Angler's Choice "The Largest Team Bass Fishing Trail in America"

Results

The weather was as good as the fishing on Oneida Lake near Syracuse, NY on October 11 as 9 teams competed for not only the money, but the top spots in the very close Angler's of the Year Race. As the leaves begin to turn as the first cool weather arrives on Oneida it signals the beginning of the smallmouth feed on the lake. Today was proof of this event as 3 smallmouth over 4 pounds were carried to the scales.
Finishing in 5th place was Pennsylvania's Tom Heckman and Bill Faulkner. Winners of 2 Oneida Teams events this year, Tom and Bill also became the first Oneida Teams Angler's of the Year in a very tight contest. Their 5 bass today weighed 15.41 pounds. Congratulations, guys!

4th place was claimed by Rick Ash and Chris Swearer, also from Pennsylvania. Rick and Chris also won a tournament this year and were the early front-runners in the AOY. Today, they weighed in a limit of smallmouth totaling 15.50 pounds.
Our 3rd place finishers today were competing in their first Angler's Choice event. The father/son team of Craig and Jamie Daino from New York not only had a limit of bass weighing 15.85 pounds, but also had the tournament big bass...a smallie that earned them $90 and the "Lunker" plaque. Way to go!

In 2nd place was one of the most consistent teams on the Oneida trail this year. New York's Jim Griffith and Norm Fey amassed a limit of bass that weighed 16.45 pounds. They were awarded plaques and checks that totaled $325. Unlike most other teams, Jim and Norm's strategy most of the year was to concentrate on Oneida's all but forgotten largemouth bass and they worked that plan to perfection. They have enough plaques on their walls to prove it! They also are the runners-up in the AOY race this year. Two fine gentlemen with one fine season.

Finishing in 1st place for the second time this year was the Pennsylvania team of John Hart and Bill Bowe. John and Bill have a busy schedule fishing tournaments all over the east coast and have proven to be a threat wherever they are competing. They have won many tournaments on Maryland and Virginia waters as members of the Angler's Choice DelMarVa trail. John and Bill know Oneida well and also know when to move to the shoals for the big smallmouth when the largemouth shut down. They weighed in a limit that weighed 17.21 to claim the victory, anchored by a smallie over 4 pounds.

Congratulations to all of the teams who qualified for the Regional Championship next week on Kentucky Lake. It's been a great inaugural season for Angler's Choice on Oneida Lake. Judging from the interest at the weigh-ins, this trail should experience phenomenal growth next season. Look for us at the Syracuse Sports Show as well as the announcement of our 2004 Oneida Teams schedule in the next few days.