New York), Gary Kurensky (Connecticut), Michael Ebitson (Massachusetts), Peter Diaco (Maine), Joel St. Germain (Rhode Island), James Jeffries (Vermont) and Mark Rorke (Ontario).
In the team competition, the eight Federation Nation clubs are vying for a total payout of $31,000, with the prize monies to be used for each state's conservation, civic and fishing outreach programs.
Massachusetts improved its lead with its 12-angler team weighing a collective score of 270 pounds, 1 ounce. Connecticut moved into second with 258-15 and Rhode Island took third place with 254-8.
Final-day weigh-ins begins at 2:30 p.m. local time at the Plattsburgh Boat Basin.
2006 Eastern Divisional 09/20-09/22
Lake Champlain, N.Y.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Brian Morin Manchester, N.H. (NH) 10 32-14
2. Joseph Matt Syracuse, N.Y. (NY) 10 32-03
3. Peter Diaco Scarborough, Maine (ME 10 31-02
4. Mark Rorke St Cathrines, Canada ( 10 30-15
5. Rob Frye Sandown, N.H. (NH) 10 30-09
6. Joel St. Germain Cumberland, R.I. (RI) 10 30-03
7. Richard Verry Cranston, R.I. (RI) 10 29-15
8. Scott Nadeau Springvale, Maine (ME) 10 29-11
9. Michael Ebitson Hudson, N.H. (MA) 10 28-09
10. James Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. (VT 10 28-08
11. Steve O'Keefe Shrewsbury, Mass. (MA) 10 28-00
12. Joshua Platt Augusta, Maine (ME) 10 27-11
13. Robert Daly So Easton, Mass. (MA) 10 27-10
14. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, R.I. (RI) 10 27-09
15. Sean Alvarez Rutland, Vt. (VT) 10 27-08
16. Chris Bowker Marsfield, Mass. (RI) 10 26-14
17. Gary Kurensky Bridgeport, Conn. (CT) 10 26-05
18. Chris Novack Willington, Conn. (CT) 10 26-04
19. Lawrence Hogue Kennebunk, Maine (ME) 9 26-01
20. Jose Soler Newington, Conn. (CT) 10 25-15
21. Dave Garrison Gofftown, N.H. (NH) 10 25-12
22. Johnny Nee Middleboro, Mass. (RI) 10 25-03
23. Scott Parker Londonderry, N.H. (NH) 10 25-02
24. Eric Femiak Taunton, Mass. (MA) 10 24-13
25. Robert Pepe Kensington, Conn. (CT) 10 24-12
26. Armand Swajian Maynard, Mass. (MA) 10 24-11
27. Kevin Lavender Amston, Conn. (CT) 10 24-10
28. Thomas Derocher Bridgewater, Mass. (RI 10 24-07
28. Randy Phillips Oxford, Mass. (MA) 9 24-07
30. Jay Menard South Burlington, Vt. 9 24-02
30. John Knowles Oakdale, Conn. (CT) 9 24-02
32. David Dziob Meriden, Conn. (CT) 10 23-12
33. Martin Look Danville, N.H. (NH) 10 23-11
34. Scott Green Waterbury Ctr, Vt. (VT 9 22-12
35. Nick Giamei Cortland, N.Y. (NY) 10 22-05
35. Charles Sim Ottawa, Canada (ON) 10 22-05
37. Darryl Fitzgerald Livermore, Maine (ME) 9 21-15
38. Dave Andrews Bolton, Mass. (NH) 10 21-14
39. Christopher Loftus Bloomfield, N.Y. (NY) 9 21-09
40. Robert Jeffrey Prospect, Conn. (CT) 10 21-04
40. Todd Zup Kensington, Conn. (CT) 10 21-04
42. Woody Henyan Campbell, N.Y. (NY) 10 21-02
43. Dan Morgan Gardiner, N.Y. (NY) 10 21-00
43. Myron Sayers Pittsfield, Mass. (MA) 10 21-00
45. Chris Marling Bracebridge, Canada (O 9 20-11
46. Michael Holt Townsend, Mass. (MA) 9 20-09
47. Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry, Canada (ON 9 20-06
48. Todd Rana Bradford, R.I. (RI) 10 20-04
49. Stephen Goulette St Albans, Vt. (VT) 9 19-13
50. Dale Brown Alburg, Vt. (VT) 9 19-07
51. Craig Nealley Duxbury, Mass. (MA) 8 19-05
52. Timothy Lyons Whitehall, N.Y. (NY) 10 19-03
53. Rose Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. (VT 9 19-02
54. Steven Parisien Batawa, Canada (ON) 10 18-14
