Three decades ago when the Pro-Am tournament format was created, it was designed to protect teams with different skill levels, providing a balanced playing field for licensed versus non-licensed anglers/teams. Over the years, based on the evolution of tournament fishing, changes needed to be made to allow teams with different skill sets to compete against each other under a more comfortable competition format. At the same time, it provides everyone the opportunity for bigger prizes by expanding opportunities for recognition and reward. This is a no-cull event, meaning you can’t keep catching fish to improve your tournament box after the tournament limit of 12 fish is met. Everyone is fishing for both the Trophy (five fish) and Classic (12 fish) segments of the tournament at the same time, but you can focus on one or the other in your strategies while at the same time given the opportunity to weigh fish in both. Last year in Niagara, between the Amateur and Pro Divisions, less than 25 checks were written for the winners. Under the new format, that number for Niagara will be 60 prize-winning checks – with the smallest being $500 just for cracking the Top 10 on any day (based on 70 teams and current sponsor dollars), in any division.

The biggest changes that will be enacted in 2012 include:

• For the first time on the Great Lakes, tournament teams will have the ability to compete in two competition formats at the same time for one prize pool – paid out in Day 1, Day 2 and Overall increments (Trophy and Classic).
• All Combined Division teams will be competing for over 60 prize checks (based on a 50 boat field). Two separate point totals (based on the traditional 10 points per fish and a point per pound) will earn cash prizes each day, as well as overall for each tournament.
• The first scoring option available to all teams involves five fish – your best five for each day (being called the Trophy Class). These will be clearly marked when coming into the scales by each team. Scoring will take place each day and overall for a top ten ranking. This puts everyone on a level playing field.
• The second scoring option available to all teams is for the daily tournament limit of 12 fish (this includes the best five mentioned earlier). The first 12 legal fish (referred to as the Classic) will constitute your tournament limit. There is no culling. A top ten ranking will earn prize checks for each day, as well as overall.
• Observers will continue to be in place, with teams matching with others by exchanging spotters to ensure the integrity of the event. An observer will rotate boats each day. They will serve as judges on the boats to log in fish catches, witness the measuring of fish and make sure that the first 12 legal fish are caught and recorded.
• Teams will be limited to a minimum of three anglers. There is no maximum number of team members. Rod limit will be eight.
• Only one lake trout will be allowed in a 12 box limit.
• Entry fee is $650 (plus administration fees).
• The Recreational Open Division will continue to be in place for a totally separate contest and prize structure. Cost of $125 (plus administration fees) for each day of the two-day competition. There are no set rules (other than state regulations) for tournament teams with no observer needed. There is no starting time or specific port to fish from. Teams need only be in the weigh-in line by 12:30 p.m. with no more than their best three fish. Competitors can fish one or both days, with cash and merchandise prizes for each day (including 100 percent of entry fees). This is for the true “amateur” angler.
• The entire event will be 100 percent payback for all divisions.
• The Challenge Cup will still offer teams the option of fishing the West and the East end tournaments in tandem. Overall, there will be a Trophy Cup winner, a Classic Cup winner and an Overall Team of the Year winner. If you are into competition fishing, this is some exciting stuff!

With concern over the numbers of competing amateurs in the event, this was an acceptable compromise for most of the tournament teams to combine the Professional and Amateur Divisions into one tournament family. Most of the previous tournament teams can reflect on events where they had one good day, but a bust the second. Now they will be able to take home a paycheck with that one good day. In fact, they may take home more than one. Teams will be able to win up to six checks in any one tournament (Day One, Day Two and Overall).

Tournament dates for this year are: Niagara, June 2-3; Orleans, June 9-10; Oswego, July 14-15; Wayne, July 21-22. For more information – including tournament rules – on the Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament Series, check out www.lakeontarioproam.net. For more information contact Vince Pierleoni at 585-615-1197 or Bob Cinelli at 716-860-9774.

NEW COMBINED PRO & AM DIVISIONS:
This payout is based on 70 Teams, a $650 entry fee, all entry & sponsor $$$ split 30% to day 1, 30% to day 2 and 40% to the overalls, to the top 10 teams in both the “Trophy” & “Classic divisions. NOTE – All teams can qualify for 2 checks per day (1 in each division) & 2 checks overall (1 in each division) 6 total.

Top 10 ”Trophy” Boxes Days 1&2-Top 10 “Classic” Boxes Days 1&2-Top 10 Overall Boxes Both Divisions
1st – $1800                                           1st – $1800                                          1st – $2000
2nd – $1250                                          2nd – $1250                                         2nd – $1500
3rd – $1000                                           3rd – $1000                                         3rd – $1300
4th – $750                                             4th – $750                                            4th – $1150
5th – $650                                             5th – $650                                            5th – $1025
6th – $600                                             6th – $600                                            6th – $950
7th – $550                                             7th – $550                                            7th – $850
8th-10th – $500                                     8th-10th – $500                                   8th – $750
Total # of checks paid 60, 10 per division day 1 & 2 & overall               9th – $650
Total $$$ to “Trophy Boxes” days 1&2+overall = $26,875.00              10th – $500
Total $$$ to “Classic Boxes” days 1&2+overall = $26,875.00   TOTAL EVENT PURSE $53,750.00

This payout is based on 70 Teams, a $850 entry fee, all entry & sponsor $$$ split 30% to day 1, 30% to day 2 and 40% to the overalls, to the top 10 teams in both the “Trophy” & “Classic” divisions. NOTE – All teams can qualify for 2 checks per day (1 in each division) & 2 checks overall (1 in each division) 6 total.

