CATSKILL, N.Y. (Sept. 15, 2007) - Pro Pete Gluszek of Franklinville, N.J., caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces Saturday to win the $275,225 Stren Series Northern Division bass fishing tournament on the Hudson River with a four-day total of 15 bass weighing 45-08. For his victory, Gluszek earned $25,000 cash and a $40,000 519VX Ranger boat powered by Yamaha. He also earned $4,500 in Ranger Cup and Powered by Evinrude bonuses for a total of $69,500 in winnings.
"I was in the right place at the right time," Campbell said. "With the aggressive weather conditions today, I changed my game plan and fished a crankbait. It is so important to maximize your time and fish the right tide. I was able to put a few things together and come out on top."
Gluszek opened the tournament in 22nd place Wednesday with two bass weighing 4-12. On Thursday he added another five bass weighing 16-00 capture his lead. He then caught three bass weighing 9-13 on a Friday to make the crucial top 10 cut in first place.
Rounding out the top five pros are Thomas Lavictoire of West Rutland, Vt. (nine bass, 27-11, $6,131 plus $5,000 Ranger bonus); Brian Hensley of Edwardsburg, Mich. (13 bass, 27-06, $5,518); Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, N.C. (12 bass, 26-04, $4,905); and Edward Cowan of Greeley, Pa. (10 bass, 24-01, $4,291).
Joseph Sancho of New Windsor, N.Y., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Friday a 5-pound bass that earned him the day's Snickers Big Bass award of $185.
Overall there were 27 bass weighing 62 pounds, 12 ounces caught by eight pros Saturday. The catch included two five-bass limits.
Charlie Reed Jr. of Hayes, Va., won the Co-angler Division with a four-day total of six bass weighing 16-15. "The change in weather conditions made it really hard," Reed said. "The wind would blow one way, one minute and then change directions. Even though this was a tough week, I would love to come back here again."
Reed caught three bass weighing 7-11 Wednesday while fishing with pro Ed Stiefel of Mahwah, N.J., to open the tournament in first place. He then caught one bass weighing 3-08 Thursday while fishing with pro Paul Leblanc of Franklin, Mass., to maintain his lead. On Friday he added one more bass weighing 3-11 to make the top 10 cut in first place while fishing with pro David Cioppa of Hopkinton, Mass. Finally, on Saturday, he sealed the win with one bass weighing 2-01 while fishing with pro Pete Gluszek of Franklinville, N.J.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mark Condron of Wilton, Conn. (five bass, 14-00, $2,776); Cody Kupferschmidt of Gravenhurst, Ontario (five bass, 13-05, $2,255); Howard Hammonds of Portersville, Pa. (seven bass, 13-02, $1,734); and Larry Perry of Hurricane, W. Va. (six bass, 12-10, $1,388).
Chuck George of Upton, Mass., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Wednesday - an 4-pound, 12-ounce bass - that earned him the day's Snickers Big Bass award of $105.
Overall there were eight bass weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces caught by six co-anglers Saturday. The catch included zero five-bass limits.
The next Stren Series Northern Division event, hosted by Vance County Tourism Department, will be held Oct. 3-6 on Lake Gaston in Bracey, Va. Boats will launch from Americamps in Bracey and the final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 200 N. Cooper Road in Henderson, N.C.