Jun 25

Saratoga Lake Final Results and Photos

Ever been in a multiple day tournament where all anglers brought in full limits each day? Well, most who fished in the NJBF’s first point event of the season on June 22 and 23 at Saratoga Lake had not either . . . However, every participant made it to the scales with five-fish limits each day (one co-angler did not fish Day 2 as he was ill). With that many fished weighed, you would expect a close finish in each division. That was not the case. Instead, two anglers clearly pulled away in each Division to take the victories.

First place in the Boater Division was Vern Gatson who started the event right with almost 18 pounds on Day 1 and had just over 14 pounds on Day 2 to win the event by over four full pounds! His total weight was 31.92 pounds.

Second place in the Boater Division went to Nick Diamandas, Jr., of the Berkshire Valley Bassmasters who weighed in 27.91 pounds. Third place Boater was Rich Schneidereit with 26.01 pounds.

The winning Co-Angler, Joe Sodora, of the Blazin Bass chapter, busted a 14 pound limit on Day 1 and cruised to the victory by almost three pounds. His total weight was 25.05 pounds. The next two anglers, Brian Snowman and Kevin Collins, posted identical two-day totals of 22.19 pounds.

The next event is at Lake Hopatcong on July 28.

Jun 13

2019 New Jersey Bass Federation Team Tournament Recap

The annual New Jersey Bass Federation team tournament was held on May 9 and 10 on the mighty Potomac River. While the field for this event was small, the event proved to be highly competitive and produced some good individual and team results.

On the individual side, the winner of the event was Derick Olson of the Quickfire Bassmasters, who produced two large bags of fish weighing over 16 and 17 pounds, respectively, for a total of 34.69 pounds. T…his weight was enough to take the individual first prize by almost three pounds. Second place went to Ryan McGinty of the Big D Valley Bassmasters. McGinty weighed in two consistent bags that totaled 31.72 pounds. Just behind in third place was Clearwater Bassmasters’ Brian Wisniewski with 31.11 pounds.

On the team side, the Big D Valley Bassmasters won the event for the second time in three years. The club amassed a total of 132.85 pounds over the two days, enough to win the event by almost five pounds over last year’s champion club, the North Jersey Bass Anglers.

Also of note are the three Boater and Co-Angler qualifiers for this season’s District 15 TBF National Semi-Final. The top three boaters and co-anglers who qualified are, in order, as follows: Boaters – Derick Olson, Ryan McGinty, Rich Schneidereit; Co-Anglers – Brian Wisniewski, Joe Casale, Lou Basciani.

Jun 07

Saratoga Lake Registration Reminder

ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO REGISTER

Saratoga Lake Registration Reminder

Our first point event of the 2019 season should be epic! It’s a two-day slamfest on Saratoga Lake scheduled for June 22 and 23. Don’t miss out!! The guaranteed Boater Division first prize is $2,500 and the guaranteed Co-Angler Division first prize is $1,750. Co-anglers, remember that when you enter, if you identify a Boater as your link, you are guaranteed entry in the event (make sure you check with the Boater first to ensure he is entering). Without a Boater link, you may be put on the waiting list.

The registration deadline is 11:59 p.m. on June 14.

If you haven’t been to Saratoga Lake, it is about as much fun as you can have on a bass fishing lake. It’s not gigantic, so you can easily run anywhere within a few minutes; it has both largemouth and smallmouth; it is just full of fish; you can fish anyway you want . . . weeds, docks, rocks, etc.

To register online, go to https://njbassfederation.com/online-registration/

Remember you must be a member of either the New Jersey Bass Federation or another TBF-affiliate state’s federation to be eligible to enter.

Apr 22

Lake Hopatcong Buddy Tournament Results


An eager field of 27 teams took to the water on Sunday, April 14, 2019 at Lake Hopatcong in the New Jersey Bass Federation’s season opening buddy event. Both the weather and the fish cooperated as the event was highly competitive with the top three finishing teams separated by a mere 6 ounces.

The winning team of Mike Rinaldi and Mike Kloss posted an impressive five fish mixed-bag limit weighing 16.93 pounds. Their kicker fish weighed in at 4.52 pounds. Just 4 ounces behind with five largemouth was the team of Mike Keller and Wally Peer with 16.70 pounds. That team’s biggest bass was 4.64 pounds. Third place was just 2 ounces further back at 16.49 pounds, which was posted by the team of Mike Czaplinski and Brendan Cucinello. That team also weighed the big fish of the event, a 5.50 pound brute!

In all, 17 of the 27 teams posted five-fish limits totaling 105 fish weighing 236.86 pounds. All fish were released alive. Yes, the spring fishing at Lake Hopatcong can be great!

The top four teams in the event were awarded cash prizes as well as the team catching the big fish. Thanks go out to all who participated (and helped out). We hope to see you for the NJBF’s point events which have guaranteed first prize payouts of $2,000 and $1,250 in the Boater and Co-Angler Divisions, respectively, for a one-day event; and $2,500 and $1,750 in those divisions, respectively, for a two-day event.

For results CLICK HERE