Top 10 “Trophy” Boxes Days 1&2-Top 10 “Classic Boxes” Days 1&2-Top 10 Overall Boxes Both Divisions
1st – $2300                                           1st- $2300                                          1st – $2500
2nd – $1600                                          2st – $1600                                         2nd – $1900
3rd – $1250                                          3rd – $1250                                         3rd – $1600
4th – $950                                            4th – $950                                            4th – $1450
5th – $800                                            5th – $800                                            5th – $1300
6th – $750                                            6th – $750                                            6th – $1100
7th – $675                                            7th – $675                                            7th – $1050
8th-10th – $625                                    8th-10th – $625                                    8th – $1000
Total # of checks paid 60, 10 per division day 1 & 2 & overall              9th – $850
Total $$$ to “Trophy” Boxes days 1&2+overall = $33,875.00              10th – $725
Total $$$ to “Classic” Boxes days 1&2+overall = $33,875.00   TOTAL EVENT PURSE $67,750.00

As we concluded the events in 2011, it was evident that we needed to make some changes…and it
was always about what was the best for the teams – bigger and better. There was a serious question
as to whether or not Oswego and Wayne counties would continue in the series, primarily due to
time constraints of tournament directors. Both Dave Turner and Chris Kenyon were serious about
tendering resignations and ALL of the events needed more volunteer support. From a competitive
level, the numbers of amateur teams were dropping off, with more taking the competitive leap into the
Professional Division. The poster child/team was Dave Antenori and Screamer, winning the Lake Ontario
Challenge Cup – a former Amateur Division competitor.

By mid-summer, a group of tournament participants – already volunteers in 2011 – formed committees
in Niagara and Oswego to address many of these problems. They knew what the teams in general
were looking for and what the directors needed for the tournament series to continue and grow.
They worked together to make that happen. They were willing to volunteer their time to support the
tournaments and develop a plausible plan of attack going into 2012. Changes needed to be made if the
four tournament series was going to continue another year. At the request of the tournament directors,
this committee was asked to consider improvements to the event structure itself, from the entry fee
level to the logistics of running a tournament. We needed something that was a benefit to ALL of the
teams, creating more opportunity for recognition and reward, while at the same time facilitating more
boats in general entering the event.

One of the big bones of contention was enhancing the tournament payouts, making it appealing for
someone who has one good day of fishing. We requested that we do this in a professional manner. You
didn’t see any of these discussions on the web boards.

It took the committee six months of effort to reach a consensus. They took all of the issues one by one
and discussed them individually. Committee members involved amateur teams into the discussion to get
a feel for something that would be acceptable to them. At that time, the committee formally presented
to the directors the suggested format changes. From the beginning of January to now, the discussion
revolved around entry fee and prize structure. They also fine-tuned the rules and other format change
discussions. A survey form is now being circulated to determine the final four ingredients to complete
the puzzle, such as entry fee costs, fish totals, rod limits and the like. We are almost there.

We are excited to roll out these new format changes as adopted by the directors and endorsed by the
committee. Here’s a few of those changes:

The tournaments will all offer a two-tiered competition. The first tier is the Recreational Open Division,
offering two single days of fishing which can be entered separately. It will be your best three fish,
no observer, low entry fee and minimum rules. The second tier is the combined Pro-Am structure,
offering teams the opportunity to cash in daily for short boxes (five or six fish) and long boxes (12 fish
maximum). This would make it truly a Pro-Am by uniting the Divisions and creating a level playing field

– two one-day twin division events with an added overall payout. The intent would be to pay out cash
prizes daily for the top 10 in each category each day, as well as the combined overall payout for the top
10 in both divisions together over the two days of fishing. Not counting big fish prizes, teams will have
the opportunity to cash in on some 60 prize-winning checks! Teams can cash in day one or day two, as
well as overall. Once you earn a ranking, it cannot be taken away. Scoring system will still be ten points a
fish and a point per pound.

One single entry fee will cover it all, including anything involving cup prizes (West or East cups or the
Overall Challenge Cup). The short and long box concept will be carried throughout all four events along
the lake, giving teams the opportunity to earn “Team of the Year” honors for each category. And team
points will be earned for both short box and long box each day, as well as for the tournament overall.
In other words, all teams will be allotted cup points based on where you rank in the entire field both
Day One and Day Two, as well as overall in both Short and Long box divisions. The points will be added
together to determine a combined total. Each event will have a total point’s leader in the short box, long
box and overall standings. These cup totals will continue to expand through every day of every event.
Recognition and reward will be given after the two West end events, the two East end events and for
the overall totals of all four events.

Some of the details are still being worked on. We realize that we are under some serious time
constraints right now. Once this information is finalized, it will be added to the tournament website
at www.lakeontarioproam.net first. We are ready to start putting our magazine together after that.
Thank you for your patience and we hope that you will agree – this truly is a better fishing tournament
concept. We can’t wait to share this with the angling world!

Important Note: The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association will be holding their Lake Ontario
Expo and Flea Market on Sunday, Feb. 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension
Niagara, 4487 Lake Avenue (Route 78), Lockport. A special Q&A session on the Pro-Am Circuit will be
conducted by committee members from noon to 1 p.m. In addition, there will be a special session on
Being a Tournament Observer from 3 to 4 p.m. If you have any questions about the new tournament
format, contact Bob Cinelli or Vince Pierleoni in the Western Basin of the lake; Tom Burke or Rob
Ripka in the Eastern Basin of the lake.

