BEMUS POINT, N.Y. — Jim Bianchi, the reigning Angler of the Year for the Rochester Bassmasters, won the New York B.A.S.S. Nation tournament on Chautauqua Lake, June 21.
Bianchi won the boater division of the competition with 14.8 pounds. Carly Chier of Binghamton won the co-angler division with 8.46 pounds.
“The fishing proved to be a challenge,” said Fred Blom, New York B.A.S.S. Nation president. “The fish just were not in a general feeding mood, but a few anglers managed to find the hungry ones and some nice catches were recorded.
“The first boats to arrive did signal that this was a tough bite and that the competition would be for ounces,” Blom continued. “As angler after angler approached the scales, it was obvious to all that limits were scarce and that two or three solid fish might deliver a check.”
Bianchi caught all of his fish using a jig or tube in 10 to 12 feet of water in grass.
“The other anglers had similar patterns and found that the fish were not shallow or on docks, which is a normal pattern used on this lake,” explained Blom. “The fish appeared to have moved to deeper cover due to the weather fronts, wind and heavy rains.”
The biggest fish on the boater side was a 4.92-pound largemouth caught by Lee Didonato of Annandale, N.J. The biggest in the co-angler division was a 5.83-pound smallmouth, caught by Richard Putnam of the Albany Area Bassmasters.
Behind Bianchi were Chris O’Brien, also of the Rochester Bassmasters, with 13.7 pounds; Brad Paradise, Northern New York Bassmasters, 13.64 pounds; Dan Murphy, Wharton, N.J., 11.83 pounds; and Kenny Woods, Westchester Rod and Reel, 11.73 pounds.
Chier is the second woman in the last two years to record a win in the New York B.A.S.S. Nation. Behind her were Jack Campbell of Sodus with 7.83 pounds; Kevin Seymore, Port City Bassmasters, 7.72 pounds; Mark Batur, Central New York Bass Anglers, 7.47 pounds; and Dick Hyde, Good Ole Boys Bassmasters, 7.09 pounds.
“For the first time since obtaining our release boat, we returned 100 percent of the fish brought to the scales alive back into Chautauqua Lake alive,” said Blom. “Fish care manager Paul Hudson and conservation director Barb Elliott have spent considerable time and effort learning how to properly care for the fish and in teaching our anglers the proper methods to keep the fish healthy in the boat livewells. As a result, all of the fish caught will continue to swim in Chautauqua Lake.”