Doug Brownridge Leads B.a.s.s. Nation Eastern Divisional With Big Sack Of Smallies
WADDINGTON, N.Y. — When Doug Brownridge took off on Day 1 on the St. Lawrence River, he knew exactly where he was heading. He chose correctly, and he currently leads the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Divisional with 24 pounds, 5 ounces.
“This year, I was second in a Canadian Open and sixth and first in two other tournaments here,” Brownridge said. “I’ve spent 10 to 15 tournament days on this river this year. So I knew right where I wanted to go.”
Brownridge, a member of the Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation, doesn’t even know what’s special about the spot he’s got. He only knows that it produces big fish, and that’s enough to keep him coming back for more.
Just in case it doesn’t bear similar fruit on Day 2, Brownridge has plenty of backup areas.
“I’ll run out of time before I run out of spots,” he said. “Smallmouth are notorious for moving. They never give up that easily.”
Brownridge had his Day 1 limit by 10 a.m., and he culled up once with a 5-pound, 12-ounce smallmouth. The Mississauga Bassmasters member spent the rest of the day letting his co-angler, Bill Kuslaka, fill out his limit while Brownridge pre-fished other areas he can use as backup.
The 2-pound lead he has right now gives him little comfort. “I lost two 4-plus-pound fish today,” said Brownridge. “If I lose more tomorrow, I could bring in only 12 pounds. That’s just how it goes.”
He would be much happier with that 2-pound lead going into the final day.
Brownridge wasn’t the only angler loading up on football-size smallmouth. He had three that weighed more than 5 pounds, but several competitors had 4- and 5-pound smallies on Day 1. James Hanatow of New Hampshire brought in one that weighed 6 pounds even. Hanatow’s fish is in the lead for Carhartt Big Bass honors.
The occasional largemouth bass showed up to play, too, and one boat had two limits of nothing but largemouth. Abe Kalechman of Connecticut and Peter Knight of New York had a combined 26 1/2 pounds of largemouth bass, a stark difference from the rest of the field.
Most competitors complimented the St. Lawrence River fishery and the day’s weather, which was pretty easy to do with eight 20-plus-pound bags crossing the stage and with more than half the field boasting five-bass limits.
Even with the strong weights the competitors brought in for Day 1, several said they expect Day 2 to bring in even heavier ones.
“Today, we had an east wind,” said Randy Lamanche of the New York B.A.S.S. Nation. “It’s hard to do great up here with an east wind. Tomorrow, if we get a southwest wind and the sun is high, the weights will be better.”
At the end of Day 1, host New York held the state lead for cumulative weight. The New York anglers brought 178 pounds, 5 ounces to the scales. New Hampshire is in second place in the state competition with 157-9, followed by Connecticut at 154-7. The winning state takes home a boat.
Brownridge not only holds the overall lead for the tournament; he’s also leading his team, Ontario. Each team sends one representative to the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, Nov. 6-8, in Monroe, La. Other current state leaders are David Maiorano, Connecticut; George Cooper, Maine; James Moorey, Massachusetts; Rob Messenger, New Hampshire; Christopher Killoren, New York; Leo Bevelaqua, Rhode Island; Eric Corbella Salvia, Spain; and Jonathan Case, Vermont. Brownridge and Bevelaqua are the only ones with leads of more than 3 pounds, though; the rest could be wiped out with a single fish.
Anglers who advance to the championship have a chance to win a berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, a dream for most amateur competitors. Only two here at the Eastern Divisional this year have ever achieved a Classic berth: John Diaco of New Hampshire and Paul Mueller of Connecticut. Mueller competed in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic and finished only 1 pound behind winner Randy Howell.
Competition at the Eastern Divisional resumes tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. ET at Whittaker Park in Waddington. The Day 2 weigh-in will take place there at 2:30 p.m. ET. The tournament concludes Friday, Sept. 26. Keep up with the tournament live at Bassmaster.com.