• Niagara County – June 2-3
• Orleans County – June 9-10
• Oswego County – July 14-15
• Wayne County – July 21-22

The waves were flat for the two day Pro-Am, held off shore from Sodus Bay in Wayne County. Like Oswego, competing teams historically endure 6 to 10 footers rolling on the “Big O.” making for some intense fishing conditions.

The wave action was minimal; however action on shore for sixty eight teams during the 8th Annual Wayne County Trout and Salmon Team Tournament Series (Pro-Am) was electrifying. Teams fishing for the prestige Challenge had only points separating them from the cup.

How close were the final scores? An amazing .08 of a point separated the first and second place in the Amateur Division. The winner, Prize Fighter, beat Coldwater Affair 348.72 to 348.64. Scores for the Pro-Am competition are calculated by adding 10 points for each fish, then one point per pound.

The Pro Division in the Wayne County contest was won by Screamer, lead by team leader Dave Antenori. Antenori, who lives in Clarks Summit PA, headed west out of Sodus Bay for Day One fishing. “We ran 4 miles west, marked fish, and punched in the waypoints,” Antenori said.

“We got away from the fish and when the tournament started at 6 am we turned and passed through those waypoints.

“We were running our full spread and during that first pass we had five fish on and landed four.”

The Screamer team continued to use that presentation all morning. “The fish were scattered and we would find pockets. We marked the fish, passed by and then turned and fished the pocket with our full spread.

“These fish were appearing as streaks on the screen…not arcs…they were very active fish.”

The Screamer team boxed out at 11 am with 12 fish, the maximum catch for a Pro team.

Day two saw another calm day on Lake Ontario. Antenori and team decided to return to the same location. “The thermocline rose dramatically over night, and we were also fighting a strong current,” Antenori said.

“The temps were up so we decided to slip in to shallower water. We concentrated on 130 to 140 feet of water. We also ran a higher program and used more spoons.”

The water temperatures were coming-up all day and Antenori notice a bunch of boats headed towards shore. “They were going for the close-to-shore brown trout,” he said. “We needed three more fish for a full box of twelve.

“We took a team vote and decided to stay where we were and ‘grind it out.’”

The Screamer team finished the day at 1:15pm with a lake trout, a king, and a brown.

Pro teams need to make the Sodus Bay pier head by 2 pm and Antenori crossed the finish line with a full box of trout and salmon.

The Screamer won the Wayne County Pro-Am with a two day score of 525.59 and took home $5000 in cash for his efforts. He also brought in the biggest fish for the event, pocketing another $500 and $100 from Siggs Rigs. Dave Antenori and Screamer also took the East End Cup and the Lakewide Challenge Cup.

Philip Marsh and his Prize Fighter team not only took first place in the Amateur Division of the Wayne County event, they took the Challenge Cup for having the best score compiled from the entire four port series. In Niagara County they won first place during the action June 4-5, 7th place June 11-12 in Orleans County and 3rd place in Oswego County before nabbing the title with a first place finish in Wayne County.

Complete listings for the entire Lake Ontario Pro-Am Team Tournament Series and the Challenge Cup results are on the official web page at lakeontarioproam.net

The web page also has the action from 2010 Pro-am. It was filmed for a possible reality TV show. Check out the page and see the footage under LOPA TV.

The Oswego County Pro-Am Trout and Salmon Team Tournament kicked off its 17^th annual event with predictions for some of the best weather forecast in recent memory and fifty-seven teams registered to help celebrate Oswego’s 5^th year as part of the four-county lake wide tournament series.

When it comes to capturing titles in most any competitive sport, consistency is the name of the game. For the Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament Series consistency must be combined with a sound strategy for big fish … and a little bit of luck. In the third leg of the tournament series as the teams pursued the Lake Ontario Challenge Cup for top team overall, only one team in the combined fields of amateurs and professionals managed to bring limit catches to the scales during both days of the competition and their success in Oswego would later bring them big rewards.

Tucked into the southeast corner of Lake Ontario and with prevailing winds from the west and northwest tournament fishing from Oswego can sometimes be more difficult for smaller boats. This year however, Mother Nature took weather off the table leveling the field for all competitors and changing routine strategies for most.  Teams now had to decide if they wanted to target the smaller brown trout or take a chance on going after the bigger king salmon, which can be a bit more difficult to find … and catch. Coming up with a combination of the two seemed to be the ticket for success – although not by much.

Day-one of the Oswego competition began with a slight breeze but nothing that would keep even the smallest of boats in the field from getting to favorite spots.  While limit catches were not the rule of the day, several teams fared well and came in early with full boxes.  Among them was the local team combination of Trout One/Fish Chopper led by Brian Kopala and Kevin Keller. Based out of the Little Salmon River Trout One is regularly a contender in the Oswego event and this years’ pairing with Keller’s Fish Chopper team seemed to be the ticket to success.  Their limit catch on Saturday was enough to land them in first place after one day of fishing but there was little comfort in that claim as Olcott based Captain Vince Pierleioni also “boxed-out” that day and was less than 1.2 pounds behind the leader.  Not far behind Pierleioni’s Thrillseeker II team sat Dave Antenori’s Screamer team, one of the few amateurs in the professional division.  Less than 2 points behind Screamer was Matt LeClair’s Oh Baby team another amateur fishing with the pros.  Finhooker led by Mike Klikus was well positioned at fifth but the east/west combination of Flat Out & Lone Wolf (Dan Evans and Darrin LaChance) was hot on their heels less than a point behind in sixth. Jerry Felluca’s Runnin’ Rebel, Jim Samia’s Ace Charters and the Maverick team led by Chris LoPresti rounded out the top ten in the professional field.

