CORTLAND, Ohio (June 3, 2013) – Dan Fry of Marysville, Ohio, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 10 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division tournament on Mosquito Lake. For his victory, Fry earned $3,641 plus a $2,000 Ranger Cup bonus.
The severe storms that were supposed to take place on Saturday never developed, however, the wind was heavy and the fishable areas of Mosquito Lake were limited according to Fry. He stayed on the west side of the lake and tried to fish “where others weren’t”.
“I jumped around a lot from the ramp, north to the bridge,” said Fry. “Everyone knew the fish were in pockets and the trick was to find places where others weren’t fishing. I was targeting grass and other vegetation just outside the pockets with buzzbaits, tubes and worms.
“I got my limit using a buzzbait, but then I was able to upgrade with one I caught on a tube and one I got on a worm,” continued Fry. “You can catch little fish all you want on Mosquito Lake, but it’s hard to get those decent sized bass.”
Fry’s game plan going into the tournament was to use topwater baits. He knew that he would have fewer bites with the topwater baits, but he also knew the bites that he did get would be better quality.
“It was hard sticking to my game plan,” added Fry. “I was watching guys all around me catch fish after fish, but I stuck with my original plan and it worked.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd Lucas Allen, New Wilmington, Pa., five bass, 9-13, $1,820
3rd: Andrew Berger, Clinton, Ohio, five bass, 9-10, $1,214
4th: David Spivey, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 9-7, $850 plus $300 Evinrude bonus
5th: Donald Jason, Medina, Ohio, five bass, 9-5, $728
6th: Jim Lovelace, Liberty Township, Ohio, five bass, 9-3, $668
7h: Christopher Miller, Twinsburg, Ohio, five bass, 8-11, $576
7th: Keith Wheelock, Beaver Creek, Ohio, five bass, 8-11, $576
9th: Ronald O’Farrell, Akron, Ohio, five bass, 8-9, $485
10th: Jay Ellis, Celina, Ohio, five bass, 8-6, $425
Gary Vanover of Cincinnati, Ohio, weighed five bass totaling 10 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win the Co-angler Division. Vanover earned $1,820 for his victory. Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Mike Otto, Kettering, Ohio, five bass, 9-1, $910
3rd: Jeremie Barker, Middletown, Ohio, five bass, 9-0, $607
4th: Brent Jones, Okeana, Ohio, five bass, 8-7, $425
5th: J.R. Selke, Springboro, Ohio, five bass, 8-1, $364
6th: Daniel Bancroft, Canfield, Ohio, five bass, 7-15, $334
7th: Greg Bierman, Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 7-14, $303
8th: Ron Feits, New Brighton, Pa., five bass, 7-12, $273
9th: Nathan Roush, Delaware, Ohio, five bass, 7-6, $243
10th: Heath Rogers, Monroe, Ohio, five bass, 7-4, $212
The next BFL Buckeye Division tournament is scheduled for July 13 on the Ohio River-Tanner’s Creek in Lawrenceburg, Ind. After the last divisional tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 Regional Championship on Chesapeake Bay in North East, Md. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.