St. Lawrence River, Waddington NY.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 1
2. Rob Messenger Sunapee, NH (NH) 5 22-02 0
3. Christopher Killoren Marcellus, NY (NY) 5 21-07 0
4. David Maiorano Clinton, CT (CT) 5 21-00 0
5. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT (CT) 5 20-14 0
6. Leo Bevelaqua Wyoming, RI (RI) 5 20-09 0
7. Randy Lamanche Marcellus, NY (NY) 5 20-04 0
8. Ken Golubjatnikov Pittsford, NY (NY) 5 20-01 0
9. Bill Kuslaka Windham, NH (NH) 5 19-15 0
9. Allan Smith Litchfield, NH (NH) 5 19-15 0
11. James Hanatow Alstead, NH (NH) 5 19-13 0
12. Jonathan Case Swanton, VT (VT) 5 18-15 0
13. Russell Phillips Guilford, VT (VT) 5 18-07 0
14. Dennis Sikorski Bozrah, CT (CT) 5 18-05 0
15. Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry CANADA (ONT) 5 17-15 0
16. Eric Corbella Salvia Mollerusa SPAIN (ESP) 5 17-14 0
17. Ricardo Rodriguez Gonzalez S Vicente D Alcantara S 5 17-13 0
18. Skip Sjobeck Randolph, VT (VT) 5 17-08 0
19. George Puskar Peekskill, NY (NY) 5 16-09 0
20. Abe Kalechman Ashford, CT (CT) 5 16-08 0
21. Carlos Perez Zamorano Madrid SPAIN (ESP) 5 16-06 0
21. Joe Valerio Red Creek, NY (NY) 5 16-06 0
23. Brad Brodnicki Buffalo, NY (NY) 5 15-09 0
23. Luis Vilar Patino Castellon SPAIN (ESP) 5 15-09 0
25. Scott Downie Danbury , CT (CT) 5 15-08 0
26. Todd Covert Port Crane, NY (NY) 5 15-05 0
27. George Cooper Buxton, ME (ME) 5 15-04 0
28. John Hinckley Cumberland, RI (RI) 5 15-03 0
28. James Moorey Whitinsville, MA (MA) 5 15-03 0
28. Chuck Towns Readfield, ME (ME) 5 15-03 0
31. John Fitzgerald Salisbury, VT (VT) 5 15-02 0
32. John Lamour Harrowsmith CANADA (ONT 5 15-01 0
33. Jeff Kenney Franklin, MA (MA) 5 15-00 0
34. Fernando Lay talaurea del reina SPA 5 14-08 0
35. James Knox Rutland, VT (VT) 5 14-00 0
36. Tim Birch Waterloo ONTARIO CANADA 4 13-13 0
37. Peter Demoya Plymouth, MA (NH) 5 13-12 0
37. David Dziob Meriden, CT (CT) 5 13-12 0
39. Michael Elliott Chelmsford, MA (MA) 4 13-12 0
40. Paul LeBlanc Medway, MA (MA) 5 13-11 0
41. Mark Lodge Alfred, ME (ME) 5 13-09 0
42. Sheron Brown Ayer, MA (MA) 4 13-08 0
43. Chris Molineaux Hope Valley, RI (RI) 5 13-07 0
44. John Levesque Nashua, NH (NH) 5 13-03 0
45. Ernesto Gonzalez Garcia S Vicente De Alcantara 4 13-02 0
46. Steven Conde Chepachet, RI (RI) 5 13-01 0
46. Chris O’Brien Rochester, NY (NY) 5 13-01 0
48. Ramiro Ruben Tarazona Sicilia Tarazona SPAIN (ESP) 5 13-00 0
49. Scott Guimond Sebago, ME (ME) 5 12-15 0
49. Matt Poissant Alburg, VT (VT) 5 12-15 0
51. Jay Guidaboni Plymouth, MA (MA) 5 12-14 0
52. Pete Garnier Lindsey ONTARIO CANADA 5 12-13 0
52. Mark Rorke St Cathrines ONTARIO CA 5 12-13 0
52. Dan Tavilla Clelmsford, MA (MA) 5 12-13 0
55. Jamie Janzen St Catherines ONTARIO C 5 12-11 0
56. Ricky Turczak Housatonic, MA (MA) 4 12-10 0
57. Michael McNamara Milford, NH (NH) 5 12-06 0
58. Chuck Sturtevant NoChihenden, VT (VT) 4 12-04 0