In the amateur division Al Adomitis guided his Hook-N-Up team to the top spot on Saturday easily outdistancing the rest of the field with a box weight that was the third heaviest of the day for both divisions combined.  With a few titles under his belt but still a distant second was Del Casterline and his Liquid Plumber team followed very closely by Brian Mickatavage’s Subject To Change team.  Lynn Thomson and the Hot Wires team boxed-out to land in fourth but was less than two points in front of the Engineers led by John Menjik who also managed a limit catch for the day.   Phil Marsh continued his streak of successful days in the lake wide series and led his Prize Fighter team to their first of two limit catches for the weekend, the only team in the entire field of both amateurs and professional to do so.  Perennial contender Dr. Lou Calabrese guided his Horsin’ Around team to the seventh place spot Saturday followed closely by Tom Wojslaw and the Fish Hawk less than 1.3 points back.   Another combination team Dodger/Outcast led by Jim Skolny and Dick Tither was right behind in ninth and Jeff Zimmer’s Coldwater Affair closed out the top ten.

The open/recreational division had only two boats this year and Saturday’s competition was won by local contender John Rozonewski’s Team Turtle as Ken Krott’s Fish Magnet team struggled with mechanical failures on their boat.

Day two of the competition brought extraordinarily good weather for the event but it didn’t make the fishing any easier as less than twenty percent of the entire field managed limit catches on Sunday.  The competition was about to get tough and the races extremely tight.

In the professional division LoPresti’s Maverick team limited out with the heaviest box of the weekend landing them in first for Sunday scoring.  Screamer also got their limit to put them in second for the day.  Local Captain and previous Oswego winner, Tom Pultorak did not get his limit but the ten he did find weighed enough to put his T-K team in third for Sunday.  LaChance and Evans found the one extra fish they needed to box-out and secure the fourth spot and Tom Burke’s Cold Steel team brought in ten really nice fish to wrap-up fifth.  Trout One/Fish Chopper was one fish and nearly thirty pounds lighter than the day before dropping them to sixth for the day.  Rick Hajecki’s Yankee Troller team was the last of the pros to get his limit Sunday pushing him into seventh followed by Bob Cinelli’s White Mule team, Thrillseeker II and Mark DeSantis’ High Voltage team completing the top ten for the day.

As we’ve mentioned before, consistency is the key to success in the Pro-Am series and the combination of the two-day scores brought interesting and probably the closest scores in tournament memory.  Trout One/Fish Chopper landed 23 fish over the weekend including the single largest of the event at just under 25 pounds, giving them a final score of 460.25 points and enough to claim the Oswego professional division title.   Also with 23 fish but with 0.31 pounds less than the Kopala/ Keller team Antenori’s Screamer team grabbed the second spot with a final score of 459.94. Maverick got only 22 fish into the boat but his monster box on Sunday actually gave him more total weight (0.9 pounds more) than the two teams in front of him landing him in third with 451.15 points. A heartbreaker for LoPresti as just one more fish on Saturday would have easily locked up the top spot. Flat Out/Lone Wolf brought 23 fish to the scales but their combined weight was only enough to reel-in fourth place just 1.6 points ahead of Thrillseeker II who rounded out the top five.  Completing the top ten respectively were T-K, Cold Steel, Runnin’ Rebel, Oh-Baby and the White Mule team in their first ever east-end competition.

The story was much the same for the second day of competition in the amateur division. Dodger/Outcast brought in the heaviest box of the amateur field.  Despite the fact that they were one fish short of their limit it was enough to secure the number one spot for Sunday.  The Fish Hawk team did limit-out as did Horsin’ Around, Prizefighter and Tony Chatt’s Five More Minutes team landing second through fifth respectfully. Joe Strauss’ Jewels team found a box full to finish sixth on Sunday after a disappointing day on Saturday.   One fish and a few pounds back was the Empty Hook team led by Jeff Warner with Larry Williams Team Sparks, Liquid Plumber and Coldwater Affair  respectively capping the top ten on day-two.

Tallying the scores for the two day event revealed a finish even closer than that in the professional division as only 1.39 points separated the top three teams.  While the margin was close the amateur title went to another team who calls the Little Salmon River their home base as the Horsin’ Around compiled a total of 346.13 points for their first ever title.  Only 0.97 points back with a total of 345.16 was Fish Hawk in second and less than ½ point behind them with a two-day of 344.74 was Prize Fighter.  Still keeping it close, Dodger/Outcast claimed fourth with 342.57 points and Liquid Plumber slipped in at number five.  After a strong day on Saturday, the Engineers stumbled a bit on Sunday and finished the event in sixth followed by a tightly packed field that included Five More Minutes, Empty Hook, Subject To Change and Hot Wires respectively.

Ken Krott’s Fish Magnet came back strong for the second day of competition in the open/recreational division but Rozonewski’s Team Turtle edged them out and captured the top spot once again.

Even considering how close the scores were across both main fields in the 2011 Oswego event, perhaps the most surprising finish of the weekend was in the race for the biggest steelhead sponsored by Dunkin Donuts.  Two different teams on two different days in separate divisions somehow brought in identical fish each one weighing 13.07 pounds.  The prize was split between the amateur team Horsin’ Around and Flat Out/Lone Wolf in the professional division.

