GENEVA,N.Y. (July 31, 2006) - Boater Michael Moorin of Waterloo, N.Y., earned $3,842 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Empire Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Seneca. The tournament was the third of five regular-season Empire Division events and earned Moorin 200 points in the Boater Division.
Moorin's winning catch of five bass weighed 15 pounds, 15 ounces. He was throwing a Spinnerbait over submerged grass to catch his bass.
Moorin also earned an additional $510 for winning the Boater Division Big Bass Award with a 3-pound, 12-ounces bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jamie Hartman of Poland, N.Y. (five bass, 14 pounds, 15 ounces, $1,921); Woody Henyan of Campbell, N.Y. (five bass, 12 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,282); Larry Materia of Boonton Township, N.J. (five bass, 12 pounds, 5 ounces, $896) and Dennis Sikorski of Taftville, Conn. (five bass, 12 pounds, 4 ounces, $768).
Materia also took home an additional $500 for being the highest placing Ranger Cup participant.
John Buries of Montoursville, Pa., won the Co-angler Division to earn $1,921 thanks to five bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces. He was throwing a Senko tube in 6-10 feet of water over submerged grass to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Scott Rickerson of Waterloo, N.Y. (four bass, 10 pounds, 3 ounces, $960); Lance Cahoon of Haskell, N.J. (five bass, 9 pounds, $641); Rick Ottman of Oswego, N.Y. (four bass, 8 pounds, 15 ounces, $448); and Jon Putman of Carthage, N.Y.. (four bass, 8 pounds, 10 ounces, $384).
Ron Magargle of Turbotville, Pa., earned $255 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 3-pound, 13-ounce bass.
The Empire Division's next event will take place on 1000 Islands near Clayton, N.Y., Aug. 26. The Empire Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 23-24 with a two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, on Lake Champlain near Ticonderoga, N.Y.
Following the regular season, the boater with the most points who advances farthest in the BFL All-American will earn $10,000 as the "Be the Best" points champion. The co-angler points champion who advances farthest will earn $5,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion in the Co-angler Division.
Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points, with 200 points going to the winner, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on except for Super Tournaments, which award 300 points to the winner, 299 for second, 298 for third, and so on. The top 40 Empire Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Smith Mountain Regional near Moneta, Va., Oct. 19-21, where they will compete against North Carolina, Northeast and Piedmont anglers for one of six slots in the 2007 All-American.