The second event of the 2011 Quinte Fishing Series season and first bass tournament of the year took place Saturday and Sunday, July 2/3 in Belleville.   At total of 52 teams headed out at 7:00 a.m. each day looking for a five (5) fish limit of largemouth bass to weigh in.    With another circuit having tournaments this weekend out of Trenton, the Bay was busy with over 125 boats on the water Saturday between the two events.

   Day one saw calm waters and clear skies at blast-off with half the field due in at 4:00 p.m. and the rest of the boats at 4:30 p.m.  A number of teams weighed in bags in the 17-18 lb. range until last year’s Team of the Year, Darcy and Ben Asselstine, took the day one top spot with 19.15 lbs.    In second place after day one were Belleville’s Tom Streek and Jeff Chisholm with 18.75 lbs. and rounding out the top three from day one were Chris Hoover and James Martin with 18.15 lbs.      Another 8 teams had weights in that 17-18 lb. range so over 10 teams had a real shot at the title going into day two!

   Day two saw another calm day on “the Bay” with boats heading out again at 7:00 a.m. with check-ins at 2:30 and 3:00 p.m.   First flight, two day total weights were around the 34 lb. range and in the first flight were Belleville’s Jeff Kerr and Codie Lonsberry who were in seventh place after day one.  Weighing in 18.80 lbs. day two for a total of 36.20 lbs. they took the early lead and had to wait it out to see if day one leaders could better that weight.   A number of teams came close but after all teams had weighed in, these two anglers held off the field and took the bass opener title!   For their effort, they took home $3,900.00 plus two limited edition prints courtesy of Murray Henderson at BassTazz Art and a $50.00 gift certificate from Kelsey’s/Montana’s-Belleville.   “We had a number of  spots we found in prefishing and thought we would need them with the number of boats running around the Bay this weekend”, said Jeff.   “We weren’t sure if our total would hold up especially with the Asselstine’s ahead of us, he added, but we’re real happy with the win!”

   Coming from 10^th place after day one, Amherstview’s Matt Clapp and brother Ben from Kingston claimed the second place prize of $2,700.00 with a weight of 36.10 lbs.-a mere .10 lbs. behind the winners!    These two anglers also had big fish of the day and the weekend, a fish at 5.65 lbs., which gave them an additional $1,040.00, Big Fish plaque and two prints courtesy again of  BassTazz Art.    These two anglers weren’t done yet as they also had second largest fish caught for the weekend and for that received two Shimano Cumara rods and a spool of Power Pro quality fishing line both courtesy of our friends at Shimano Canada.   Not a bad hall for a couple of days fishing!!

Day one leaders, the Asselstine’s, could not repeat their day one weight and slipped to third with a total of 35.05 lbs. but did receive $1,600.00 for their efforts.   “We try to fish where no one else does or where we won’t see anyone, secluded spots, and we did that but just couldn’t get the bigger bite today”, stated Darcy.    Fourth place resulted in a tie with Belleville’s Streek and Chisholm slipping a little from second place day one to weigh in 34.05 lbs.   The father/son team of Gord and Ryan Rogers also had 34.05 lbs. and both teams took home $850.00.

   With two days of 16+ lb. bags, Frankford’s Peter McInroy and Chris Frazee form Belleville moved up to take the sixth place spot and the $450.00 and in seventh place with 33.50 lbs. were Belleville’s Mat Seeley and Steve Yarrow and they took home $300.00.

   The final spot went to Tweed’s Ron Ellery and Warkworth’s Troy Davis with 33.45 lbs. They received $250.00 for their efforts plus this team was the top team in the 115 H.P. and Under division which also gave them another $250.00!   These two competent anglers are always near the top and will be a team to look out for in this division over the season.

   The day one “Big Fish” winners had quite an interesting two days.  Murray Brydson, a long time Quinte angler had his main engine break on Thursday but decided to fish anyways and just use his trolling motor for the two days.    With his partner Murray Henderson, they landed a 5.25 largemouth that earned them $1,040.00 and had two good days on the water weighing in a very respectable 33.20 lbs. and finishing just out of the money.    Murray wasn’t sure if he should use the prize money to fix the motor or stock up on deep cycle batteries and keep using the trolling motor – we’ll keep you posted!!

   Tournament director, Pete Thompson thanked anglers for fishing the event even though there was another circuit in the area.   “Our numbers are down some from last year but the executive want to thank our loyal anglers for supporting the Series”, he stated.   “Our next event is in two weeks, July 17^th, so talk it up and let’s try to get a few more entries”, he added.   Please remember, entries must be postmarked at least one week prior to each tournament and Thompson can be reached at 613-967-1024, evenings.