PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Sept. 29, 2006) - Pro Aaron Wessels of Watervliet, N.Y., caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces to lead day three of the Stren Series Northeast Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Champlain.
After canceling day two due to high winds and rough waters, the top 21 boaters and co-anglers went out on a lot calmer Lake Champlain today. The only weather force they had to contend with was a steady downpour of rain for the majority of the day. With an overnight drop in temperature, the fish were scattered and hard to catch but the anglers prevailed and caught numerous limits of bass showcasing what the Stren anglers are made of.
"Today was much better although I did have some ups and downs" said Wessels, who was in eighth place after day one and charged to finish first today with a quality sized limit of bass. "I broke off a few fish first thing this morning and had to sit down, re-spool my reel and get my head back into the game. Fortunately, I was able to overcome it and I put some good sized fish in the livewell."
Wessels was targeting largemouths in and around submerged grass in four to five feet of water close to a channel break. He was throwing an array of soft plastics and spinnerbaits to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five pros are Dave Lefebre of Union City, Pa. (five bass, 16 pounds, 7 ounces); Pete Gluszek of Franklinville, N.J. (five bass, 15 pounds, 10 ounces); Kevin Bishop of Hilton, N.Y. (five bass, 15 pounds, 10 ounces); and Gregg Seal of Eldred, Pa. (five bass, 15 pounds, 8 ounces).
Fred Hunter of Canton, Ohio, leads the Co-angler Division in the chase for a top award worth as much as $35,000, including a 519VX Ranger Boat if contingency guidelines are met. He caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces while fishing with pro David Cioppa of Hopkinton, Mass.
"Today was great, I had a great partner and we caught several fish," said Hunter, who had a quality limit of all smallmouth today. "We "hop scotched" all over the lake today, we went shallow and deep and caught fish in both places."
The majority of Hunter's fish came from deeper water on a drop-shot targeting smallmouth on offshore structure.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Andy Coffman of Campbell, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 7 ounces); Tim George of Kittanning, Pa. (five bass, 14 pounds, 4 ounces); Scott Leppanen of Byfield, Mass. (five bass, 14 pounds, 4 ounces); and John Shultz of Trucksville, Pa. (five bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces).
Anglers will take off from Plattsburg Boat Basin located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh at 7 each morning. Saturday's weigh-in 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.