On a beautiful mid-summer day, an anxious field of Federation anglers took to Lake Hopatcong on July 28 to compete in the second event of the season. What set up as a close affair as weights at Hopatcong tend to bunch together, turned into a runaway on the Boater side. However, the Co-Angler Division came down to the last angler to weigh in and one ounce.
The winner of the Boater side with a stout limit weighing 14.61 pounds was Greg Oliva of the Berkshire Valley Bassmasters. Oliva’s weight was enough to win the event by over two and one-half pounds and he happily collected the $2,000 Boater Division first prize and plaque.
Second place on the Boater side went to Scott Weiland of the Blazin Bass with five fish weighing 12.99 pounds. Close behind in third place was Nick Angiulo of the Big D Valley Bassmasters with 12.63 pounds.
The Co-Angler Division was a tense affair. The first co-angler to weigh in was Mike Keller of the Blazin Bass chapter. His four fish for 8.52 pounds held the top spot right up until the final co-angler weighed in. That co-angler, Brian Snowman of the Quickfire Bassmasters broke Keller’s heart when he weighed in a five-fish limit weighing 8.59 pounds, enough to take the Co-Angler Division and the $1,250 top prize.
The lunker awards for the event went to Dan McGarry in the Boater Division with a beautiful 5.18 pound largemouth. The Co-Angler lunker went to Chris Miller with a 3.10 pound largemouth.
Don’t forget to register for the last event to be held on August 11 on the might Delaware River. Boater Division first prize is a guaranteed $2,000 and Co-Angler Division first prize is a guaranteed $1,250.
