David Ehrentraut of Locke, New York won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series NE tournament, held July 30th on Oneida Lake.

Running out of Oneida Shores near Brewerton, New York, David caught five bass weighing 17.37 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 3.97-pound kicker. “I fished outside weed lines in 12 to 15 feet of water. I threw a white swim bait and crank bait all day. I caught all of my fish by 9:30 am. It was real slow after that.” Ehrentraut said. For the Boater division victory, Ehrentraut took home a check for $5,000.

In second for the Boaters, Jeffrey Kirkland of Dryden, New York landed a five-bass tournament limit weighing 14.71 pounds with a 3.97-pound kicker. “I threw a stickbait all day. I caught my big bass on my third cast. I used a mega bass and a lucky craft and just kept changing back and forth. About 11:30 am I noticed a fuel leak and that made me come in 3 hours early.” Kirkland said. He collected $1,445 for the effort. He also won an Abu Garcia Revo SX reel Valued at $169 for catching the tournament Big Bass on his own Abu Garcia reel.

Mathew Martin of Chittenango, New York took third for the Boaters with five bass weighing 13.79 pounds. “I had 3 places with outside weed lines and caught 3 or 4 fish on each spot. For me it was steady all day. I used a dropshot with a cross tail shad, a Keitech swimbait, and a Zara spook top water,” Martin said. He took home $963 for his effort.

Finishing fourth, Adam Janerella of Jersey Shore Pennsylvania landed a five-bass limit weighing 13.55 pounds including a 3.08-pound kicker.

Mike Sullivan of Voorheesville, New York rounded out the top five Boaters with five bass weighing 13.51 pounds.

The biggest bass for the boaters was a tie David Ehrentraut and Jeff Kirkland both caught bass that weighed 3.97 pounds and pocketed $310 each.

In the Co-Angler Division, Steve Uppstrom of Madrid, New York won with three bass weighing 9.88 pounds. He sealed his victory with a 3.95-pound kicker.

“We fished shallow in about 4 foot of water. I used a Yumm warning shot and an itsy bitsy. I only got 3 bite and caught 3 fish.” Uppstrom said. He pocketed a check for $1,600. Steve also caught the Big Bass for the Co-Anglers weighing 3.95 pounds. He took home and additional $210.

Taking second for the Co-Anglers, Brian Grant of Wind Gap Pennsylvania brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 9.71 pounds including a 3.83-pound kicker. “We stayed in 4 to 6 feet of water fishing weed lines and rock. I threw some Missile Baits and a mini ice with a ¼ ounce weight, black and blue with a Netbait craw trailer. We caught most of our fish in the morning and my last one late in the day,” Grant said. He collected $540 for the effort.

Darren Carpenter of Westmoreland, New York placed third among the Co-Anglers with three bass weighing 8.78 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 3.18-pound kicker. “I caught my first fish on my third cast on a white fluke. Later I used a Carolina rig with a ¾ oz. weight and a rage craw. At about 1:30 on my last cast I finally caught my third fish I only had 3 bites all day,” Carpenter said. He earned $360.

In fourth place among the Co-Anglers, Bill Griffett Jr. of Oxford, New Jersey brought in three bass weighing 8.75 pounds.

Roland Beaulieu of Swanton, Vermont finished in fifth place with three bass weighing 8.32 pounds topped by a 3.20-pound kicker.

Slated for August 20th, the next divisional tournament will be held on Sacandaga Lake out of the NY DEC ramp near Broadalbin, New York. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2017 Ray Scott Championship, slated for Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee in April of 2017.

For more information on this tournament call Jeff Randall, tournament manager, at (256)777-6152 or ABA at (256)232-0406. On line, see www.ramopenseries.com.

About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.