GILFORD, N.H. – The home team is in the lead after the first day of the CITGO BASS Federation Eastern Divisional tournament presented by Busch Beer, and a pair of New Hampshire anglers are vying for the top spot on Lake Winnipesaukee.
New Hampshire’s David Swett took a commanding lead on the field with a catch of 15 pounds, 4 ounces for only four fish. That puts him 2 pounds ahead of his closest competitor, fellow New Hampshire team member Joe Lucarelli.
In fact, New Hampshire anglers laid serious claim to tournament laurels after day one, taking four of the top five spots on the leaderboard. In part, Swett said, that’s local knowledge and familiarity with Winnipesaukee.
”They were biting a jig today,” Swett said. “If they aren’t biting a jig in this lake, they aren’t there. If it’s bluebird skies tomorrow, I’ll do the same thing I did today.
“All my fish came out of about 3 ½ feet of water. I think I could get 15 (pounds) again tomorrow if the green fish bite again.”
Swett had a 6-6 lunker that anchored his sack and took the lead for the Purolator Big Bass of the Tournament award. If that fish holds out for the remainder of the tournament, Swett will take home $1,000 from Purolator.
While the 14 teams gathered at the Eastern Divisional are competing for a cash prize purse based on each team’s cumulative weight over three days, the other big prize will go to just 14 anglers.
Each team’s top angler based on his individual cumulative weight after Friday’s final round will earn a berth in amateur bass fishing’s world championship, the CITGO BASS Federation Championship next spring. Five anglers from the Federation Championship earn berths in the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Classic, the only amateurs to qualify for the world championship.
New Hampshire’s Joe Lucarelli is hoping he can overcome a 2-pound deficit tomorrow and wind up the top angler from his state during Friday’s final round. His first-day weight of 13-4 has him sitting second overall as well as second from New Hampshire.
“The key today was just using your brain,” Lucarelli said. “It’s a deep pattern; they’re feeding up right now, getting ready for the fall.
“I got five spots, but I only went to one today. I’ll start with that spot tomorrow and see what happens.”
Currently, New Hampshire is leading the charge in the team competition. The team has a combined weight of 124-10 followed by Massachusetts with a total team weight of 106-7.
Competition for the CITGO BASS Federation Eastern Divisional presented by Busch Beer will continue Thursday and Friday. Launch will be at 7 a.m. from the Silver Sands Marina with weigh-ins starting promptly at 3 p.m. at Gilford Beach.
BASS is the world's largest fishing organization, sanctioning more than 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation. The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass-fishing tournament circuit and continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship as it has since 1968.
Sponsors of the CITGO BASS Federation Eastern Divisional presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Toyota, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Evan Williams, MotorGuide, Bass Pro Shops, and BankOne.
Local Sponsors include the Massachusetts BASS Federation.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (334) 551-2375 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
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