BREWERTON, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2008) – Boater Frank Gulla of Utica, N.Y., won the Bass Fishing League Empire Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Oneida Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce. The victory earned Gulla $2,870 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Albemarle Sound Regional Championship in Elizabeth City, N.C., Oct. 9-11, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Gulla caught his Lake Oneida bass throwing topwater baits in 25 feet of water. This is his first tournament win with FLW Outdoors.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Marc Martino of Kinderhook, N.Y. (five bass, 14-08, $1,689); Gary Barone of State College, Pa. (five bass, 14-07, $1,128); Michael Yeager of Boyertown, Pa. (five bass, 14-06, $788) and Michael Morrin of Waterloo, N.Y. (five bass, 14-04, $675).
Micheal Durbak of Roscoe, N.Y., took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $415 for a 3-pound, 14-ounce bass he caught near Big Bay on a black and blue Senko.
Bruce Hall of Oneonta, N.Y., earned $1,689 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught throwing grub near banks.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Michael Bahnweg of Union Dale, Pa. (five bass, 13-06, $704); Lawrence Laclair of Syracuse, N.Y. (five bass, 13-06, $704); Frank Microni of Oneonta, N.Y. (five bass, 13-05, $394) and Bill Spindler of Turnersville, N.J. (five bass, 13-03, $338).
Zachary Secrist of Caneadea, N.Y., earned $207 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught on a June-bug Senko.
A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y., Sept. 20-21.
Following the end of regular-season competition, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on year-end points standings in the division will advance to the no-entry-fee Albemarle Sound Regional Championship where they will compete against top qualifiers from three other BFL divisions. At the Regional Championship boaters will fish for a new Ranger boat and Chevy truck and co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger boat. The top six boaters and top six co-anglers at the Regional Championship will also advance to the All-American.