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Wednesday kicked off the first day of competition for the B.A.S.S. National Federation Eastern Divisional Championship held on the Ohio River. Twelve-man teams from 13 states are vying for a slot in the Wrangler/B.A.S.S. National Championship to be held next spring on Tennessee^s Fort Loudoun and Tellico lakes.
Home Team West Virginia leads off the first day of competition with a total of 13 pounds, 4 ounces, while Rhode Island is currently in last place with a team total of 2 pounds, 5 ounces. Russell Smarr of Charleston, W.Va., leads his team as well as being the overall leader with a score of 6 pounds, 3 ounces. Ed Cowan from Pennsylvania, but fishing for the New Jersey team, (also former Wrangler/B.A.S.S. National Championship contender), is in the runner-up spot with 4 pounds, 7 ounces. A tie for the big-bass of the day went to Ed Loughran of Maryland and Charles Towns of Maine each weighing in a 2-pound, 5-ounce bass.
The Ohio River dealt a difficult day for fishing. Even though there were 156 anglers only 51 anglers brought fish to the scales. No limits were recorded and all fish were released alive. Largemouth bass or smallmouth bass? Both species are in abundance in the Ohio River, but anglers have two more days to figure out the winning pattern and bring some fish to the scales.
Weather in New Martinsville delivered partly cloudy skies and temperatures ranging in the low 60s to mid-70s. The forecast for the remaining tournament days is sunny and clear skies with 40 to 50 degree morning temperatures and mid-70s for afternoon weigh-ins.
Other anglers leading their respective states include: David Harp (Connecticut/3-14), Ed Cowan (New Jersey/4-7), Daniel Rodriguez (Maryland/3-2), David Aliff (Virginia/4-0), Chris Loftus (New York/2-1), Ken Baumgardner (Pennsylvania/1-12), Charles Towns (Maine/3-7), Mike LeBlanc (Vermont/1-7), Alan Denise (New Hampshire/3-4), James Clacher (Delaware/2-1), Karl Veazie (Massachusetts/1-9) and Bob Perry (Rhode Island/1-5).
Daily weigh-ins begin at 2:30 p.m. eastern time at the New Martinsville Marina. Tournament rules for this event allow each angler to keep five bass each day, which must measure at least 12 inches, fish are weighed and then released back into the Ohio River.
Sponsors of the B.A.S.S. National Federation Eastern Divisional Championship are: Wrangler Rugged Wear, Ranger Boats, RangerTrail Trailers, Chevrolet Trucks, BIG Kmart, ACDelco Voyager Batteries, Berkley Trilene, Berkley Powerbait, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Johnson Outboards, Evinrude Outboards, OMC Genuine Parts, Lowrance and Eagle Electronics, JERZEES ActiveWear, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Quantum Rods and Reels and Eagle Claw Fishhooks.
PL NAME CITY, STATE STATE FH/DD LBS-OZ
001 RUSSELL SMARR CHARLESTON, WV WV 4/0 6-03
002 ED COWAN GREELEY, PA NJ 4/0 4-07
003 DAVID ALIFF HAMPTON, VA VA 3/0 4-00
004 DAVID HARP CHAPEL HILL, NC CT 3/0 3-14
005 CHARLES TOWNS MT VERNON, ME ME 2/0 3-07
006 RUSSELL PHILLIPS GUILFORD, CT CT 3/0 3-06
007 ALAN DENISE HAVERHILL, MA NH 2/0 3-04
008 DANIEL RODRIGUEZ PIKESVILLE, MD MD 2/0 3-02
009 ROBERT FLESHMAN TAD, WV WV 3/0 2-15
010 MARK CORMIER WINDSOR, CT CT 2/0 2-11
011 RUSS CANNICI HEWITT, NJ NJ 2/0 2-09
012 LEE WHALEY MECHANICVILLE, VA VA 2/0 2-07
013 RICH SCHNEIDEREIT MEDFORD, NJ NJ 2/0 2-05
013 ED LOUGHRAN BETHESDA, MD MD 1/0 2-05
015 PAUL KOLUCH BALTIMORE, MD MD 2/0 2-02
016 ED STIEFEL ALLENDALE, NJ NY 2/0 2-01
016 CHRIS LOFTUS DENVILLE, NJ NY 2/0 2-01
016 JAMES CLACHER DOVER, DE DE 2/0 2-01
019 DAVID MARTIN SUMMERSVILLE, WV WV 1/0 1-15
020 KEN BAUMGARDNER MONONGAHELA, PA PA 1/0 1-12
021 KARL VEAZIE HALIFAX, MA MA 1/0 1-09
022 DAVE WHITEHEAD GREAT MEADOWS, NJ NJ 1/0 1-08
023 MIKE LEBLANC COLCHESTER, VT VT 1/0 1-07
024 LEE KING CHELTENHAM, MD MD 1/0 1-06
024 TOMMY BELINDA HOLLLIDAYSBURG,PA PA 1/0 1-06
024 RICHARD MARSHALL WAYNESBORO, PA MD 1/0
Uploaded: 9/23/1999
Uploaded: 9/23/1999