Lake Champlain, Here We Come! 

      Greetings, Bergenites!  After a short pit stop at Mahopac, it’s off to Lake Champlain for Bergen and Metro’s annual participation in the two-day NJBF Team Tournament. Right now, we have two full six man teams anchored by Steve Rusert with Bergen and John Ernest with Metro. In my opinion, Bergen and Metro teams have the talent to rack up big time poundage and to possibly pull off an upset. Besides two recent Bergen Classic Ticonderoga winners, we have excellent non boater participation with Alan Goldman (remember Lake George) and Bob Murphy. Lou and Stacy Zhelesnik will do their part, John Hart will be all business and Robert Curtis will have his new brush hogs.  John Hayden knows this area well and is due for a big time event. Rich Kalanz and Kris Lechman just need to get in a couple of pre-fishing days and so do I. Of course, the key to success is to work together and to share any proven or successful tactics. We will have a side meeting with both teams on Thursday, June 19^th.

      After a few adjustments, here is the up to date Bergen line-up:

Bergen                                                            Metro

Steve Rusert (Captain/Boater)                        John Ernest (Captain/Boater)

John Hayden (Boater)                                     Nick Albano (Boater)

Bob Murphy (Rider)                                       Rich Kalanz (Boater)

Lou Zhelesnik (Rider)                                     John Hart (Rider)

Kris Lechman (Boater)                                   Alan Goldman (Rider)

Stacy Zhelesnik (Rider)                                  Robert Curtis (Rider)

·         Alternates to both teams: Bob Benjamin and Doug Giachino (boater)

·         Lodging: Green Acres, six rooms. You need to call Kathy with your credit card
number (518-585-2274)

·         June 22 to 28:  Pre-fishing - Mon., Tue. & Wed.  Tournament – Thurs. & Fri.

·         Chicken dinner Wednesday evening c/o the NJBF

·         NJBF raffle with all proceeds going to the USO (during Wednesday dinner)

·         It would be wise to obtain a Vermont fishing license

·         SAVE MONEY – Travel with your roommate.

·         Boaters, if you didn’t turn in a copy of your insurance policy, you need to provide
one to Al Purdy (or you cannot fish).

      And speaking of Mahopac, let me remind you that parking can be extremely tight and that everyone should be sure to park close together on the street. Also, Jason will need your license plate number; make of vehicle and color information for MacDonald’s Marina and everyone should pay their launch fees ($20) to the tournament committee on June 19^th. For the past few weeks, the Mahopac action has been phenomenal. June 21^st, however, will be post spawn and may be tougher than expected. As smallies spawn earlier, I am hoping that they will be back on the feed. Look for rocky ledges, points, humps and rocks in 6 to 12 feet of water. They should be chasing Alewife and a Pop R or Spook could be the early show ticket. Later on, tubes, jigs, crankbaits, grubs or soft jerkbaits may produce (I think that I mentioned most everything here). Even though I predict that more smallies will be weighed than largemouth, I still forecast a winning weight of 15 to 17 pounds. Have fun!

                                                                                                                        Nick Albano