Other sponsored awards included the biggest fish overall sponsored by Siggs Rigs which went to Trout One/Fish Chopper for their 25.46 pound salmon.  The Twin Village Recycling award for the biggest fish in the opposite division was captured by Team Sparks for their salmon weighing 23.98 pounds.  Teams in the professional and amateur divisions that didn’t fare well on day one also had the chance to take home the comeback award for their division if they demonstrated the greatest point’s differential between day one and day two.  Sponsored by Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop and Shark Downrigger weights, the prizes went to Jewels on the amateur side and newcomer Blue Moon led by Scott Fletcher in the professional field.

Oswego is the first leg of the eastern Challenge Cup competition and the third event in the lake wide Cup competition.  Leading the amateur group for the eastern cup race following the Oswego event were; Fish Hawk, Prize Fighter, Dodger/Outcast, Liquid Plumber and Subject To Change.  In the race for the amateur lake wide title after three of four events it was; Fish Hawk, Dodger/Outcast, Prize Fighter, Five More Minutes and Liquid Plumber.

On the professional side in the eastern cup competition it was; Trout One/Fish Chopper, Screamer, Maverick, Flat Out/Lone Wolf and Thrillseeker II.   Flat Out/Lone Wolf and Screamer were out pacing the field for the coveted lake wide cup title followed by Cold Steel, Bill Ruth’s Billy V team and White Mule.

Anything can happen on any given day of these events and the competition for Challenge Cup titles was now as fierce as ever.  Awarded annually to the teams that demonstrate superior skill and consistent performance across multiple events the possibility existed that a team competing for their first time in all four events could win the cherished Cup title or that an amateur competing against professionals might go home with a title he had dreamt about for years.  The 2011 Wayne County event promised nothing less than two days of intense competition for big fish to satisfy even bigger egos.

White Mule, Five More Minutes Win Orleans County Pro-Am

Consistency is the name of the game in the Lake Ontario Pro-Am tournaments and the Orleans County event held June 11-12 was no different. What a difference a week can make on the lake and all the teams struggled to get legal fish for their boxes. In the end, it was the White Mule team led by Capt. Bob Cinelli of Newfane who led the Professional Division with one of only three12-fish limits for the second day of action out of Point Breeze. Their 12 fish (based on ten points per fish) combined with their weight of 120.23 gave them a second day score of 240.23. When added with their first day total after they boxed 11 fish, the Olcott-based Cinelli Sportfishing team won the Orleans County event with a score of 439.13 points. The earned a check for $5,000.

Right on their heels was the Runnin’ Rebel team led by Capt. Jerry Felluca of Hilton with a score of 417.74 points ($3,500). Like White Mule, they boxed out on Sunday and weighed in 11 fish on Saturday. Third place ($2,800) was the Destiny crew led by Capt. Eric Bickel of Burt who operates out of Olcott. They were the only other team with a Sunday limit, registering a score of 366.52 points – .16 of a point ahead of the Billy V team led by Capt. Billy Ruth of Ithaca who weighed in 11 fish on Sunday ($2,200). Capt. Tom Burke of Altmar and the Cold Steel team ran into the first place jinx and stumbled on day two to finish in fifth with 353.28 points ($1,800). Lone Wolf/Flat Out, led by Capt. Dan Evans of Wilson, in second place after day one, finished with 345.70 points, good for sixth ($1,500).

Rounding out the top 10 were: Screamer – Dave Antenori of Clark’s Summit, PA with 301.33 points for seventh ($1,375); eighth place was Devonian led by Mark Lewis of Brockport with 281.41 points ($1,000); ninth was Capt. Rob Taddeo of Rochester and his Hideout team with 268.30 points ($1,000); and tenth was Vision Quest led by Capt. Pete Alex of Erie, PA with 256.07 points ($1,000). Big fish for the tournament went to Devonian with a 27.82 pound king, earning the check for $250 from Twin Village Recycling. Comeback Award went to the Bill V team for their excellent second day score, winning a Shark Downrigger Weight courtesy Fat Nancy’s Tackle Shop. In the Lake Ontario Challenge Cup race, the Lone Wolf/Flat Out team scored Best in the West overall between Niagara and Orleans events with a cup score of 553 points. Second place went to the Billy V team with 532. Third place was the Screamer team with 518.

In the Amateur Division, it was Tony Chatt’s Five More Minutes team to overcome Jim Skolny’s Dodger/Outcast crew from who led after the first day. Chatt’s West Monroe team weighed in seven fish the final day to bring a two day total of 231.64 points to the scoring table and win their second straight Orleans County event ($1,500 plus merchandise). Second place was Brian Mickatavage’s Subject to Change team from Ashland, Pennsylvania with 192.70 points ($1,200 plus merchandise). Third place was the Fish Nutz team led by Paul Powers of Oswego with 173.45 points ($800 plus merchandise). Mike Geiger of Wellsobor, PA and This Is It was in fourth with 159.33 points ($500 plus merchandise). Dodger, from Manchester, dropped to fifth. Big fish for the Amateur Division and the winner of the Sigg’s Rigs and Northern King special awards (a $350 total prize package) was Chad Kahler of Snyder and the Gill-T Hooker team with a 27.55 pound king salmon. In the Lake Ontario Challenge Cup, Fish Nutz won the Best in the West with a cup score of 562 points. Second place was Dodger with 552 points. Third place was Fish Hawk with 549 points.

