Rob Frye Dominates NH BASS Federation State Championship
By Dave Andrews

The New Hampshire BASS Federation held its two day State Championship on September 7 and 8, 2002 on Lake Champlain. The event drew a record number of 142 competitors to the launch facility at Apple Tree Resort in South Hero, Vermont. The field was comprised of the top finishers from the 22 clubs in the New Hampshire Federation. As the boats eased out of the Apple Tree Marina for take-off on Day One, the anglers were greeted with 10-15 MPH South winds that whipped up 5 footers in the Inland Sea. As the day wore on, the sun blasted competitors as the mercury rose to over 90 degrees in the Champlain Valley.

As the flights began to check in for the afternoon weigh-in, it was apparent that the heat-wave had dampened the enthusiasm of the bass and the warming lake temperatures (70-72 degrees) had temporarily put the fall feed on hold. Many competitors expressed frustration at the tougher then expected fishing conditions. But as always, someone always figures them out and overall a number of quality fish were weighed in. Setting the pace on Day One was none other then hard working Federation President Rob Frye who weighed in a mixed bag of bass that topped the scales at 18.03 lbs. Included in his catch was the lunker largemouth of the tournament at 5.36 lbs. Second place was held by Joe Lucarelli of Winni'g Anglers with an impressive bag of smallies that stretched the scales to 17.67 lbs. The top 12 cut for the first day was 13.66 lbs. When all of the boats had weighed their catch, the competitors headed across the street for the outdoor BBQ that was sponsored by Mepps/Mister Twister and Red Bull.

Sunday, the final day, dawned warm and breezy as the first flight checked out at 6:00 a.m. The weather conditions for day 2 mirrored the first day, but featured even stronger South winds and the temperatures soared into the mid-nineties with bright sunshine. Tougher then expected fishing was again the word on Day 2. As the first flight began to weigh-in at 2:00 p.m. it was clear that the leader board would be shaken as many of the top 12 stumbled. When the scales stopped spinning, the NH BASS Federation crowned its State Champion for 2002. Rob Frye checked in with another impressive bag weighing 15.58 lbs. and cruised to his first ever State Title and his first Regional appearance. Rob caught his limit of fish on Day One by working an emerald shiner colored Ambush Pop-A-Long top-water bait over a rocky point. He then started a largemouth milk run looking to get a kicker fish. His 5.36 lb. lunker largemouth fell for a green pumpkin Exude Fat Tube filled with Mister Twister Erupt. Most of his largemouth spots consisted of milfoil patches in 3 to 6 feet of water. On Day Two, Rob started on a windblown point and had a limit in 45 minutes by throwing a white/chartreuse 3/8 oz. Strike-On Spinnerbait. He then went back on his milk-run to top off his bag. Rob worked hard to find these fish in practice, and it paid off big-time with his first ever Championship.

Finishing in second place and earning his second trip to the Eastern Regional was Danny Peckham from the Monadnock Bass Masters. Danny reported catching 12 to 15 keepers each day of the tournament, all from the same spot. He was working a sand/gravel break-line with a carolina-rigged 6-inch watermelon Zoom lizard. All of Danny's bass were smallmouth, and his total weight was 30.12 lbs. and included the day one lunker smallie at 4.43 lbs.

A computer program randomly drew partners for each day of the tournament and as luck would have it, third place finisher Robert Hurst of Bubba Bassin Club was paired each day with Danny Peckham. The pair simply returned each day to their loaded hole and rigged up bass after bass. A noted largemouth fisherman, the Goffstown NH angler proved equally adept at catching smallmouth bass and will be making his second trip to the Regional Championship. Hurst's 2 day total of 9 bass weighed 28.40 lbs.

Finishing in fourth place and earning his twelfth trip to Regionals is Federation Vice President Dave Andrews from the Back Bay Bassmasters. Dave caught consistent bags of mostly smallmouth bass and finished with a total weight of 27.88 lbs. Andrews worked various kinds of jerkbaits over scattered grass flats in 8-14 feet of water to get his limit each day. The Triton sponsored angler reported making long runs and rotating between a few key areas to catch his fish.

Jim Hanatow from Alstead NH and the Monadnock Bass Masters claimed fifth place with a two-day total of 27.25 lbs. The Skeeter boats angler came from back in the pack on day two with a 15.42 lb. bag of smallies to make his second straight State Team. Hanatow worked shallow grasslines with a Carolina-rigged Zoom Lizard to catch his smallmouth bass on Saturday, but moved out to the 20-foot zone on Sunday to catch his big limit.

