PLATTSBURGH, N.Y.- As president of the Vermont BASS Federation Nation, all Sean Alvarez of Rutland wanted to do was make sure his team could be mentally hyped to compete on Lake Champlain, site of the Nation's regional Eastern Divisional bass fishing tournament.
Instead, he took the overall lead as the competition began Wednesday with an impressive limit of smallmouth bass that weighed 17 pounds, 7 ounces.
"I really came here just to get our team set, you know, have them mentally prepared as a team to do well in this event," he said. "We share one half of the lake with New York so it would only make sense for us to be a contender."
Fishing as a co-angler, Alvarez discovered that he and first-day partner Josh Platt of Maine shared similar fishing strategies. So instead of competing against each other, as tournament anglers oftentimes do, the pair wisely combined their strengths to compete against the fish.
"We worked together," added Alvarez. "We put together a milk run of our mutual areas and just stopped at them one by one."
Alvarez said the duo combined to target smallmouth exclusively and made stops in both shallow and deep water where the fish congregated around ledges and other rocky bottom structure in the lake.
Overall, the anglers targeted a mix of largemouth and smallmouth with the latter bass emerging as the most consistent producer of quality five-bass limits.
Crowning an overall winner on Friday is only one part of this unique tournament format. The top finisher from each of the eight states and providence Federation Nations represented here advance to the BASS Federation Nation Championship, the sport's exclusive amateur world finals.
Leading their states after Wednesday's competition are Alvarez (Vermont), John Knowles (Connecticut), Robert Daly (Massachusetts), Lawrence Hogue (Maine), Brian Morin (New Hampshire), Joseph Matt (New York), Richard Verry (Rhode Island) and Mark Rorke (Ontario).
In the team competition, the eight Federation Nation teams 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 has taken commanding first-round bragging rights with its 12-angler team weighing a collective score of 146 pounds, 3 ounces. Rhode Island is second with 130-6 and host state New York close behind with 130-2. Connecticut is fourth with 128-2 with New Hampshire holding down fifth place with 116-6.
Daily weigh-ins begin at 2:30 p.m. ET at the Plattsburgh Boat Basin.
This divisional is next to last on the schedule of regional events that will qualify anglers to the Federation Nation championship set for January 2007 on Alabama's Lake Neely Henry.
2006 Eastern Divisional 09/20-09/22
Lake Champlain, N.Y.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Sean Alvarez Rutland, Vt. (VT) 5 17-07
2. Brian Morin Manchester, N.H. (NH) 5 16-04
2. Mark Rorke St Cathrines, Canada ( 5 16-04
4. Richard Verry Cranston, R.I. (RI) 5 16-03
5. Larry Halbert Barrie, Canada (ON) 5 15-15
6. Joseph Matt Syracuse, N.Y. (NY) 5 15-14
7. Rob Frye Sandown, N.H. (NH) 5 15-11