55. David Banford Northfield, Mass. (NH) 9 18-13
56. Bryan Folino Cheshire, Mass. (MA) 10 18-12
57. Charles Shaw Coventry, R.I. (RI) 9 18-07
57. Skip Sjobeck Randolph Ctr, Vt. (VT) 8 18-07
59. Keith Poulin Turner, Maine (ME) 9 18-00
60. Brian Lytle Dover, N.H. (NH) 8 17-15
61. Richard Piette Barrington, R.I. (RI) 9 17-14
61. Larry Halbert Barrie, Canada (ON) 6 17-14
63. Jeffrey Rafuse Belgrade, Maine (ME) 8 17-11
64. Fredrick Prescott Townsend, Mass. (MA) 6 17-10
65. Jim Lynch Gomoseen, Vt. (VT) 8 17-06
66. Mark Swett Auburn, Maine (ME) 8 17-03
67. Peter Borelli Newburgh, N.Y. (NY) 8 16-10
68. Ted Barth Bolivar, N.Y. (NY) 7 16-06
69. Jeff Macdonald Belleville, Canada (ON 6 15-12
70. Clint Delashaw Hallowell, Maine (ME) 10 15-06
71. David LeBlanc Springfield, N.H. (NH) 10 15-04
71. Art Rife Coventry, Conn. (CT) 6 15-04
73. Raymond Grafton Swanton, Vt. (VT) 7 15-03
74. Robert Kelley Rutland, Mass. (MA) 9 14-11
75. Bob Thornington Kirkfield, Canada (ON) 8 14-07
75. Terry Crawford Midland, Canada (ON) 8 14-07
77. Chris Bielert Danbury, Conn. (CT) 7 14-03
78. Howard Richmond Charlestown, R.I. (RI) 7 13-05
79. Chris Rockwell Naples, N.Y. (NY) 7 12-03
80. Eric Sertl Pittsford, N.Y. (NY) 7 11-09
81. James Morris Milford, Conn. (CT) 5 11-04
82. Drew Hanchett Severance, N.Y. (NY) 5 11-03
83. Lee Rogers Swartswood, N.J. (NY) 6 11-01
84. Ronald Bestwick Grisword, Conn. (RI) 6 10-06
85. David Swett Berwick, N.H. (NH) 6 10-05
86. Paul Lavoie Coventry, R.I. (RI) 4 10-01
87. Don Adams Rutland, Vt. (VT) 5 10-00
88. Dominic Boissonneau Canada, Canada (ON) 5 9-01
89. Brian Penney Haverhill, Mass. (NH) 4 8-11
90. Chris Adams Rutland, Vt. (VT) 3 6-15
90. Steve Wilson Hollis Center, Maine ( 3 6-15
92. Mark Goodniss Westfield, N.H. (NH) 2 6-04
93. Wayne Barnes Belleville, Canada (ON 3 3-13
94. Greg Roth Cambridge, Canada (ON) 1 2-06
95. Edward Forbes Saco, Maine (ME) 1 1-11
96. Mark Hamilton Springvale, Maine (ME) 1 1-01
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 69 409 980-07
2 55 381 891-02
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124 790 1871-09
TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
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State Lbs-Oz
1 MASSACHUSETTS 270-01
2 CONNECTICUT 258-15
3 RHODE ISLAND 254-08
4 NEW HAMPSHIRE 237-02
5 VERMONT 229-03
6 NEW YORK 216-06
7 MAINE 214-07
8 ONTARIO 190-15
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2
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MASSACHUSETTS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Michael Ebitson Hudson, N.H. 10 28-09
2 Steve O'Keefe Shrewsbury, Mass. 10 28-00
3 Robert Daly So Easton, Mass. 10 27-10
4 Eric Femiak Taunton, Mass. 10 24-13
5 Armand Swajian Maynard, Mass. 10 24-11
6 Randy Phillips Oxford, Mass. 9 24-07
7 Myron Sayers Pittsfield, Mass. 10 21-00
8 Michael Holt Townsend, Mass. 9 20-09
9 Craig Nealley Duxbury, Mass. 8 19-05
10 Bryan Folino Cheshire, Mass. 10 18-12
11 Fredrick Prescott Townsend, Mass. 6 17-10
12 Robert Kelley Rutland, Mass. 9 14-11
CONNECTICUT
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Gary Kurensky Bridgeport, Conn. 10 26-05
2 Chris Novack Willington, Conn. 10 26-04
3 Jose Soler Newington, Conn. 10 25-15
4 Robert Pepe Kensington, Conn. 10 24-12
5 Kevin Lavender Amston, Conn. 10 24-10
6 John Knowles Oakdale, Conn. 9 24-02
7 David Dziob Meriden, Conn. 10 23-12
8 Robert Jeffrey Prospect, Conn. 10 21-04
8 Todd Zup Kensington, Conn. 10 21-04
