Canadian Wins Northern Open on Lake Erie
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Ontario, Canada's Mike Desforges won his first BASS fishing event Saturday, pulling a winning limit of smallmouth bass from Lake Erie at the Bassmaster Northern Open.
"It's awesome," said Desforges, a realtor who takes summers off to fish bass tournaments. "I always seem to be close to winning at these bigger tournaments but I've never done it before."
Desforges' 53 pounds, 2 ounces took the boater division's $50,000 first prize from the grasp of former BASS winner Art Ferguson of St. Clair Shores, Michigan, who brought in 52-9. The top 5 also included Canada's Gaspare Costabille, 51-1; Randall Romig of Barto, Pa., 49-2; and the first two days' leader, Jess Salmon of Milford, N.J., 49-0. On the non-boater side, Canadian Jim Tedesco's 48-7 total won him the $24,000 winner's purse.
Desforges credited his win to good decisions early in the final day of the three-day event. He cited tough fishing in practice that left him with only three potential spots to fish during the tournament. On Saturday, Desforges decided to stick with only one of those spots.
"The key was that today, I stuck to my spot," he said. "It's a good spot. I got a couple of good bites early and that helped me decide to stay there."
The spot was actually a section of deep water over a series of underwater ledges that ranged in depth from 20 to 30 feet. Desforges caught the fish on a green ISG Intimidator tube with a 3/8th-ounce jig. He said another key decision was to use lighter line than most of the competition - 8-pound test Thursday and Friday, and 10-pound test on Saturday.
"I think the light line worked because the water was so clear," he said. "It definitely made a big difference."
Desforges' previous highest finish was 28th on the amateur side at a 1995 Bassmaster Top 100 event on the Hudson River.
This was the second of three events that will send the top anglers to the inaugural Bassmaster Open Championship in December - and, ultimately, the Bassmaster Classic next summer.
2003 New York Northern Open BO 09/11-09/13
Lake Erie, Buffalo N.Y.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Mike Desforges Ontario, Canada 15 53-02 $50,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 21-05
2. Art Ferguson III St. Clair Shores, Mich 15 52-09 $41,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 20-11
3. Gaspare Costabille Ontario, Canada 15 51-01 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 17-15
4. Randall R Romig Barto, Pa. 15 49-02 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 14-09
5. Jess Salmon Milford, N.J. 15 49-00 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 13-07
6. Gary Giudice Norman, Okla. 15 48-10 $6,800.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 17-11
7. Chuck Economou Redington, Fla. 15 47-14 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 15-14
8. Jack Bell Kane, Pa. 15 47-12 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 15-05
9. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 15 47-11 $4,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 15-08
10. William D Capwell Allentown, Pa. 15 47-03 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 17-07 Day 3: 5 15-00
11. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 15 46-12 $4,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 18-09 Day 3: 5 15-05
12. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 15 46-08 $3,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 15-02
13. Rodney Sorrell Stokesdale, N.C. 15 46-05 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 15-02
14. Robert Strader Castailia, Ohio 15 45-12 $2,350.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 5 14-09
14. Marcel Veenstra Newtown, Pa. 15 45-12 $2,350.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 15-12
16. Darrin Schwenkbeck Spencerville, Md. 15 44-11 $2,200.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 12-06
17. Jim Hanley Angola, N.Y. 15 44-08 $2,200.00
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 12-11
18. Terry Baksay Monroe, Conn. 15 44-07 $2,200.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 13-11
19. Ken Plencner South Bend, Ind. 15 43-15 $2,200.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 15-01
20. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 15 43-13 $2,200.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 13-10
21. Dennis L Krell Jr Palmerton, Pa. 15 43-10 $2,100.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 12-06
22. Rob Genter Tidioute, Pa. 15 43-09 $2,100.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 13-02
23. Erhardt Tulgestka Rogers, Mich. 15 43-06 $2,100.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 14-15
