After a hard easterly wind in mid week the forecast for the 5th Annual Orleans County ProAm showed nearly perfect conditions for fishing. As the teams assembled Friday night for the Captain’s meeting the anticipation was high. Saturday June 12th dawned partly cloudy with barely a ripple on the water as 41 Pro teams, 15 Am teams and 5 Open Division teams left the Oak Orchard breakwall. The morning’s calm would soon be replaced by a hard easterly wind that pushed waves to nearly 6 feet at times. Careful monitoring of the water conditions by the Tournament Committee showed conditions were “tolerable” for the smaller boats in the tournament and, at their insistence, fishing continued.
Out that morning was Capt. Mark Lewis and his team fishing on his 27’ Tiara Devonian. Capt. Mark and his team didn’t have to endure the rough water very long as they quickly put together a tremendous box of 12 fish—the tournament limit for Pros. They were back at their dock by 10:30 AM! Two other Pro teams would limit out on Day 1. Thrillseeker, with Capt. Vince Pierleoni and Whiskey Runner with Capt. Tim Wallace.
On the Am Division side it was Team 5 More Minutes taking their limit of 9 fish. They were followed closely by Subject to Change and Fish Nutz, both with 6 fish each and Dodger with 5 fish.
Day 2 saw much more favorable conditions with partly cloudy skies and calm waters. When the top teams in each division arrived at their spots some found that the calming seas had changed the fishing somewhat. As often happens in the June transitional period, the fish had moved for a lot of the teams. Several Pro teams managed to take their tournament limit of 12 fish. Top Gun, led by Capt. Greg Gehrig, Reel Excitement/Condor, led by Capt. Bob Songin, Cold Steel/Fat Nancy’s with Capt. Tom Burke and Yankee Troller with Capt. Rick Hajecki all took their limits. However, as the teams headed to the scales all the attention was focused on Capt. Bob Cinelli and his Hotline crew who also had taken a limit of fish. Capt. Bob was just coming off a big win the weekend before in the Niagara Pro Am and no team had ever won back to back tournaments. Would this be the year? Capt. Bob Cinelli’s catch of 12 fish, coupled with his catch of 9 fish on Day 1 gave him a total score of 363.69—based on 10 points per fish and 1 point per pound. With only 1 team left to weigh in the Hotline team, along with everyone else, held their breath. Enter Team Zip N Zim/ Screamer led by Capt. Lester Zimmerman and Tournament veteran Dan Antenori. The crowd gasped as their cooler was opened and it was announced by Tournament MC Dave Turner that they only had 11 fish. However, those 11 fish weighed 100.30 pounds. Their Day 2 score was 210.30! Good enough to beat the Hotline team by nearly 30 points!
Zimmerman, Antenori and their team took home a First Place check for $5000 and merchandise totaling $1140. The Hotline team, who will have to wait until next year to win back to back tournaments, took home a prize package valued at $4025. Third place went to Capt. Mark Lewis and the Devonian crew. They netted $3400 for their efforts. Rounding out the top ten was Top Gun (4th–$2950), Reel Excitement/Condor (5th–$2300), Thrillseeker (6th–$2030), Cold Steel/Fat Nancy’s (7th–$1780), Vision Quest (8th-
-$1530), Whiskey Runner (9th–$1130) and Sunrise II (10th–$1130). In total, $26, 415 in cash and prizes was paid out to the Pro Division teams.
Although no Amateur teams managed to take their tournament limits on Day 2 it was consistency that proved to be the deciding factor. Team 5 More Minutes put together a nice box of 5 fish to win the Am Division with a score of 244.77. They took home a prize package worth $2785. Just as consistent, but with smaller fish, was Subject to Change who finished in 2nd with a score of 237.02. Team Fish Nutz, always a force to be reckoned with, took 3rd with a score of 208.42. Slim Shaddy finished in 4th while Dodger rounded out the top 5. $8265 in cash and prizes went to the Am Division top five teams.
The new Open Division was won on Saturday by Salmon Slayers, who weighed 3 fish totaling 17.21 pounds and they took home a prize package valued at $400. Coming in 2nd, with 2 fish totaling 24.2 pounds, was Wet Willy and 3rd place went to Boxed Out.
Sunday saw many more fish caught by Open Division competitors but it was Lil Bit Craz edging out Boxed Out and Tough Duty with the help of a great 23.45 king. $1600 in prizes was paid out over the two days just to the Open Division teams.
The Orleans County ProAm is also the Final leg of the Best of the West Challenge Cup Race. Hotline, with 1st and 2nd place finishes, easily won the West Cup. However, they are followed very closely by Zip N Zim/Screamer, Top Gun, and Thrillseeker. The final showdown, to be held in Oswego (July 10th and 11th) and Sodus (July 17th and 18th), will be very close indeed as there are at least 10 teams still in viable contention for the coveted top spot.
Fish Nutz won the Amateur Best of the West Cup Race by edging out Wizzard. Another tournament veteran and frequent top three competitor, Spoonfed is close behind in 3rd. The Am Division Cup race will be every bit as thrilling as the Pros this year!
Thanks to all the Competitors, Sponsors and Volunteers, the 2010 Orleans County ProAm was a HUGE success. We will see everyone in Oswego on July 10th!