59. Christopher Guncheon Warwick, RI (RI) 5 11-14 0
60. Kevin Rose Jr Anniston, CT (CT) 5 11-11 0
61. Frank Ramsay Ingleside ONTARIO CANAD 5 11-10 0
62. Joseba Miquel vitoria SPAIN (ESP) 4 11-07 0
63. Adrian Torres Embid Zaragoza SPAIN (ESP) 5 11-05 0
64. Reed Johnson Farmington, CT (CT) 4 11-05 0
65. John Diaco Rochester, NH (NH) 5 11-03 0
66. Garrett Kruger Monroe, CT (CT) 5 10-14 0
67. Brian Kelly Liverpool, NY (NY) 5 10-11 0
68. Farris Deroma Newton, NJ (NY) 5 10-06 0
69. Larry MacPhail Kingston Ontario CANADA 4 10-02 0
70. Peter Knight Fulton, NY (NY) 5 09-15 0
71. John Shpack Attleboro, MA (MA) 4 09-15 0
72. Scott McKay Mendon, VT (VT) 3 09-12 0
73. Rick Landry Hudson, NH (NH) 4 09-10 0
74. Steve Wilson East Waterboro, ME (ME) 5 09-09 0
75. Keith Lee Avon, CT (CT) 5 09-07 0
76. Charles Sim Ottawa CANADA (ONT) 4 09-03 0
77. Javier Guillen Cordoba Tarragona SPAIN (ESP) 5 09-02 0
78. Chris Adams Concord, NH (NH) 3 09-02 0
79. Brian Jarvis Warwick , RI (RI) 3 09-00 0
80. Donnie Staszczyk Cheetowaga, NY (NY) 4 08-11 0
80. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI (RI) 4 08-11 0
82. Robert Hegyi Wales, MA (MA) 3 08-10 0
83. Kevin Busch Vienna, ME (ME) 4 07-06 0
84. Eloy Fernandez Jofre L’Ametlla Del Valles SP 2 07-00 0
85. David Riley North Attleboro, MA (RI 3 06-11 0
86. Dwayne Turnage Hollis, ME (ME) 2 06-09 0
87. Des Barnes Aurora CANADA (ONT) 3 06-04 0
88. Bruce Leeson Port Rowan ONTARIO CANA 2 06-01 0
89. Ronald Bestwick Grisword, CT (RI) 2 06-00 0
90. Shawn Grover Biddeford, ME (ME) 3 05-12 0
91. Chris Mann Cornish, VT (VT) 3 05-11 0
92. John Carmen Norfolk, MA (MA) 3 05-10 0
93. Scott Barker Gray, ME (ME) 3 04-14 0
93. David Frey West Warwick, RI (RI) 3 04-14 0
95. Joe Holland Jefferson, ME (ME) 1 04-12 0
96. Kevin Miller Merrimack, NH (NH) 1 03-11 0
97. Kevin Noel Burlington, CT (CT) 2 03-05 0
98. Steven Worden Cumberland, RI (RI) 1 02-14 0
99. Justin Spraske Swanzey, NH (NH) 1 02-13 0
100. John Grondin Scarborough, ME (ME) 1 02-09 0
101. Ruben Corbella Salvia Mollerusa SPAIN (ESP) 1 02-01 0
102. Harry Gordon WATERBURY, CT (CT) 1 01-14 0
103. Michael Abernathy Coventry, RI (RI) 1 01-07 0
104. Scott Laliberty Sabaltus, ME (ME) 1 01-04 0
105. Jim Lynch Bomoseen, VT (VT) 1 01-02 0
106. HS NY – Arndt Clay, NY (NY) 0 00-00 0
106. Matthew Breach Douglas, MA (MA) 0 00-00 0
106. HS ON – McGarry Gallant Bowmanville CANADA (ONT 0 00-00 0
106. HS MA – McQuade Jaskolski Dudley, MA (MA) 0 00-00 0
106. James Jeffries Rouses Point, NY (VT) 0 00-00 0
106. HS RI – Bestwick Sampson N Stonington, CT (RI) 0 00-00 0
106. HS VT – Gaudette Seaman Colchester, VT (VT) 0 00-00 0
106. HS NH – Farrington Sterritt Newfields, NH (NH) 0 00-00 0
106. HS ME – Rodgers Williamson Gorham, ME (ME) 0 00-00 0
106. HS CT – Marino / Winslow Naugatuck, CT (CT) 0 00-00 0
106. William Wright Whiting, VT (VT) 0 00-00 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 64 433 1264-14