24. Steven McGahan Gales Ferry, Conn. 15 42-15 $2,100.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 11-09
25. Brian Kirkpatrick Colonial Heights, Va. 15 42-13 $1,900.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 5 12-06
25. Mike Weiss Union Grove, Wisc. 15 42-13 $1,900.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 15-02
27. Frank Ippoliti Airy, Md. 15 42-11 $1,700.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 14-15
28. Tim Braun Buffalo, N.Y. 15 42-08 $1,700.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 13-07
29. John Gardiner Glastonbury, Conn. 15 42-06 $1,700.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 14-08
30. Ken McIntosh Pierceton, Ind. 15 42-01 $1,700.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 12-06
31. Jon Bondy Windsor, Ontario, Cana 15 42-00 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 13-01
32. Brian Clark Plumsteadville, Pa. 15 41-15 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 12-00
33. Mike Hicks Mineral, Va. 15 41-13 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 13-02
34. Christopher Davidson Watertown, Wisc. 15 41-05 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 12-14
34. Joe Thomas Milford, Ohio 15 41-05 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 12-08
36. Koby Kreiger Okeechobee, Fla. 15 41-01 $1,300.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 12-10
37. Michael Wolfenden Warwick, R.I. 15 39-14 $1,300.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 11-08
38. O T Fears III Sallisaw, Okla. 15 39-05 $1,300.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 9-01
38. Robert Vogelsang Jessup, Md. 14 39-05 $1,300.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 4 8-07
40. Lawrence Hogue Kennebunk, Maine 15 38-11 $1,300.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 9-08
41. Kevin Long Berkley, Mich. 13 38-08 $1,200.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 3 7-09
42. Gary Krammes Pottsville, Pa. 14 38-01 $1,200.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 4 9-12
43. Brian Wilhoit Oxon Hill, Md. 14 38-00 $1,200.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 4 7-12
44. Luke Foli Granger, Ind. 14 37-10 $1,200.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 4 7-10
45. Bret King Lenoir City, Tenn. 15 36-03 $1,200.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 8-07
46. Tony Black Manassas, Va. 13 36-00 $1,100.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 3 7-07
47. Kurt Dove Warrenton, Va. 12 35-06 $1,100.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 2 4-15
48. Wesley Kemper New Straitsville, Ohio 13 35-01 $1,100.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 3 5-11
49. Thomas O'Bryant Drummonds, Tenn. 12 34-08 $1,100.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 2 5-00
50. Shelley Perry Hurricane, W.Va. 12 33-07 $1,100.00
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 3 5-06
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Big Bass
Day
1 Daniel Lyle Kittanning, Pa. 5-06 $500.00
1 Mike Desforges Ontario, Canada 5-06 $500.00
2 Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 5-08 $1,000.00
3 Art Ferguson III St. Clair Shores, Mich. 5-08 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 142 803 2143-06
2 128 751 1970-10
3 40 232 629-10
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310 1786 4743-102003 New York Northern Open NB 09/11-09/13
Lake Erie, Buffalo N.Y.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jim Tedesco Niagra Falls On, Canad 15 48-07 $24,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 13-13
2. Paul Groney Harbor Creek, Pa. 15 47-11 $12,400.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 21-03
3. Dave Morrissette South Hadley, Mass. 15 46-12 $4,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 14-10
4. David Sylvester East Hampton, Conn. 15 45-06 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 19-01
5. Craig Daino Central Square, N.Y. 15 44-11 $2,850.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 14-11
5. Stanley Sypeck,Jr Weston, Pa. 15 44-11 $2,850.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 16-15
7. Tim Martin Lancaster, Pa. 15 42-05 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 18-04
8. Joel Hazelbaker Columbus, Ohio 15 41-04 $1,800.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 5 12-09
9. Jason Horvach Granger, Ind. 14 41-03 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 4 6-07
10. Marc Strini Saltsburg, Pa. 15 40-12 $1,400.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 11-04
11. David Hovanec Unionville, N.Y. 15 40-00 $1,300.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 10-08
12. Al Gagliarducci Agawam, Mass. 15 39-13 $1,200.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 12-02
