Fishing News - 7/29/02
From Operation BASS
Dolin Wins $210,000 EverStart Series Northern Division tournament
Ticonderoga, N.Y. (July 27, 2002) - Tom Dolin of Palatine Bridge, N.Y., landed more than $50,000 in cash and prizes including an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger boat Saturday with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces in the EverStart Series Northern Division tournament on Lake
Champlain. Dolin, fishing in only his second EverStart Series tournament, topped 166 Pro Division anglers after four days of competition and two elimination rounds.He made the top-20 cut Thursday in seventh place with a two-day, opening-round total of 10 bass weighing 31 pounds. He then caught five more bass weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces Friday to make the top-10 cut in 10th place. Catch weights were cleared for all competitors following each cut.
"I had a group of winning fish in an area, and I was paranoid about somebody finding them," said Dolin, who caught his bass pitching a jig. "I forced myself to leave them alone until the last day because I believed the tournament could be won there. I still thought I blew it because I lost two big fish, but it was enough, and for that reason it feels extra great. I'm still shaking."
Jeff Limbaugh of Sikeston, Mo. (five bass, 16 pounds, 9 ounces, $10,000); Marcel Veenstra of Newtown, Pa. (five bass, 15 pounds, 6 ounces, $9,000); Kevin Bishop of Hilton, N.Y. (five bass, 15 pounds, 2 ounces, $8,000); and Steven McGahan of Gales Ferry, Conn., (five bass, 14 pounds, 10 ounces, $7,500) rounded out the top five pros.
In the 166-competitor Co-angler Division, Stan Wehr of Huntingburg, Ind., claimed first place and $6,000 with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce. He was the No. 3 seed in the final round after landing five bass weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces in the semifinal round and 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 14 ounces in the two-day opening round. Catch weights were cleared at the start of each round.
"Winning is pretty fantastic, but I don't think it has sunk in yet because I'm dead on my feet," said Wehr, who caught his limit using a Zoom Brush Hog. "It was a great tournament and a great lake with great scenery and great people. I'm looking forward to the next one." Co-anglers Dan Luman of Manchester, Conn., (five bass, 14 pounds, 14 ounces, $4,000) and Homer Stephens of Noblesville, Ind., (five bass, 14 pounds, 1 ounce, $3,500) finished second and third, respectively.
More than 98 percent of the 96 bass caught Saturday were released alive. The tournament began Wednesday with 332 anglers taking off from Ticonderoga City Ramp in Ticonderoga, N.Y., to claim a piece of the event's $210,000 purse. Thousand Islands in Clayton, N.Y., will be the next Northern Division EverStart Series stop Aug. 21-24.
Sponsors of the 2002 EverStart Series are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, GARMIN, Kellogg's, Land O'Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.
For more information, visit FLWOutdoors.com
