PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Sept. 15, 2005) - Pro J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md., caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 37 pounds, 11 ounces to lead round one of the EverStart Series Northeast Division event on Lake Champlain near Plattsburgh. Pro anglers are competing for $10,000 plus a Ranger 519VX powered by a Yamaha or Evinrude outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Garmin electronics and EverStart Batteries. Ranger also awards an additional $10,000 to the winner if he is a qualified Ranger owner for a total of $69,000 in cash and prizes.
Despite Kenney's impressive catch, less than 2 pounds separate the top five pros on the leaderboard. Anglers had another fantastic day on the water for the second day in a row, nearing an EverStart Series record catch with 1,433 bass weighing an astounding 3,887 pounds, 11 ounces.
"It's really a tight leaderboard," Kenney said. "But I like it. It'll be exciting. This is one of the most awesome lakes in the country."
Kenney has been catching his fish early in the morning on a 1/2-ounce Lil' Hustler spinnerbait. His bass have been concentrated in one general area, so he's been able to avoid too much running from spot to spot. "I've had my limit by 9 a.m. each day so far," Kenney said. "But I'm going to fish hard all day tomorrow."
Rounding out the top five pros are Brian Bylotas of Olyphant, Pa. (10 bass, 37 pounds, 10 ounces); Larry Allard of Ware, Maine (10 bass, 36 pounds, 8 ounces); Rick Doyle of Keeseville (10 bass, 36 pounds, 2 ounces) and Gerald Beck of Lexington, N.C. (10 bass, 36 pounds, 1 ounce).
Bylotas caught a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass to earn the Snicker's Big Bass award in the Pro Division, worth $575.
Dana Perrotte of Winooski, Vt., caught 10 bass weighing 32 pounds 8 ounces to lead the Co-angler Division. While the co-angler leader caught his bass fishing deepwater patterns on day one, he fished a Lucky Craft Sammy, a topwater lure, on day two to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Rex Magargle of Turbotville, Pa. (10 bass, 31 pounds, 15 ounces); Jason Sherwood of Germantown, Md. (10 bass, 31 pounds, 13 ounces); Bill Hulet of Broken Arrow, Okla. (10 bass, 31 pounds, 5 ounces) and Thomas Wilson of Ravenna, Ohio (10 bass, 30 pounds, 8 ounces).
Ben Kurth of West St. Paul, Minn., earned $215 for catching the Snickers Big Bass in the Co-angler Division. The big bass weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces.
Plattsburgh Boat Basin located at 1 Dock Street in Plattsburgh hosts the daily takeoffs at 6:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday's weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 25 Consumer Square in Plattsburgh beginning at 4 p.m.
EverStart Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 10 pros and co-anglers - based on two-day accumulated weights - advance to the final round. Anglers start at zero Friday, and pro and co-angler winners are determined Saturday based on two-day accumulated weights.
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