WHITEHALL, N.Y. – Kevin Kartesz, a 26-year-old optometrist from Ludlow, Pa., out-fished 170 competitors Saturday to earn $5,349 and 50 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Northeastern Division event on Lake Champlain.
Kartesz caught five bass weighing 18 pounds, 14 ounces during the one-day event to edge out Michael Huminik of Dale City, Va., who finished with a five-bass catch of 18-2 worth $2,674. Kartesz caught his limit, including a 5-pound, 6-ounce heavyweight that earned him an additional $850 as the Abu Garcia Big Bass in the boater division, flipping a Berkley Power Craw. He also won the Berkley Power Bait award, a package of baits valued at $200, for the heaviest overall catch on Power Bait or Frenzy lures.
David Lashua of Montplier, Vt., took third place and collected $1,337 with five bass weighing 17-14. John Gardiner of Glastonbury, Conn., placed fourth and earned $1,159 with five bass weighing 17-13, while Brian Sanson of Chittenango, N.Y., placed fifth and earned $1,070 with five bass weighing 17-12.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,501 went to Richard Cavey, 61, of Waldorf, Md., who topped 153 competitors with five bass weighing 18-5. Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,251 went to Matt Matti of Olyphant, Pa., with five bass weighing 16-4, while John Wiszniak of Manchester, Conn., took third place and $625 with five bass weighing 15-15.
Al Hager, 51, of Wantagh, N.Y., won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $382 with a 5-pound, 8-ounce bass that he caught on a homemade buzzbait with a chartreuse and white skirt.
Overall, 1,096 bass weighing 2,501 pounds, 11 ounces were caught during the tournament, including 162 five bass limits.
On August 19, the Red Man Tournament Trail will visit Lake Ontario for the fourth of five events in the Northeastern Division. The boater with the most CITGO Challenge points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 16-17 on the Potomac River, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.