As predicted and expected, the NJBF’s last point event of the season proved to be extraordinarily tough. Fishing on the Delaware River in the summer is the ultimate challenge in both finding and catching bass. These factors led to a close and tough event, but, as always, some anglers found a way to have a successful day.

Winning the event in the Boater Division was the NJBF’s most decorated angler, Rich Schneidereit. Schneidereit, of the Clearwater Bassmasters, put his nose to the grindstone and brought one of the two five-fish limits to the scales. His 6.86 pounds was enough to win the event by a comfortable margin.

Second place in the Boater Division went to Derick Olson of the Quickfire Bassmasters with 5.61 pounds, followed close behind by Darren Pincus of the Blazin Bass with 5.41 pounds. The biggest fish in the Boater Division was a 2.73 pounder caught by Scott Weiland.

Taking the victory in the Co-Angler Division was Chris Miler of the Warren County Bassmasters. Miller had four fish that weighed 6.28 pounds. Following in second place was Mike Rinaldi who had three fish weighing 5.51 pounds. Third place in the Co-Angler Division went to Brian Wisniewski of the Clearwater Bassmasters, with three fish weighing 4.05 pounds. The Co-Angler lunker, a 4.00 pound largemouth, was caught by Mike Keller of Blazin Bass.

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.