Andrews’ final-day surge yields victory at Champlain

Vermont anglers outdistance competition to earn top state honors in TBF Eastern Divisional

COLCHESTER, Vt. – Mr. Consistency got just a little more consistent when it counted most. After two days in the second-place spot, Dave Andrews of Bolton, Mass., turned up the heat in the final round of the TBF Eastern Divisional Championship at Lake Champlain to catch a 16-ound, 9-ounce limit and post a three-day winning total of 45-14.

Following a blustery day two, which saw rough main-lake waters requiring tournament officials to limit anglers to Malletts Bay, Friday brought lighter winds, partly sunny skies and total lake access.

Andrews and nonboater Eric Femiak of Taunton, Mass., spent the first half of day three fishing scattered weed beds in 8 to 10 feet of water inside Malletts Bay. Around midday, they ran 25 miles north to Champlain’s New York side and fished the same pattern in 10 to 12 feet. Working a ¾-ounce double-gold willow-leaf spinnerbait and a black Lucky Craft Sammy topwater plug, Andrews found the brown bombers he sought in both locations.

“I was targeting big smallmouth,” he said. “I was willing to sacrifice a few bites to get the quality fish I wanted. I ran a long way to get two bites, but they were both 4-pounders, so it ended up working out for me.”

The tournament was a picture of diversity for Andrews, but he focused on maximizing his opportunities.

“I caught straight smallmouth today, I caught all largemouth on day one, and I caught a mix of both on the second day,” Andrews said. “I didn’t have a specific pattern. I did a lot of different things. I just did whatever the weather allowed me to do.

“Today it was flat, and we could run anywhere. I’m a better smallmouth fisherman, so with the competition as tight as it was, I targeted smallmouth. When the lake is flat, you can stay on your spot and make a good presentation. There’s an unbelievable amount of 3- to 4-pound smallies in this lake, and that’s a good way to end up with a quality bag.

“I knew I wasn’t going to get a lot of bites, but I thought I would get some quality fish. On Champlain, you have to have the courage to fish for quality fish and not take the easy way out by fishing for a bunch of 2- to 2 1/2-pounders.”

After two days in the No. 2 spot, Andrews said his mixed emotions favored optimism on the morning of day three.

“I was not on fish early, and it was late in the day when I got limits on day one and day two,” he said. “But when I saw the conditions early today and saw the way the day was lining up, I got quite a boost of confidence.

“The first thing was that the flat water allowed me to run far. But on Champlain, you really have to pay attention to the balance of sunlight and clouds. It seemed that the fish would bite the best if the sun peaked through the clouds just as the wind would lie down. I think the fish can see the bait better during those times.”

Andrews said the performance of his boat and motor played a significant role in his success.

“I ran hard and put a lot of miles on my boat and engine, and they got me there and back. Having the confidence to be able to make a long run was important.”

Rest of the best

Day-two leader Tim Austin of Williston, Vt., caught 12 pounds, 5 ounces Friday and finished second with 42-4. Frank Perkins III of Winthrop, Maine, weighed 16 pounds, 1 ounce and moved up a notch to third place with his 41-13. Ronald Herbert Jr. of St. Paris, Maine, dropped to fourth with 40-4, and Bryan Folino of Cheshire, Mass., held onto the fifth-place spot with 38-12.

Final team standings

In the team competition, only the last two spots changed after two days.

Vermont stayed strong and added 142-9 Friday to top the final team standings with 362 pounds total. Second-place New Hampshire tallied 133-4 Friday to finish with 325-9. Massachusetts (118-7, 294-11 total) and Maine (94-6, 258-11) took third and fourth, respectively. In fifth place, Connecticut anglers made their best showing of the event and posted 102-13 Friday to post a 221-7 total and overtake Rhode Island (85-13, 209-8 total).

The Sept. 13-15 TBF Eastern Divisional Championship was presented by The National Guard.