13. Ben Gusciora Williamsport, Md. 13 39-12 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 8-09 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 5 13-01
14. Robert C Burns Cincinnati, Ohio 15 39-10 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 13-05
15. Mark Mahar New Baltimore, N.Y. 14 38-14 $900.00
Day 1: 4 11-08 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 11-09
16. Jonathan Bush Ossining, N.Y. 14 38-11 $800.00
Day 1: 4 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 14-02
17. Larry Thompson Walled Lake, Mich. 15 38-05 $800.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 5 9-14
18. Travis Green Gand Blanc, Mich. 14 37-07 $800.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 4 9-11 Day 3: 5 13-14
19. Anthony Christian Stromville, N.Y. 15 36-09 $800.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 9-03
20. Ken Brodeur Niantic, Conn. 12 36-06 $800.00
Day 1: 2 4-07 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 13-09
21. Jeffery Dallimore Rochester, N.Y. 15 36-05 $700.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 11-04
22. Benjamin Bowman New York City, N.Y. 15 36-02 $700.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 11-09 Day 3: 5 11-10
23. George Saliba Ontario, Canada 13 35-14 $700.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 3 9-10
24. Richard Lang Matamoras, Pa. 15 35-05 $700.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 11-15
25. Alfred K Ferraioli Berwyn, Pa. 14 35-02 $700.00
Day 1: 4 9-11 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 10-11
26. Barry Schultz Lockport, N.Y. 15 34-09 $600.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 9-04
27. James Golliday Stephens City, Va. 13 34-05 $600.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 4 11-08 Day 3: 4 6-09
28. Tim Gavek Sayre, Pa. 13 34-03 $600.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 3 8-06
29. Chris Brown Rodman, N.Y. 13 33-11 $600.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 3 6-07
30. Larry Wagner Crown Point, Ind. 13 32-15 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 15-00 Day 2: 5 9-14 Day 3: 4 8-01
31. Ed Labuda Niagara Falls, N.Y. 12 31-15 $550.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 2 4-00
31. Dave Marion Cold Springs, N.Y. 15 31-15 $550.00
Day 1: 5 9-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 5 9-06
33. Larry C Butler New Haven, Vt. 12 31-13 $550.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 2 5-12
34. Brad Weese Petersburg, W.Va. 11 31-12 $550.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 3 6-14 Day 3: 3 7-12
35. David Stahura Lackawanna, N.Y. 14 31-09 $550.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 4 8-09
36. Jim Iden Mchenry, Md. 12 31-07 $500.00
Day 1: 4 11-04 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 3 7-10
37. Jim Staszewski W. Gardiner, Maine 13 30-06 $500.00
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 3 7-05
38. Larry Perry Hurricane, W.Va. 11 30-05 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 1 1-04
39. Dan Martin Sonersport, N.J. 12 30-01 $500.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 2 3-10
40. Jora Airapetyan North Babylon, N.Y. 11 29-01 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 4 10-03 Day 3: 2 5-03
41. Norm P Sandel North Collins, N.Y. 12 28-13 $450.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 9-07 Day 3: 2 5-15
42. Wesley Coy Vernon, N.Y. 13 28-12 $450.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 3 5-12
43. Mickey Thomas Edwardsburg, Mich. 13 28-06 $450.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 3 5-02
44. Chuck Campbell Pt. Colborne, On, Cana 11 27-02 $450.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 1 1-08
45. Phil Paradis Vassalboro, Maine 12 27-00 $450.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 2 3-14
46. Jeffrey C Grove Willow Street, Pa. 11 26-07 $400.00
Day 1: 5 9-07 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 1 1-13
46. Dale Rathbun Piffard, N.Y. 9 26-07 $400.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 4 11-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. William C Beekman East Quogue, N.Y. 11 25-12 $400.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 1 1-12
49. Paul Redar Lake Station, Ind. 7 24-15 $400.00
Day 1: 1 3-06 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 1 2-07
50. John Pellegrino Smithtown, N.Y. 9 23-15 $400.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 4 8-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Larry Wagner Crown Point, Ind. 5-05 $400.00
2 Preston Crum Nokesville, Va. 5-06 $400.00
3 Paul Groney Harbor Creek, Pa. 5-05 $400.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 86 623 1552-05
2 85 624 1535-07
3 25 182 452-07
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196 1429 3540-03
