...To improve skills as bass anglers through a fellowship of friendly exchange of bass catching techniques and to preserve the future of Bass Fishing through conservation, youth and public awareness.

Bergen Bassmasters Annual Kids Fishing Outing

July 14^th, 2007

  The annual kids outing took place at Lake Whaley in Putnam County New York again on Saturday July 14^th. The weather was very cooperative with sunny skies with temperatures in the mid 80’s with low humidity. The lake is known for the quantity of fish as opposed to the quality sized bass. After a huge breakfast at The Putnam Diner, the anglers got out on the water at around 8:00 AM. The lake is not necessarily know for it’s top water bite so the young anglers went right to the lure that is known to work “Wonders on Whaley”; the Senko!

The fishing was unexpectedly tough as the kids needed to really work hard to get bites. The bass were not aggressive and the hits were few and far between. The bite was very light tick so they had to be in tune with the lure. In past years, it seemed like the fish were everywhere. This year was not the same. Anglers Brian Mahoney Jr. and Eric Ingoglia found that the fish were extremely tight to wood. Blow downs were the most consistent areas to pick of one or two fish. At the ripe old age of 12, Brian went to work quickly and boated three fish while Eric (Age 16) took a while to warm up before catching three of his own. Brian convinced his Dad to start working docks in the late morning where he was able to finish off his limit. Eric worked a very specific sandy point which protruded out into the lake where he too limited out. Watermelon and Green/Gold Fleck was the color of choice that helped the boys round out there limits.

Veteran angler Briana Hayden was also out there beating on docks, rocks and weeds. Her two fish came early while her cousin Mark Masscera also caught a bass in the morning hours. Briana once again did not fail to bring in the hardware as she managed to bring in the Lunker of the Day. The afternoon seemed to shut down for those two. However, Kris Lechman was on the water with two students from Emerson, NJ who won this opportunity to go with Kris. Kris had raffled off a trip at his Grammar school to raise money at a PTO sponsored event. Mike Quinn Morgan and his friend Harrison Wolfe were the benefactors of the raffle! It was a tough start for these two rookies. They had not had any bites throughout the morning hours. It was not until the last hour of the tournament that they figured out the pattern and started catching fish.

  All in all, it was a great day out for the kids. All of the anglers are committed to return next year. Others are being encouraged to join in to try and pry these first place trophies away from the Mahoney boys who have won it two straight years!

Over 12 Division:

1st Place	Brian Mahoney Jr.	5 fish	5.14 LBS.
2nd Place	Eric Ingioglia	5 fish	5.9 LBS.
3rd Place	Briana Hayden	2 fish	2.13 LBS.

Under 12 Division:

1st Place	Harrison Wolf	2 fish	2.9 LBS.
2nd Place	Mark Masscera	1 fish	1.9 LBS.
3rd Place	Mike Quinn Morgan	1 fish	1.2 LBS.

Lunker- Briana Hayden- 1.15 LB. Largemouth Bass

Largest Non Bass Award- Eric Ingoglia- 1.2 LB. Rock Bass

Event Photos

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