10 Art Rife Coventry, Conn. 6 15-04
11 Chris Bielert Danbury, Conn. 7 14-03
12 James Morris Milford, Conn. 5 11-04
RHODE ISLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joel St. Germain Cumberland, R.I. 10 30-03
2 Richard Verry Cranston, R.I. 10 29-15
3 Mike Wolfenden Warwick, R.I. 10 27-09
4 Chris Bowker Marsfield, Mass. 10 26-14
5 Johnny Nee Middleboro, Mass. 10 25-03
6 Thomas Derocher Bridgewater, Mass. 10 24-07
7 Todd Rana Bradford, R.I. 10 20-04
8 Charles Shaw Coventry, R.I. 9 18-07
9 Richard Piette Barrington, R.I. 9 17-14
10 Howard Richmond Charlestown, R.I. 7 13-05
11 Ronald Bestwick Grisword, Conn. 6 10-06
12 Paul Lavoie Coventry, R.I. 4 10-01
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brian Morin Manchester, N.H. 10 32-14
2 Rob Frye Sandown, N.H. 10 30-09
3 Dave Garrison Gofftown, N.H. 10 25-12
4 Scott Parker Londonderry, N.H. 10 25-02
5 Martin Look Danville, N.H. 10 23-11
6 Dave Andrews Bolton, Mass. 10 21-14
7 David Banford Northfield, Mass. 9 18-13
8 Brian Lytle Dover, N.H. 8 17-15
9 David LeBlanc Springfield, N.H. 10 15-04
10 David Swett Berwick, N.H. 6 10-05
11 Brian Penney Haverhill, Mass. 4 8-11
12 Mark Goodniss Westfield, N.H. 2 6-04
VERMONT
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 James Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. 10 28-08
2 Sean Alvarez Rutland, Vt. 10 27-08
3 Jay Menard South Burlington, Vt. 9 24-02
4 Scott Green Waterbury Ctr, Vt. 9 22-12
5 Stephen Goulette St Albans, Vt. 9 19-13
6 Dale Brown Alburg, Vt. 9 19-07
7 Rose Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. 9 19-02
8 Skip Sjobeck Randolph Ctr, Vt. 8 18-07
9 Jim Lynch Gomoseen, Vt. 8 17-06
10 Raymond Grafton Swanton, Vt. 7 15-03
11 Don Adams Rutland, Vt. 5 10-00
12 Chris Adams Rutland, Vt. 3 6-15
NEW YORK
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joseph Matt Syracuse, N.Y. 10 32-03
2 Nick Giamei Cortland, N.Y. 10 22-05
3 Christopher Loftus Bloomfield, N.Y. 9 21-09
4 Woody Henyan Campbell, N.Y. 10 21-02
5 Dan Morgan Gardiner, N.Y. 10 21-00
6 Timothy Lyons Whitehall, N.Y. 10 19-03
7 Peter Borelli Newburgh, N.Y. 8 16-10
8 Ted Barth Bolivar, N.Y. 7 16-06
9 Chris Rockwell Naples, N.Y. 7 12-03
10 Eric Sertl Pittsford, N.Y. 7 11-09
11 Drew Hanchett Severance, N.Y. 5 11-03
12 Lee Rogers Swartswood, N.J. 6 11-01
MAINE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Peter Diaco Scarborough, Maine 10 31-02
2 Scott Nadeau Springvale, Maine 10 29-11
3 Joshua Platt Augusta, Maine 10 27-11
4 Lawrence Hogue Kennebunk, Maine 9 26-01
5 Darryl Fitzgerald Livermore, Maine 9 21-15
6 Keith Poulin Turner, Maine 9 18-00
7 Jeffrey Rafuse Belgrade, Maine 8 17-11
8 Mark Swett Auburn, Maine 8 17-03
9 Clint Delashaw Hallowell, Maine 10 15-06
10 Steve Wilson Hollis Center, Maine 3 6-15
11 Edward Forbes Saco, Maine 1 1-11
12 Mark Hamilton Springvale, Maine 1 1-01
ONTARIO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Rorke St Cathrines, Canada 10 30-15
2 Charles Sim Ottawa, Canada 10 22-05
3 Chris Marling Bracebridge, Canada 9 20-11
4 Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry, Canada 9 20-06
5 Steven Parisien Batawa, Canada 10 18-14
6 Larry Halbert Barrie, Canada 6 17-14
7 Jeff Macdonald Belleville, Canada 6 15-12
8 Bob Thornington Kirkfield, Canada 8 14-07
8 Terry Crawford Midland, Canada 8 14-07
10 Dominic Boissonneau Canada, Canada 5 9-01
11 Wayne Barnes Belleville, Canada 3 3-13
12 Greg Roth Cambridge, Canada 1 2-06