7. Lawrence Hogue Kennebunk, Maine (ME) 5 15-11
9. Robert Daly So Easton, Mass. (MA) 5 15-10
10. Steve O'Keefe Shrewsbury, Mass. (MA) 5 15-08
11. James Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. (VT 5 15-07
12. Dave Garrison Gofftown, N.H. (NH) 5 15-02
13. Chris Bowker Marsfield, Mass. (RI) 5 15-00
14. John Knowles Oakdale, Conn. (CT) 5 14-15
15. Peter Diaco Scarborough, Maine (ME 5 14-11
16. Randy Phillips Oxford, Mass. (MA) 5 14-10
17. Joel St. Germain Cumberland, R.I. (RI) 5 14-09
18. Michael Ebitson Hudson, N.H. (MA) 5 14-07
18. Johnny Nee Middleboro, Mass. (RI) 5 14-07
20. David Dziob Meriden, Conn. (CT) 5 14-04
21. Fredrick Prescott Townsend, Mass. (MA) 5 14-03
22. Scott Nadeau Springvale, Maine (ME) 5 14-00
22. Armand Swajian Maynard, Mass. (MA) 5 14-00
24. Gary Kurensky Bridgeport, Conn. (CT) 5 13-15
25. Ted Barth Bolivar, N.Y. (NY) 5 13-12
26. Jose Soler Newington, Conn. (CT) 5 13-09
27. Kevin Lavender Amston, Conn. (CT) 5 13-07
28. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, R.I. (RI) 5 13-05
29. Joshua Platt Augusta, Maine (ME) 5 12-14
29. Charles Shaw Coventry, R.I. (RI) 5 12-14
31. Nick Giamei Cortland, N.Y. (NY) 5 12-12
31. Jeffrey Rafuse Belgrade, Maine (ME) 5 12-12
33. Chris Novack Willington, Conn. (CT) 5 12-11
34. Scott Parker Londonderry, N.H. (NH) 5 12-10
35. Eric Femiak Taunton, Mass. (MA) 5 12-09
35. Rose Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. (VT 5 12-09
37. Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry, Canada (ON 5 12-07
38. Scott Green Waterbury Ctr, Vt. (VT 5 12-06
38. Todd Zup Kensington, Conn. (CT) 5 12-06
40. Bryan Folino Cheshire, Mass. (MA) 5 11-13
41. Christopher Loftus Bloomfield, N.Y. (NY) 5 11-12
41. Charles Sim Ottawa, Calif. (ON) 5 11-12
43. Skip Sjobeck Randolph Ctr, Vt. (VT) 5 11-11
44. Richard Piette Barrington, R.I. (RI) 5 11-10
45. Dan Morgan Gardiner, N.Y. (NY) 5 11-07
46. Drew Hanchett Severance, N.Y. (NY) 5 11-03
46. Timothy Lyons Whitehall, N.Y. (NY) 5 11-03
48. Mark Swett Auburn, Maine (ME) 5 10-13
49. Woody Henyan Campbell, N.Y. (NY) 5 10-07
50. Dale Brown Alburg, Vt. (VT) 5 10-02
50. Martin Look Danville, N.H. (NH) 5 10-02
52. David Banford Northfield, Mass. (NH) 5 10-00
53. Lee Rogers Swartswood, N.J. (NY) 5 9-15
54. Todd Rana Bradford, R.I. (RI) 5 9-12
55. Myron Sayers Pittsfield, Mass. (MA) 5 9-11
56. Dave Andrews Bolton, Mass. (NH) 5 9-10
57. Michael Holt Townsend, Mass. (MA) 5 9-09
58. Robert Pepe Kensington, Conn. (CT) 5 9-07
59. Raymond Grafton Swanton, Vt. (VT) 5 9-06
60. Chris Bielert Danbury, Conn. (CT) 5 9-00
61. Thomas Derocher Bridgewater, Mass. (RI 5 8-14
61. Stephen Goulette St Albans, Vt. (VT) 5 8-14
61. David LeBlanc Springfield, N.H. (NH) 5 8-14
64. Darryl Fitzgerald Livermore, Maine (ME) 4 8-13
65. Steven Parisien Batawa, Canada (ON) 5 8-12
66. Chris Marling Bracebridge, Canada (O 4 8-07
67. Robert Jeffrey Prospect, Conn. (CT) 5 8-03
68. Clint Delashaw Hallowell, Maine (ME) 5 8-01
69. Robert Kelley Rutland, Mass. (MA) 5 8-00
