RECORD NUMBER OF TEAMS FOR Q.F.S. BASS OPENER!

  June 28-29^th saw the opening of bass season on the Bay of Quinte and with that the second tournament and first bass event of the 2008 Quinte Fishing Series season.  A record 75 teams participated in this two day tournament at the George St. ramps in Belleville with teams leaving in two flights at 7:00 and 7:20 a.m.  This tournament was a largemouth bass only event and teams were allowed to bring their best five (5) bass to the scales.

  Anglers left on Saturday morning with rain and light winds and these conditions hung around for most of the day but the sun came out in time for the 4:00 and 4:30 p.m. weigh in times.  The top four or five positions were very tight after day one but the lead went to Toronto’s Joe Figueira and Corbyville’s Tom Streek with a great weight of 18.90 lbs.   Following closely in second were Roy Newlands from Madoc and partner, Bob Mackie from Stirling with 18.85 lbs.  and tied with 18.40 lbs., Belleville’s, Bill Tripp and Frank Mondeville and Harrison Sillen from Courtice and Uxbridge’s Bryan Marchment.  “Going into day two, we have 27 teams that are separated by less than 2.5 lbs., stated tournament director Pete Thompson, so tomorrow could be very interesting and tight.”

  Morning of day two was dry but the wind was up some as the two flights blasted out into the Bay.  Check in times for Sunday were 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. but a half hour before weigh in the skies opened up, the rain came, the winds blew and teams and organizers were scrambling to get boats in safely and get their catches weighed in.  A few teams took their turn atop the leader board but when the last team had weighed in, no one could knock off the day one leaders, Figueira and Streek.  These anglers were one of the few top teams that actually weighed in a bigger weight on Sunday, 20.35 lbs.,  giving them a two day total of 39.25 lbs. and the top place finish.    For their win, these anglers received $4,500.00 as well as two embroidered, fleece coats compliments of Mark’s Work Warehouse in Belleville and a $50.00 gift certificate from Kelsey’s/Montana’s – Belleville.   On stage Joe stated, “ I found a couple of good spots last year when I was down fishing the tournament and when we went back to them today, the fish were there again.  I fish many places in Ontario over the course of a year and the Bay is one of the best fisheries in the province.”

  Weighing in 15.05 lbs. was not enough to catch Figueira and Streek but it was enough to hold their second place position and give Roy Newlands and Bob Mackie second place overall with a total weight of 33.90 lbs. and a cheque for $3,500.00.   Moving up a number of spots from day one to take third place was St. Catherine’s Blake Rankie and partner Gerard Ling weighing in 33.60 lbs. and giving them $2,400.00 with , fourth place going to Belleville’s Wayne Barnes and David Reid from Thomasburg, weighing in 31.95 lbs. earning them $1,300.00. weighing in 31.95 lbs. earning them $1,300.00. Fifth place ended in a tie with $625.00 going to Frankford’s  Neil Farlow and Matt Peloquin from Castleton and Randy Deschamps and Ron Skevington (Skevy’s Outdoor Specialties) weighing in 31.60 lbs.   Napanee’s Dean Thompson and Mike Burriss took home $400.00 for their seventh place weight of 31.30 lbs. and with a weight of 31.15 lbs, Belleville and Brighton’s Jeff and Mike MacDonald took eighth place and $300.00.   With 31.10 lbs, Whitby’s Paul Rich and partner John Daciuk  took home $220.00 as did Harrison Sillen and ex NHLer Bryan Marchment for their weight of 30.90 lbs.

Napanee’s Dean Thompson and Mike Burriss took seventh place

  The top team in the 115 H.P. and Under division went to the third place finishers, Rankie and Ling who added another $220.00 to their winnings.  These anglers won this division in last year’s opener also and had a great weekend!

The Bass Magnet Lure Company’s “Big Fish” Award for the big “largemouth” of the weekend went to Frankford’s Bryan McCaw and Nick Monger weighing in a 5.25 lb. fish on Sunday.  They received $1,500.00 in cash as well as $150.00 in custom, soft plastic baits compliments of Bass Magnet Lures and the Big Fish plaque.  The “Big Fish” winners for Saturday were a tie between the MacDonald brothers and Tom Davies and Dusty Craven who each weighed in a fish at 4.90 lbs.  They each received $750.00 cash for their efforts!

   The Draw for the $300.00 prepaid Canadian Tire gas card compliments of the “House Team” at Mortgage Intelligence in Belleville went to Kevin Truelove from Arden and Flinton’s Derek Thibault.

   Tournament Director, Pete Thompson thanked all the sponsors and the anglers for their support this year and was happy to see a full field of 75 boats for this bass opener.  “We are already over 60 boats for the next tournament in July and every indication points to all the bass events being at or very near our cut off line of 75 teams so if you are wanting to fish any of the remaining tournaments, I suggest you get entries in very soon!”     Information can be obtained from Thompson at 613-967-1024 or weigh master Rick Somerville at 613-968-7428 and all entries must be postmarked at least one week prior to tournament date.