PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Sept. 28, 2006) - Due to extreme high winds and dangerous lake conditions, day two of the Lake Champlain Stren Series event has been cancelled. Weather permitting, competition will resume as scheduled Friday morning at 7 at the Plattsburgh Boat Basin.
"After speaking with the U.S. Coast Guard early this morning, we decided to cancel day two's competition," said Stren Series Tournament Director Chris Jones. "The safety and wellbeing of our anglers is our primary concern. We will continue to monitor the weather and consult with the Coast Guard throughout the day to ensure that conditions are safe to continue fishing Friday."
Due to the cancellation, the top 20 pros and 20 co-anglers from Wednesday's standings will advance to Friday's competition, where they will start from zero and compete for 10 pro and 10 co-angler spots Saturday. The winners will be determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from Friday and Saturday.
Pro Dave Cioppa of Hopkinton, N.H., led the field on opening day with a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces. He was using a Cobra Baits 4-inch paddle-tail worm on a main lake hump in 20 to 40 feet of water.
Rounding out the top five pros who will compete Friday are Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Mich. (five bass, 18 pounds, 10 ounces); Kevin Kartesz of Jamestown, N.Y. (five bass, 18 pounds, 9 ounces); David Reault of Livonia, Mich. (five bass, 18 pounds, 5 ounces); and Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va. (five bass, 18 pounds, 4 ounces).
Fred Hunter of Canton, Ohio, led the Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces while fishing with pro Timothy Penhollow of Oxford, S.C.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are John Alba of Montpelier, Vt. (five bass, 16 pounds, 4 ounces); Andy Coffman of Campbell, Texas (five bass, 16 pounds, 2 ounces); Chris Wade of Preston, Conn. (five bass, 16 pounds, 2 ounces); and Chris Girouard of Epsom, N.H. (five bass, 14 pounds, 15 ounces).
Anglers will take off from Plattsburgh Boat Basin located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh at 7 each morning. Friday and Saturday's weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 25 Consumer Square in Plattsburgh beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.