70. Terry Crawford Midland, Canada (ON) 5 7-15
71. Eric Sertl Pittsford, N.Y. (NY) 5 7-14
72. Jay Menard South Burlington, Vt. 4 7-13
73. Jim Lynch Gomoseen, Vt. (VT) 3 7-10
74. Paul Lavoie Coventry, R.I. (RI) 3 7-09
75. Peter Borelli Newburgh, N.Y. (NY) 4 7-06
76. Steve Wilson Hollis Center, Maine ( 3 6-15
77. Chris Rockwell Naples, N.Y. (NY) 4 6-09
78. Brian Lytle Dover, N.H. (NH) 3 6-04
79. Dominic Boissonneau Canada, Canada (ON) 3 6-03
79. Craig Nealley Duxbury, Mass. (MA) 3 6-03
81. David Swett Berwick, N.H. (NH) 4 5-08
81. Bob Thornington Kirkfield, Canada (ON) 3 5-08
83. Keith Poulin Turner, Maine (ME) 4 5-06
84. Jeff Macdonald Belleville, Canada (ON 2 4-14
85. Howard Richmond Charlestown, R.I. (RI) 2 4-10
86. Brian Penney Haverhill, Mass. (NH) 2 3-15
87. Wayne Barnes Belleville, Canada (ON 3 3-13
88. James Morris Milford, Conn. (CT) 1 3-11
89. Art Rife Coventry, Conn. (CT) 1 2-10
90. Greg Roth Cambridge, Canada (ON) 1 2-06
90. Mark Goodniss Westfield, N.H. (NH) 1 2-06
92. Edward Forbes Saco, Maine (ME) 1 1-11
93. Ronald Bestwick Grisword, Conn. (RI) 1 1-09
94. Don Adams Rutland, Vt. (VT) 0 0-00
94. Chris Adams Rutland, Vt. (VT) 0 0-00
94. Mark Hamilton Springvale, Maine (ME) 0 0-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 69 409 980-07
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69 409 980-07
TEAM STANDINGS Day 1
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State Lbs-Oz
1 MASSACHUSETTS 146-03
2 RHODE ISLAND 130-06
3 NEW YORK 130-02
4 CONNECTICUT 128-02
5 NEW HAMPSHIRE 116-06
6 VERMONT 113-05
7 MAINE 111-11
8 ONTARIO 104-04
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 1
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MASSACHUSETTS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Robert Daly So Easton, Mass. 5 15-10
2 Steve O'Keefe Shrewsbury, Mass. 5 15-08
3 Randy Phillips Oxford, Mass. 5 14-10
4 Michael Ebitson Hudson, N.H. 5 14-07
5 Fredrick Prescott Townsend, Mass. 5 14-03
6 Armand Swajian Maynard, Mass. 5 14-00
7 Eric Femiak Taunton, Mass. 5 12-09
8 Bryan Folino Cheshire, Mass. 5 11-13
9 Myron Sayers Pittsfield, Mass. 5 9-11
10 Michael Holt Townsend, Mass. 5 9-09
11 Robert Kelley Rutland, Mass. 5 8-00
12 Craig Nealley Duxbury, Mass. 3 6-03
RHODE ISLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Richard Verry Cranston, R.I. 5 16-03
2 Chris Bowker Marsfield, Mass. 5 15-00
3 Joel St. Germain Cumberland, R.I. 5 14-09
4 Johnny Nee Middleboro, Mass. 5 14-07
5 Mike Wolfenden Warwick, R.I. 5 13-05
6 Charles Shaw Coventry, R.I. 5 12-14
7 Richard Piette Barrington, R.I. 5 11-10
8 Todd Rana Bradford, R.I. 5 9-12
9 Thomas Derocher Bridgewater, Mass. 5 8-14
10 Paul Lavoie Coventry, R.I. 3 7-09
11 Howard Richmond Charlestown, R.I. 2 4-10
12 Ronald Bestwick Grisword, Conn. 1 1-09
NEW YORK
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joseph Matt Syracuse, N.Y. 5 15-14
2 Ted Barth Bolivar, N.Y. 5 13-12
3 Nick Giamei Cortland, N.Y. 5 12-12
4 Christopher Loftus Bloomfield, N.Y. 5 11-12
5 Dan Morgan Gardiner, N.Y. 5 11-07