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64 433 1264-14
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State Lbs-Oz
1 NEW YORK 178-05
2 NEW HAMPSHIRE 157-09
3 CONNECTICUT 154-07
4 ONTARIO 152-11
5 SPAIN 149-03
6 MASSACHUSETTS 133-10
7 VERMONT 125-12
8 RHODE ISLAND 113-11
9 MAINE 99-10
———————————————————————–
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 David Maiorano Clinton, CT 5 21-00 0
2 Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 20-14 0
3 Dennis Sikorski Bozrah, CT 5 18-05 0
4 Abe Kalechman Ashford, CT 5 16-08 0
5 Scott Downie Danbury , CT 5 15-08 0
6 David Dziob Meriden, CT 5 13-12 0
7 Kevin Rose Jr Anniston, CT 5 11-11 0
8 Reed Johnson Farmington, CT 4 11-05 0
9 Garrett Kruger Monroe, CT 5 10-14 0
10 Keith Lee Avon, CT 5 09-07 0
11 Kevin Noel Burlington, CT 2 03-05 0
12 Harry Gordon WATERBURY, CT 1 01-14 0
13 HS CT – Marino / Winslow Naugatuck, CT 0 00-00 0
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 James Moorey Whitinsville, MA 5 15-03 0
2 Jeff Kenney Franklin, MA 5 15-00 0
3 Michael Elliott Chelmsford, MA 4 13-12 0
4 Paul LeBlanc Medway, MA 5 13-11 0
5 Sheron Brown Ayer, MA 4 13-08 0
6 Jay Guidaboni Plymouth, MA 5 12-14 0
7 Dan Tavilla Clelmsford, MA 5 12-13 0
8 Ricky Turczak Housatonic, MA 4 12-10 0
9 John Shpack Attleboro, MA 4 09-15 0
10 Robert Hegyi Wales, MA 3 08-10 0
11 John Carmen Norfolk, MA 3 05-10 0
12 Matthew Breach Douglas, MA 0 00-00 0
12 HS MA – McQuade Jaskolski Dudley, MA 0 00-00 0
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 George Cooper Buxton, ME 5 15-04 0
2 Chuck Towns Readfield, ME 5 15-03 0
3 Mark Lodge Alfred, ME 5 13-09 0
4 Scott Guimond Sebago, ME 5 12-15 0
5 Steve Wilson East Waterboro, ME 5 09-09 0
6 Kevin Busch Vienna, ME 4 07-06 0
7 Dwayne Turnage Hollis, ME 2 06-09 0
8 Shawn Grover Biddeford, ME 3 05-12 0
9 Scott Barker Gray, ME 3 04-14 0
10 Joe Holland Jefferson, ME 1 04-12 0
11 John Grondin Scarborough, ME 1 02-09 0
12 Scott Laliberty Sabaltus, ME 1 01-04 0
13 HS ME – Rodgers Williamson Gorham, ME 0 00-00 0
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Rob Messenger Sunapee, NH 5 22-02 0
2 Bill Kuslaka Windham, NH 5 19-15 0
2 Allan Smith Litchfield, NH 5 19-15 0
4 James Hanatow Alstead, NH 5 19-13 0
5 Peter Demoya Plymouth, MA 5 13-12 0
6 John Levesque Nashua, NH 5 13-03 0
7 Michael McNamara Milford, NH 5 12-06 0
8 John Diaco Rochester, NH 5 11-03 0
9 Rick Landry Hudson, NH 4 09-10 0
10 Chris Adams Concord, NH 3 09-02 0
11 Kevin Miller Merrimack, NH 1 03-11 0
12 Justin Spraske Swanzey, NH 1 02-13 0
13 HS NH – Farrington Sterritt Newfields, NH 0 00-00 0
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Christopher Killoren Marcellus, NY 5 21-07 0
2 Randy Lamanche Marcellus, NY 5 20-04 0
3 Ken Golubjatnikov Pittsford, NY 5 20-01 0
4 George Puskar Peekskill, NY 5 16-09 0
5 Joe Valerio Red Creek, NY 5 16-06 0