In the Recreational Open Division, Saturday’s winners were HK 1 led by Chris Petrucci of Beallsville, PA with a score of 64.22 points. Second place was Fat Floats led by Jason LaRock of Wilson. Big fish was a 16.34 pound king reeled in by the HK 1 team. On Sunday, LaRock’s Fat Floats team set the pace with a score of 74.3 points. They also had big fish with a 15.79 pound king. Second place was Silver Fox led by Scott Bengsch of Webster with 57.47 points.

The tournament circuit heads east to Oswego for the next event July 9-10; and Wayne County July 16-17. Deadline for entering is June 15. Visit www.lakeontarioproam.net for more information.

The 27th Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament was held June 4-5 out of Olcott and Wilson in Niagara USA and fishing was absolutely incredible. What normally is a transition time of year resulted in the largest catch ever seen in a Niagara USA two-day event. Spring fishing has finally arrived … just in time for summer!

Yvan Charrois of Port Colborne, Ontario and the Get It Wet fishing team, who fishes Lake Ontario out of St. Catharines, was in the perfect position after the first day. Sitting in fourth place after the first day’s massive catch, they knew what they had to do on the second day to win the event.

“We fished off the Niagara Bar area, an area we’ve been fishing all spring,” said Charrois at the Awards Ceremony in Krull Park, Olcott. “With the tremendous numbers of limit catches coming to the scales, we decided to focus on bigger king salmon by sticking strictly with spin doctors and flies in deeper water. All of our fish came 80 to 120 feet down. That made the difference.” The tournament is restricted to New York waters.

On the second day, the Get It Wet crew boated all king salmon ranging in size from five to 25 pounds, giving them a day two score of 271.90 points based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound for the 12 fish tournament Pro limit each day. Their two day total of 534.86 points was enough to win the $10,000 prize for first place in the Professional Division. Runnerup was Hi Voltage, a Rochester team led by Capt. Mark DeSantis with 518.35 points. Third place was Wilson’s Lone Wolf squad led by Capt. Dan Evans with 515.98 points. Evans was the first day leader with 275.76 points, a position that seems to carry a bit of a jinx with it.

“It was an incredible weekend for fishing,” said Charrois. “The competition was intense. I’m glad we won!” For the weekend, 1,714 fish came to the scales, weighing in an unbelievable 13,607.43 pounds! It was a record catch for the 27th Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Tournament – the opening act for the Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament Series each year. What a fishing feat!

In the Amateur Division, it was Philip Marsh and the Prizefighter Fishing Team who took first place honors in the tournament held June 4 and 5, 2011 in Olcott and Wilson. “This is our first time fishing in Niagara,” said Marsh.

The Niagara fishing was nothing short of spectacular and the Prizefighter team was right in the middle of the phenomenal catches. “We boxed-out by 7:15 a.m. the first day of the tournament.” The official starting time for amateur teams is 5:30 a.m., and a full box of salmon is nine fish. If you are working numbers, that’s a salmon every 12 minutes.

Marsh, who was fishing with father Perry, and friends Randy Lattin, and Marty Brown, set-up in 150 feet of water straight out from Wilson Harbor. “Our program for day one was a mix of spoons and flasher /flies,” the winner said. “We like Dreamweaver and Moonshine spoons.”

Day two was a different program for the Berkshire, NY team. “To win the Pro-Am I know you have to box-out,” Marsh said. “We had our limit on day one, so we needed to locate bigger fish – and get a nine fish limit.”

The Prizefighter Team headed to 200 feet of water. “We have been fishing in Niagara County since April, and we knew the larger fish would be deeper,” Marsh said. Once again the kings were hitting with a vengeance, and the anglers took seven fish by 7a.m.

“We were looking for larger fish,” Marsh said, “so we headed to 450 feet of water. We were 12 miles out from Wilson. The last two salmon were 40 feet down and hit the Moonshine spoon.” The amateur winners used a dipsy/downrigger program. “We also had the copper out 500 feet,” Marsh said.

Marsh had plenty of praise for his angling partners. “This is a solid team,” he said. “We never dropped a fish.” They ended up with 368 points, just three points ahead of runnerup Underdog led by Brian Sullivan of Lockport. Marsh won a prize package valued at $3,300. Day one leader was Cold Water Affair led by Jeff Zimmer of Marion, NY with 194.20 points. They ended up in third overall.

Next up on the tournament circuit is Orleans County June 11-12.

Am Teams
1. Prize Fighter – Phillip Marsh, Berkshire – 368 points ($3,300 prize package)
2. Underdog – Brian Sullivan, Lockport – 364.93 points ($2,170 prize package)
3. Coldwater Affair – Jeff Zimmer, Marion – 361.61 points ($1,420 prize package)
4. Reel Scream – Frank Schmidhamer, Beaver Falls, PA – 351.97 points ($1,320 prize pkg.)
5. Leviathan – Marlo Beis, Grand Island – 339.74 points ($1,270 prize package)
6. Hannah Christine – Howard Nola, West Seneca – 332.62 points ($770 prize package)
7. Lucky Enuff – Jeff Jackson, Erie, PA – 329.70 points ($770 prize package)
Big Fish – Spoonfed – Glen Gervais, W. Springfield, MA – 29.85 pound king salmon ($350 prize from Sigg’s Rigs and Northern King Spoons)

Comeback Award – Gill-T Hooker – Chad Kahler, W. Seneca – (12 Pound weight)

