Sweetheart 8-22-09

Sweetheart 8-22-09
Story by Mike McNamara

Good morning to everyone from our final sweetheart tournament. It was a little muggy as we started the day with everyone being greeted by Beth and Greg and lots and lots of anticipation by everyone to catch those big fishes. As everyone was shuffling around putting their trailers away we saw lots of lots of helping hands, organizing the weigh in area, etc. A wonderful group getting it done. Beth and Greg had changed the format slightly, dropped it down to a 5 fish limit in interest for the fishes health and a slight change in time. As it was a start time of 8 am it was now a finish time of 2 pm. Trust me, after the day was over, 2 o’clock turned into a very good idea. Just as luck would have it, as we got done presenting the winning payouts, finished picking up the tents and everything it poured buckets. Timing is everything. Thanks again Beth and Greg for a wonderful time.

This tournament also had many sweethearts catching their first fish at this tournament. Kudos to all of them. There is nothing like that feeling of first success. I am sure we will be seeing those sweethearts again next year. Good luck to all.

Coming in first place Sara and Michael McNamara. As this sweetheart pair started their day in the spot we cannot speak of, Sara was going to learn how to drop shot and trust me when I tell you all, she learned it and learned it well and within minutes as we pulled up into our secret spot, that we can not speak of, Sara hooks up to the first fish of the day, a sweet smallie, 3.01 by the X-Tool. As it would be I say “Game on girlfriend, keep up the good work we need 4 more like that” and was schooled in the art of drop shotting. Did I tell you all this is Sara’s first time ever, ever, ever using a drop shot? In between running for our rain gear four or five times, we got nuisance rain, it was still red hot out there Sara totaled 9 fish on the hook and into the boat and was still anchoring our five fish limit with that first fish of the day which was 3.01. You all know me, I am getting accustomed to being beat by girls, but I am doing a little whining and yell out to BooBoo cut me some slack I need me a big one and then I feel that bink and I pull back and I hear from the back of the boat get the net. We got doubles. Ok now what to do, I look over to Sara and I say yep, smaller than the one on my hook. We do a little running around and Sara decides to flip the fish in. she goes for the net, goes to the front I look down and say ohhh baby big fish and then Sara whooshes the big fish in the net. Quarter of two we got to go - not knowing it, but the fish was a big one. As it would be we get to the scale and that number five fish is yes lunker smallmouth of the day at 3.44. Total bag of the day was 13.64 all caught on a drop shot. And that was our day.

On to second place Sandy Oja and Jean Coulombe with 13.34 anchored by a 3.35 smallmouth and a 3.37 largemouth. Sandy and Jean struck out to get a limit, got their smallmouth on a drop shot, jerk baits and top water. As the day would go on they would use a run and gun tactic as they came to the scale with 2 largemouth, 3 smallmouth AS they were hunting for those largemouth a lot of jig and pig were used. As Sandy shared at the weigh in and BBQ it was the first opportunity that she has had most of the year for fun fishing and it was fun. And we all know how busy Sandy is with the trail with Northern Bass and the store. We are glad that you were able to come and fish with us and enjoyed the day. Hope to see you again next year at our Sweetheart events.

Coming in third Lee Boisvert and Bob Hurst with a total weight of 13.04 anchored by a 4.16 largemouth which Lee caught. As Bob tells the story, as she hooked up on the fish it was the fight of a lifetime, Tug and pull, tug and pull. As Lee and Bob start their day they immediately deiced to go after the largemouth to find that the largemouth bite is a little on the hard side. But that OK lee, Bob knows this lake. So off they go searching smallmouth to get a bigger bag and give these largemouth a little rest. As Bob shared they found the smallies and came to the scale with two in the live well but couldn’t get any of the big ones to commit. As the day progressed Lee and Bob headed back to lees mills and green basin area to finish their day off and to try and get big green fish. They culled for a couple of ounces here and there and then ended their day with 13.04. As this sweetheart team of Bob Hurst finishes the year with a points total of 606.54 Betty and Alan have been overthrown.

Coming in fourth as our first loser, and beating out Lee Boisvert and Bob Hurst for lunker largemouth with a 4.61, were Meredith and Mark Peabody with a total weight of 12.12. They brought 3 largemouth and 2 smallies to the scale. They used a similar run and gun tactic as Sandy and Jean catching the majority of their smallmouth on spooks. And then retargeted the largemouth bite later. As we all know Mr. Peabody he and Meredith refocused their efforts and targeted largemouth exclusively in the green basin and lees mills area and pretty much ended their day that way. Congratulations.

A very huge thank you to all those that helped to keep our resources, our fish, in good condition, and that brought the fish back out to the lake after the weigh in. We did an excellent job in keeping our fish safe. It would probably be easier to mention those that did not help, but here goes Alan Denise and Bobby Hurst for working the ice. It’s all about the ice. Thank you Jean for helping to take care of the tanks and with the breakdown of them. And our fish runners, Steve Graham and Hunter  Jim Peake, Dave Tsao, Jim Ellis, Wayne England. Mark Fournier and Ray Boisvert, Bobby’s son, who showed up after the event just to help with the fish, and I am sure I am forgetting somebody, nevertheless you know who you are, and you know how much it made you feel wonderful to release our fish 100% alive. And let’s not forget all those sweet Sweethearts taking photos, cooking, laying out the food and overall keeping us all in line. Thanks to our lady of the lake, Denise Allain for those wonderful cold sodas. This type of effort and willingness to help makes our trail what it is. .

Lots of thanks to Beth and Greg for a wonderful year. As the party was breaking up lots of praise on how the trail was run went to Beth and Greg for a job well done. We are all looking forward to next year. As shared at the BBQ the 2010 schedule will have some interesting twists and turns, looks like lots of fun stuff coming in 2010 and they all want to still fish the sweetheart.