Scott Leppanen from Byfield Massachusetts also made a big move on Sunday by catching one of the biggest Day Two limits of the tournament. The Back Bay Bassmasters member weighed 15.62 lbs. on Sunday to vault from nowhere into sixth place. Leppanen will be making his fifth trip to the Regional Championship by virtue of his 26.47 lb. effort. Scott's improbable comeback was not easy and would not have been possible without the help of fellow competitor Steve May who loaned Scott his boat after falling out of contention on Day One. Scott also wishes to thank his partner Kurt Damery for his support and encouragement. Leppanen targeted smallmouth bass that were holding on the inside edge of a weed/rock flat. His primary bait was a bone colored Lucky Craft Pointer Minnow.

Mark Miner from the NH Bass Addicts placed seventh with a total weight of 25.21 lbs. Miner made a long run south and checked in with all largemouth bass. The Lyndeborough NH resident caught his limit each day by flippin' a jig and pig into dock slips that had heavy weed growth nearby. Miner's Day One limit of 16.16 lbs. put him in third place, but his bigger fish would not bite on Sunday. Miner will be making his first trip to BASS Regionals.

John Breen from the Castaways caught 9 smallmouth bass for 25.39 lbs. to finish eighth. A former BASS National Finalist, Breen will be making his fourth trip to the Regional. During practice, John drove over an unmarked hump, doubled back, and proceeded to catch two 5 lb. smallies off the spot. Using his GPS to navigate him back to his spot, Breen used a Carolina-rigged 6 inch watermelon Zoom Lizard to catch most of his fish. The hump featured light weed growth and most of his bites came from the 30 foot zone.

Federation newcomer and Stratos Boats Angler Joe Lucarelli from Meredith New Hampshire placed ninth with 24.39 lbs. Joe targeted smallmouth bass and caught most of his fish on a Lucky Craft Pointer Minnow. He worked rock/weed flats in a 14-16 foot depth range. This will be his first trip to the Championship.

Finishing in tenth place and making the most improbable comeback of the tournament was Contoocook Valley Angler Bill Vierzen. Vierzen fished a Zoom Little Craw in Pumpkin color on a carolina-rig on day one to catch 3 bass for 7.69 lbs. On Day Two, he checked in the biggest limit of the day featuring 5 beautiful smallmouth bass that weighed 16.60 lbs. and vaulted him into contention. Vierzen, fishing his first STQT, utilized a Lucky Craft Jerkbait to catch his big limit. He fished the jerkbait over scattered rock/weed flats in 8-16 feet of water.

Allan Denise of Windham Hill Bass Anglers finished eleventh with a total of 24.01 lbs. A Former two time Nationals finalist, Denise will be making his seventh trip to Regionals on the strength of a big first day. Denise caught 15.82 lbs. of smallmouth bass on Day One, then hung on to make the team. Denise caught most of his fish on a Yamamota Hula Grub cast to a rocky flat in 8-10 feet of water.

Dave LeBlanc of Springfield NH and the Contoocook Valley Anglers finished twelfth with a total of 23.90 lbs. LeBlanc caught mostly smallmouth bass by fishing a gold colored Renegade Spinnerbait along a rocky ledge in 3 to 6 feet of water. LeBlanc will be making his first trip to the Regional Championship.

Finishing in thirteenth place and qualifying for his first State Team as the Alternate is Stratos Boats Pro Steve Lucarelli of Meredith NH. Steve caught 10 smallmouth bass that weighed 23.75 lbs. He rotated between a Lucky Craft Jerkbait and a green pumpkin Yamamota Hula Grub fished on a &Mac178; oz. Football head. Steve caught his final keeper each day on the Hula Grub on the famous "last cast". His late minute heroics enabled him to join his son, Joe on the State Team. This is the first ever Father/Son to qualify for a New Hampshire Team.

Saturday Lunker Largemouth: Rob Frye: 5.36 lbs.
Saturday Lunker Smallmouth: Danny Peckham: 4.43 lbs.
Sunday Lunker Largemouth: Bruce Acox: 4.27 lbs.
Sunday Lunker Smallmouth: Gary Jackson: 4.68 lbs.

Considering the heatwave, the tournament staff did an amazing job at keeping fish mortality to a minimum. The tournament staff passed out needles and instructions for fizzing bass to all competitors at registration. Also, an intricate system of aerated water that was continuously iced down kept the bass healthy during the weigh-in process. Overall, 741 bass were weighed in during the event with only 16 dead fish. Total weight for the tournament was 1621.79 lbs.

Tournament Director Jim Orrok and President Rob Frye and the entire staff did an outstanding job in running this event. Special thanks go out to all our sponsors: Red Bull, The Alliance (Triton Boats/Mercury Outboards, Skeeter Boats/Yamaha Outboards), Strike-On, Pennzoil Marine, Quantam/Motorguide, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster, Berkley Powerbait, Citgo, Chevy, Kumho Tires, Eagle Claw, Armstrong Tools, Northern BASS Supply, Keep Alive, Mepps/Mister Twister.

Congratulations to the 2003 NH State Team that will be fishing the 2003 B.A.S.S. Federation Regional on Lake Champlain in September, 2003.