Pro Teams
1. Get It Wet – Yvan Charrois, Port Colborne, Ontario – 534.86 points ($10,000)
2. Hi Voltage – Mark DeSantis, Rochester – 518.35 points ($4,500)
3. Lone Wolf/Flat Out – Dan Evans, Wilson – 515.98 points ($3,500)
4. Big Fatty – Al Bodulus, Athens, PA – 502.62 points ($2,500)
5. Yankee Troller – Richard Hajecki, Rochester – 496.77 points ($2,250)
6. Screamer – Dave Antenori, Clarks Summit, PA – 493.48 points ($2,000)
7. Billy V – Bill Ruth, Ithaca – 492.98 points ($2,000)
8. Ace Charters – Jimmy Samia, North Adams, MA – 491.74 points ($2,000)+
9. Reel Excitement – Bob Songin, Rochester – 486.42 points ($2,000)
10. At Last – Mike Lis, Newfane – 484.88 points ($2,000)
11. Free Spirit – Paul Czarnecki, Waterford, PA 483.72 points ($1,000)
12. Vision Quest – Pete Alex, Erie, PA – 481.44 points ($1,000)
13. Oh-Baby – Matthew LeClair, Plattsburgh – 477.21 points ($1,000)
14. Cold Steel – Tom Burke, Altmar – 476.58 points ($1,000)
15. Thrillseeker – Vince Pierleoni, Newfane – 475.23 points ($1,000)

Big Fish – Hideout – 26.66 pound king salmon (Twin Village Recycling award – $250)

Comeback Award – Landing Zone (15 Pound Shark Downrigger Weight)

Trouble Hook, Pole Position win Recreational Open –

The Recreational Open Division of the Niagara County Pro-Am Tournament, held June 4 and 5 on separate days, had three winners each day. On Saturday, June 4, Mike Stablewski, Sr. of Lancaster with the Pole Position team won with a score of 82.25 points (based on a team’s three best fish – 10 points per fish and a point per pound). Second place was Ron Slaby of Wilson with his Get Bent team with 76.56 points. Amazingly, the two teams tied for first place in the big fish category with a 20.28 pound king salmon. Third place was John Baris of Fairport with Team Lund and a score of 75.26 points.

On Sunday June 5, Joshua Held of Wilson with the Trouble Hook team won with a score of 74.62 points. Second place was Slaby’s Get Bent team with 72.42 points. They also had big fish, a 17.55 pound king salmon. Third place was Team Lund once again, this time with a score of 52.42 points.

Sixty Seven Teams fish out of Sodus Bay

Competitive and recreational anglers have terms for fishing inclement weather…especially blowing related conditions. Nasty, over the top, snarly, bumpy, rocky ride and “are you serious” come to mind. The waves during the final day of the 2010 Wayne County Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Team Tournaments were ocean size boilers. Mike Nardone, Captain of Amateur Team Warship said that, “there were 4 footers, 6 footers, and a few 7 footers thrown in for our enjoyment.”

Teams that ventured into the deeper water searching for kings during the day reported a few 10 foot swells, however during the awards ceremony at 4 pm the water flattened out. “That’s what fishing Lake Ontario is all about… it’s different every hour of the day,” mentioned one competing team.

When the teams came to the official weigh station at Abe’s’ Waterfront in Sodus Point, the Cold Steel/Fat Nancy’s Team walked away with first place honors in the Pro Division. Led by Captain Tom Burke, from Altmar, NY Cold Steel finished the two day event with a total score of 391.36. (Scores in the Pro-Am are tallied by adding ten points per fish and one point per pound) Burke, who has many titles under his belt for the Lake Ontario Pro-Am, placed 4^th after the first day of the July 17^th-18th event, returned to the same location, fought the waves, and came in Sunday with a limit of 12 fish to take the title. The Cold Steel/Fat Nancy’s team took home $5939 in prize value …$5000 of that in cash.

Second Place honors went to the Billy V/Krenzers team with Captain Bill Ruth at the helm. Ruth, who resides in Ithaca, and his Krenzer’s Marine sponsored team came under the weigh tent with a total score of 390.76. The team took home $2,530 in cash and prizes.

Third Place was captured by Oh-Baby led by Mathew Leclair with a two day score of 387.70, which netted the team $1380 cash and prizes. Fourth Place went to Sodus Point Captain Ryan Williamson and his Fishin Magician Team. The Magician Team was in 8^th place after day one and came in with 11 fish on Sunday to give them a two day score of 375.55. Williamson and team took home $1280 cash and prizes.

In the Amateur Division the Spoonfed/NK Team took first place in the Wayne County Pro-Am. Glen Gervais, from West Springfield Mass, took a ride on the waves and brought home $3,555 in cash and prizes with a total two day score of 262.89. Second place was awarded to Fish Hawk, with team leader Tom Wojslaw, from Central Square, NY, taking home $2530 in cash and prizes.

In the new Open Recreation Division Rochester angler Paul Hadcock and his Boxed-Out team won 1^st Place for Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s payout was $350 and Sunday paid Hadcock $300. The team also won $300 of Northern King lures each day.

Second Place went to Wolcott resident, Mike McCoy, who took home over $800 in cash and merchandise for his two day standing.

The prestigious Lake Ontario Pro-Am Challenge Cup was also awarded during the Wayne County event. The Lake Cup is designed to determine the most consistent fisherman on the lake. By paying a separate entry fee and committing teams to fish all four of the Pro-Am Tournaments on Lake Ontario they compete for the ultimate Lake Ontario fishing title.  The format for this prestigious Cup was reworked in 2007 —adding a new dimension to competitive fishing on Lake Ontario.

