HILTS: Vision Quest, Dodger win Orleans County Pro-Am

By Bill Hilts Jr.

What a difference a few days can make on Lake Ontario! After nearly 10,000 pounds of fish were caught in the Niagara County tournament May 31 and June 1, a northeast blow was all the was needed just prior to the Orleans County event June 7-8 to see the total catch dip to just 2,000 and see just four limits caught in the amateur division; none in the professional class. After it was all over, it was the Vision Quest team from Erie, Pa. winning the pro division; the Dodger team from Manchester winning the amateur division.

The Vision Quest team, led by Capt. Pete Alex, earned the $10,000 prize by besting 34 boats in the Professional Division with a two day total of 229.91 points. Scoring was based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound. They caught five fish the first day and nine fish the second day by locating a temperature break that held some fish — trolling the top 40 feet of water over 360-400 foot depths with carmel dolphin and NBK Dreamweaver Super Slims. Most of their fish were steelhead. Runnerup, again, was the Reel Excitement team led by Capt. Bob Songin of Rochester with 221.57 points.

Rounding out the Top Ten were: Tracker, Capt. Dave Siegfried, Brockport, with 197.81 points; Rebel Charters, Capt. Jerry Felluca, Hilton, with 196.83; Irish Pride/Cannonball, Capt. Joe Toomey, Rochester, with 196.58 points (leading after the first day); Candy, Capt. Andy Sykut of Webster, with 187.50 points; Intimidator, Capt. Mike Lavender, Holley with 179.96 points; Cortland Machine/A-Tom-Mik, Capt. Jim Samia of Cortland, with 158.26 points; Wharf Rat, Capt. Tom Hynes, Hilton, with 157.98 points; and the Cold Steel/A-Tom-Mik team led by Capt. Tom Burke of Altmar, with 147.57 points.

In the Amateur Division, it was the Dodger team led by Jim Skolny of Manchester and his son, Dave to take top honors with a score of 162.07 points and besting a field of 21 boats. They had only caught three fish the first day, but had found some respectable king salmon. They decided to go back to the same area and were rewarded with steelhead. They came in with a limit of fish, all taken in the top 60 feet of water over 560 foot depths on Stinger and Pro King spoons. Runner up was the Double Play II/Dreamweaver team led by Tom Letcher of Olcott with a score of 133.78 points. Third place went to Liquid Plumber led by Del Casterline of Mountaintop, Pa., with a score of 132.10 points.

Completing the top ten were: Screamer/A-Tom-Mik, Dave Antenori, Peckville, Pa., with 117.32 points; Fish Nutz, Dan Jackson of Moravia with 111.87 points; Rock-N-Reel, Ralph Eades of North East, Pa., with 110.86 points; Agitator/North of the Ridge led by Terry Williams of Kent with 99.81 points; This Is It, Mike Geiger of Welloboro, Pa., with 88.57 points; Flat Top, Jerry Tyler of Rochester with a score of 70.61 points; and Triple J, Mike Stablewski of Lancaster with 67.98 points.

In the battle for the Western Cup involving both the Niagara and Orleans county tournaments, and part of the overall Lake Ontario Challenge Cup which would include Oswego and Wayne counties, the Cold Steel/A-Tom-Mik team led the pack by virtue of their first place win in Niagara and their top ten finish in Orleans to pace the pro pack. A total of 30 Pro boats fished both tournaments and competed for this special cup.

In the Amatuer Cup skirmish, it was the Rock-N-Reel team winning the Western Cup — again by winning the Niagara match and finishing in the top 10 in Orleans.

Big fish for the tournament was caught by the Pacific Time squad led by Todd Pavlik of Saegertown, Pa., and winning the A-Tom-Mik Fly prize pack with a 30.13-pound king salmon, a very impressive fish for this time of year.

The Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament Series, sponsored by Maui Jim Sunglasses and AES Somerset, continues as it heads to the Eastern Basin July 12-13 out of Oswego and July 19-20 out of Wayne/Sodus Point.

Capton wins 100 Isles Kids Contest

Congratulations are in order for Billy Capton of Lewiston who won the Team Newzjunky.com 2008 Take-A-Kid Fishing Trip out of Clayton on June 1 as part of their annual National Fishing Week celebration. Over the course of the four hour charter trip with Capt. Allen Benas on the St. Lawrence River in the 1000 Islands, a total of 8 anglers caught and released a total of 11 northern pike. Twelve-year-old Capton caught the largest, a 28 incher, to win a top quality Shimano fishing outfit. You can read about Billy and see his catch at www.newzjunky.com/teamnj.htm.

Pro-Am recap at LOTSA Meeting

Want to find out what happened at the Niagara and Orleans County Pro-Am Tournaments? If so, you’ll want to attend the next Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association meeting on Thursday at Cornell Cooperative Extension Niagara, 4487 Lake Avenue (Route 78), Lockport, starting at 7 p.m. Captains Bob Cinelli and Mike Waterhouse will be giving recaps of each tournament as part of the regular seminar series with the LOTSA gang.

Weekend fishing fun

Lots of fishy things going on this weekend, including:

• The Pendleton Lions Club will be hosting their annual kids fishing derby on Saturday at West Canal Marine Park from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is free for kids to participate. The Brauer’s Fishing Club will also be assisting in the contest.

• There will be a free family fishing day clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, for kids 8 to 15. There will be educational stations in addition to the fishing. Register by calling DEC at 851-7010. Adult accompaniment is required.

• Millennium Bassmasters of WNY will be holding their first annual Lake Erie Fathers Day Perch Classic on Saturday being run out of Sturgeon Point Marina from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Entry fee is $60 per boat, with up to three allowed per boat. Top 10 fish will be weighed in. For more info, contact 893-0607/632-1386. You can also e-mail them at javlin90@aol.com.

Bill Hilts Jr. is the outdoor sports specialist with the Niagara Tourism and Convention Corporation. Contact him at bhiltsjr69@cs.com.

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