6 Drew Hanchett Severance, N.Y. 5 11-03
6 Timothy Lyons Whitehall, N.Y. 5 11-03
8 Woody Henyan Campbell, N.Y. 5 10-07
9 Lee Rogers Swartswood, N.J. 5 9-15
10 Eric Sertl Pittsford, N.Y. 5 7-14
11 Peter Borelli Newburgh, N.Y. 4 7-06
12 Chris Rockwell Naples, N.Y. 4 6-09
CONNECTICUT
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 John Knowles Oakdale, Conn. 5 14-15
2 David Dziob Meriden, Conn. 5 14-04
3 Gary Kurensky Bridgeport, Conn. 5 13-15
4 Jose Soler Newington, Conn. 5 13-09
5 Kevin Lavender Amston, Conn. 5 13-07
6 Chris Novack Willington, Conn. 5 12-11
7 Todd Zup Kensington, Conn. 5 12-06
8 Robert Pepe Kensington, Conn. 5 9-07
9 Chris Bielert Danbury, Conn. 5 9-00
10 Robert Jeffrey Prospect, Conn. 5 8-03
11 James Morris Milford, Conn. 1 3-11
12 Art Rife Coventry, Conn. 1 2-10
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brian Morin Manchester, N.H. 5 16-04
2 Rob Frye Sandown, N.H. 5 15-11
3 Dave Garrison Gofftown, N.H. 5 15-02
4 Scott Parker Londonderry, N.H. 5 12-10
5 Martin Look Danville, N.H. 5 10-02
6 David Banford Northfield, Mass. 5 10-00
7 Dave Andrews Bolton, Mass. 5 9-10
8 David LeBlanc Springfield, N.H. 5 8-14
9 Brian Lytle Dover, N.H. 3 6-04
10 David Swett Berwick, N.H. 4 5-08
11 Brian Penney Haverhill, Mass. 2 3-15
12 Mark Goodniss Westfield, N.H. 1 2-06
VERMONT
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Sean Alvarez Rutland, Vt. 5 17-07
2 James Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. 5 15-07
3 Rose Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. 5 12-09
4 Scott Green Waterbury Ctr, Vt. 5 12-06
5 Skip Sjobeck Randolph Ctr, Vt. 5 11-11
6 Dale Brown Alburg, Vt. 5 10-02
7 Raymond Grafton Swanton, Vt. 5 9-06
8 Stephen Goulette St Albans, Vt. 5 8-14
9 Jay Menard South Burlington, Vt. 4 7-13
10 Jim Lynch Gomoseen, Vt. 3 7-10
11 Don Adams Rutland, Vt. 0 0-00
11 Chris Adams Rutland, Vt. 0 0-00
MAINE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Lawrence Hogue Kennebunk, Maine 5 15-11
2 Peter Diaco Scarborough, Maine 5 14-11
3 Scott Nadeau Springvale, Maine 5 14-00
4 Joshua Platt Augusta, Maine 5 12-14
5 Jeffrey Rafuse Belgrade, Maine 5 12-12
6 Mark Swett Auburn, Maine 5 10-13
7 Darryl Fitzgerald Livermore, Maine 4 8-13
8 Clint Delashaw Hallowell, Maine 5 8-01
9 Steve Wilson Hollis Center, Maine 3 6-15
10 Keith Poulin Turner, Maine 4 5-06
11 Edward Forbes Saco, Maine 1 1-11
12 Mark Hamilton Springvale, Maine 0 0-00
ONTARIO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Rorke St Cathrines, Canada 5 16-04
2 Larry Halbert Barrie, Canada 5 15-15
3 Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry, Canada 5 12-07
4 Charles Sim Ottawa, Calif. 5 11-12
5 Steven Parisien Batawa, Canada 5 8-12
6 Chris Marling Bracebridge, Canada 4 8-07
7 Terry Crawford Midland, Canada 5 7-15
8 Dominic Boissonneau Canada, Canada 3 6-03
9 Bob Thornington Kirkfield, Canada 3 5-08
10 Jeff Macdonald Belleville, Canada 2 4-14
11 Wayne Barnes Belleville, Canada 3 3-13
12 Greg Roth Cambridge, Canada 1 2-06