The Challenge Cup Race is divided into two separate, but equally important, “legs”. The Western Division comprised of the Orleans and Niagara Tournaments, and the Eastern Division which includes the Oswego and Wayne Tournaments. Each Divisional Race will have its own winner but the “Crown Jewel” of Lake Ontario—the Challenge Cup, will only go to the Professional and Amateur Teams compiling the highest number of points after all 4 tournaments are completed.

The “Best of the West” Pro Division Cup went to Tom Burke’s Cold Steel/Fat Nancy’s team with a total score of 602. Second Place was Top Gun with Captain Greg Gehrig leading his team with 538 points.  Am team Spoon-fed won the “Best of the West” with 584 points. Second place was Jeff Zimmer’s Coldwater Affair team.

The Lakewide Challenge Cup for the pros also went to the Cold Steel/Fat Nancy’s team with a total score of 1092, which was only ten points above the Second Place team, Top Gun.  A ten point separation could easily be calculated as one fish!…That’s the intensity associated with the Cup.

Glen Gervais and his Spoonfed/NK team took the Lakewide Cup with a total of 1152 points for his four port total.  Second Place went to Fish Nutz, with Paul Powers leading his team with a 1134 score.

Sponsors for the Wayne County Pro-Am were:

• Abe’s Waterfront
• Arney’s Marina
• Bay Bridge Sport Shop
• Big John
• Captain Jack’s Tavern
• Cherry Grove Campground
• Clingerman Taxidermy
• Connelly’s Cove
• Dreamweaver Lures
• Fat Nancy’s
• Fish307.com
• Genesee Charter Boat Assoc.
• Krenzer’s Marine
• Lake Ontario Charter Boat Assn.
• Lake Ontario Outdoors
• Lake Ontario United
• LaRock Outdoors
• Michigan Stinger
• MOOR Electronics
• New York Outdoor News
• Northern King Lures
• Pit Stop/Sodus Point
• Primetime Storage
• Rapala
• Screwy Louie’s Tackle
• Sigg’s Riggs
• Sodus Bay Lodge
• Sodus Point Bait Shop
• Sodus Point Fire Hall
• Steve’s Custom Canvas
• Tri-State Taxidermy
• US Captain’s Coast Guard Coupon
• Wayne County Tourism

For 16 years, Oswego has gained a reputation for some nice boxes of fish coming to the scales, but has often been plagued by some difficult weather conditions due to the prevailing winds out of the west and northwest. This year, weather wasn’t a factor and teams had to decide if they wanted to target the small brown trout or take a chance on going after the bigger king salmon, which were a bit more difficult to locate … and catch. Coming up with a combination of two seemed to be the ticket for success – although not by much.

After the first day of action, the Prime Time team led by Capt. Pete Lahosky of Pennsylvania led the charge by weighing in a limit of 12 brown trout that totaled 92.60 pounds and giving them a total score of 212.60 points. However, first place is traditionally not a good place to be in after Day One. Once again, the first day leader would come up short despite bringing another limit to the scales on Day Two. Their two day total of 416.78 points would be just short of another title.  Even though Cold Steel and company could only produce 11 fish on the final day, their overall weigh of 105.77 was enough to put them over the top and move in from second place. Third place was Vision Quest and Capt. Pete Alex of Erie, PA with 391.40; and Dave Antenori’s Zip N Zim boat and his Screamer team earned fourth with 359.60 points. Fifth place was Capt. Vince Pierleoni out of Olcott and his Thrillseeker team with a score of 330.85 points. Four of those top five teams are all competing for the Challenge Cup and will be spotlighted in the Angling the Great Lakes television shows that are being filmed. Ultimately, it is hoped that it will be part of a reality television series that will feature the fishing but focus on the personalities and the passion surrounding the tournament series. This is all cool stuff!

In the Amateur Division, the Lateron Team led by Jan Zwirko set the pace with a nine fish amateur limit and a score of 150.15 points after the first day. Once again, the jinx of being in first place came through again. When the leading team came in late, the Five More Minutes team vaulted from fifth to first with a score of 241.56 for the two days. Team Spoonfed, led by Glenn Gervais of West Springfield, Massachusetts, had the single biggest day catch for the amateurs on Day Two to move from 14th place to second with a two day total of 232.98 points. Third place was Jeff Zimmer’s Cold Water Affair squad and fourth was Paul Powers and his Fish Nutz contingent. Fifth place was Jim Skolny’s Outcast/Dodger team. A full listing of teams and their finishes can be found on the results page.

Now in its second year, the Recreational/Open division saw the return of several of last year’s teams as well as a few new faces. This new competitive sector was added to give anglers an option to be part of the Pro-Am series without the full commitment of a two-day tournament and as a means to introduce the tournament series to folks who may want to test the waters before deciding to join the upper divisions. This year’s winners included the Sunchaser/Blue Eyed Lady team led by Bill Kopek and Mike Lavenia (Manlius & New Haven) capturing first place on Saturday and the Reel Addiction team led by Chris Frasier (Johnstown, NY) who outpaced the field on Sunday.

The stage is set for the final event in Sodus Bay/Wayne County. Who will be crowned the ultimate champion for the tournament and Challenge Cup Series? Come back next week for the season wrap-up.

Article By Bill Hilts, Jr.