Czaplinski takes Wal-Mart BFL Northeast Division tournament

Michael Czaplinski of Hopatcong, N.J., won the BFL Northeast Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Sept. 6 on Thousand Islands near Clayton, N.Y. Czaplinski led the field of 159 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 21 pounds, 13 ounces. Angler: Mike Czaplinski.

September 6, 2003 • MLF • Archives

CLAYTON, N.Y. – Michael Czaplinski of Hopatcong, N.J., claimed $4,232 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Northeast Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on Thousand Islands near Clayton. Czaplinski led the field of 159 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 21 pounds, 13 ounces. Czaplinski caught his bass Saturday using a Senko.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Brian Baranowski of Manchester, Conn. (five bass, 17 pounds, 13 ounces, $2,116); Dean Meckes of Clayton (five bass, 17 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,439); Rick Pell of Binghamton (five bass, 17 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,100); and Michael Beebe of Conneautville, Pa. (five bass, 16 pounds, 9 ounces, $931).

Baranowski also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Joseph Zombek of Scranton, Pa., topped 159 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces that he caught using a 4-inch black rubber worm. Zombek earned $2,116 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Rich Onofre of Waverly (five bass, 14 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,058); Johnathan Dingle of South Meriden, Conn. (four bass, 14 pounds, $719); Van Patton of East Smithfield, Pa. (five bass, 13 pounds, 7 ounces, $550); and Charles Kolb of Shickshinny, Pa. (five bass, 13 pounds, $466).

Pell earned boater big-bass honors and $795 with a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass, and Ronald Crochetiere of Springfield, Mass., earned co-angler big-bass honors and $398 in his division with a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass.

The Northeast Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 20-21 on Cayuga Lake in Seneca Falls. Following the regular season, the boater with the most points will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points following the regular season will earn $500.

The top 30 Northeast Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Chautauqua near Jamestown, where they will go up against top competitors from the Buckeye, Michigan and Shenandoah divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.

As much as $6 million will be awarded in the 2003 Wal-Mart BFL.

Editor’s Note: Ranger Cup award winners are pending verification by Ranger Boats and thus are unofficial at this time.