6 Brad Brodnicki Buffalo, NY 5 15-09 0
7 Todd Covert Port Crane, NY 5 15-05 0
8 Chris O’Brien Rochester, NY 5 13-01 0
9 Brian Kelly Liverpool, NY 5 10-11 0
10 Farris Deroma Newton, NJ 5 10-06 0
11 Peter Knight Fulton, NY 5 09-15 0
12 Donnie Staszczyk Cheetowaga, NY 4 08-11 0
13 HS NY – Arndt Clay, NY 0 00-00 0
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Leo Bevelaqua Wyoming, RI 5 20-09 0
2 John Hinckley Cumberland, RI 5 15-03 0
3 Chris Molineaux Hope Valley, RI 5 13-07 0
4 Steven Conde Chepachet, RI 5 13-01 0
5 Christopher Guncheon Warwick, RI 5 11-14 0
6 Brian Jarvis Warwick , RI 3 09-00 0
7 Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI 4 08-11 0
8 David Riley North Attleboro, MA 3 06-11 0
9 Ronald Bestwick Grisword, CT 2 06-00 0
10 David Frey West Warwick, RI 3 04-14 0
11 Steven Worden Cumberland, RI 1 02-14 0
12 Michael Abernathy Coventry, RI 1 01-07 0
13 HS RI – Bestwick Sampson N Stonington, CT 0 00-00 0
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Jonathan Case Swanton, VT 5 18-15 0
2 Russell Phillips Guilford, VT 5 18-07 0
3 Skip Sjobeck Randolph, VT 5 17-08 0
4 John Fitzgerald Salisbury, VT 5 15-02 0
5 James Knox Rutland, VT 5 14-00 0
6 Matt Poissant Alburg, VT 5 12-15 0
7 Chuck Sturtevant NoChihenden, VT 4 12-04 0
8 Scott McKay Mendon, VT 3 09-12 0
9 Chris Mann Cornish, VT 3 05-11 0
10 Jim Lynch Bomoseen, VT 1 01-02 0
11 James Jeffries Rouses Point, NY 0 00-00 0
11 HS VT – Gaudette Seaman Colchester, VT 0 00-00 0
11 William Wright Whiting, VT 0 00-00 0
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Doug Brownridge Milton ONTARIO CANADA 5 24-05 0
2 Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry CANADA 5 17-15 0
3 John Lamour Harrowsmith CANADA 5 15-01 0
4 Tim Birch Waterloo ONTARIO CANADA 4 13-13 0
5 Pete Garnier Lindsey ONTARIO CANADA 5 12-13 0
5 Mark Rorke St Cathrines ONTARIO CA 5 12-13 0
7 Jamie Janzen St Catherines ONTARIO C 5 12-11 0
8 Frank Ramsay Ingleside ONTARIO CANAD 5 11-10 0
9 Larry MacPhail Kingston Ontario CANADA 4 10-02 0
10 Charles Sim Ottawa CANADA 4 09-03 0
11 Des Barnes Aurora CANADA 3 06-04 0
12 Bruce Leeson Port Rowan ONTARIO CANA 2 06-01 0
13 HS ON – McGarry Gallant Bowmanville CANADA 0 00-00 0
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Eric Corbella Salvia Mollerusa SPAIN 5 17-14 0
2 Ricardo Rodriguez Gonzalez S Vicente D Alcantara S 5 17-13 0
3 Carlos Perez Zamorano Madrid SPAIN 5 16-06 0
4 Luis Vilar Patino Castellon SPAIN 5 15-09 0
5 Fernando Lay talaurea del reina SPA 5 14-08 0
6 Ernesto Gonzalez Garcia S Vicente De Alcantara 4 13-02 0
7 Ramiro Ruben Tarazona Sicilia Tarazona SPAIN 5 13-00 0
8 Joseba Miquel vitoria SPAIN 4 11-07 0
9 Adrian Torres Embid Zaragoza SPAIN 5 11-05 0
10 Javier Guillen Cordoba Tarragona SPAIN 5 09-02 0
11 Eloy Fernandez Jofre L’Ametlla Del Valles SP 2 07-00 0
12 Ruben Corbella Salvia Mollerusa SPAIN 1 02-01 0
