Quick Bites: FLW Series Eastern Lake Champlain, Day 2

Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division

Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Opening round, Thursday

Perry family makes it happen … It has been a big week for the Perry family. Rick Perry works for the city of Plattsburgh as a building inspector but also plays an integral role in attracting major bass fishing tournaments to Lake Champlain. Rick’s son, Jason Perry, is competing in this event as a co-angler. And Jason isn’t just in it for fun; he’s in it for keeps as he currently sits third in his division with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 1 ounce. “He enjoys being the host,” Jason said of his father Rick. “He’s in constant contact with all the tournament directors. Put it this way: When there’s a tournament going on, he is the city of Plattsburgh. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t be here.” Rick said that in 2001, he first struck a relationship with FLW Outdoors. “Unfortunately, that was when we had 911 happen,” said Rick. “We’re here just trying to be the best host we can be. These anglers are amongst the finest group of people that you can introduce to a community. FLW Outdoors has put a great emphasis on conservation, which is very important to us. They help us preserve our great fishery. Our relationship will make Lake Champlain a better place, I’m confident of that.”

Rocking and rolling … Unlike day one, day two on Lake Champlain was a little brisk. Brisk is actually a severe understatement as many pros and co-anglers were just thankful to get back on dry land. The wind blew upwards of 20 mph on some parts of the lake, making the simple task of feeling bites difficult and making long runs nearly impossible. Clothes were soaked, equipment was ruined and backs were sore – just another day on Lake Champlain. Berkley pro Glenn Browne was one of the anglers crazy enough to venture south of Ticonderoga, N.Y., some 85 miles away. It took him a little over an hour to get there in the morning and nearly two hours to get back in the afternoon. On the way back to the marina, he encountered a 30-mile of stretch of 7-foot waves. His co-angler partner, Toni Stoner, was fishing Lake Champlain for her first time. Here’s how she described her first big-water adventure. “I’m sore, my neck is killing me,” she said. “I had three baths today and I’m soaked to the bone. But Glenn did an excellent job. I thought I was ready to start fishing the FLW on the pro side, but I think I need to give it a few years.” Surprisingly, Stoner faired better than her husband did. Co-angler Nolan Stoner and his pro partner Clark Reehm broke down and had to be hauled back by National Guard pro Scott Martin. Even worse is that Nolan had zero fish, so Toni’s lone largemouth bass widened her lead on her husband with one day remaining.

Welcome back Wolak … Despite a hectic BASS Elite Series schedule, pro David Wolak decided to make the trek from North Carolina to New York in search of some big bass and big money on the BP Eastern Division of the FLW Series. Wolak is no stranger to FLW Outdoors events, having accumulated six top-10 finishes including a sixth-place performance on Lake Champlain at the 2004 Stren Series event. He’s originally from Warrior Run, Pa., so he’s plenty familiar with Lake Champlain’s bountiful offering. But what makes Wolak even more dangerous is that this is his only FLW Series event of the year – meaning he’s here to win. He’s off to a strong start with a two-day total of 37 pounds, 1 ounce, which is currently good enough for third place. “I want to dedicate that fish to my wife,” said Wolak, as he dropped a 6-pound, 2-ounce largemouth on the scale. “She’s my biggest supporter. It’s an early birthday present I guess.” That present was worth $476 as the day-two Snickers Big Bass.

Largemouths fade, smallmouths sizzle … The blustery weather seemed to affect the anglers targeting largemouths more so than the anglers fishing for brown bass. Of the top-five pros, three are fishing exclusively for smallmouths and the other two had mixed bags. Several of those that targeted green bass yesterday had to resort to the brownies today. Included in that group was BP pro Guido Hibdon, who wasn’t too happy about it. “I’ve fished for a long time and today was probably the most frustrating day of my career,” the elder Hibdon said. “My trolling motor went out at 9 this morning. I had to finish the day by just drifting around looking for smallmouths. I hate smallmouths. I’m going to get two trolling motors tomorrow.” Fourth-place pro Clark Wendlandt believes the fish don’t actually bite that much worse in the wind, its just that everything else associated with getting them to bite is more difficult. “The wind makes everything tough,” said the two-time Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year. “Those guys that are fishing largemouths, their time is really limited. Running that far really cuts down your day. I don’t think you can fish with a clear conscience like you can when it’s calm.” In regards to his preferred smallmouth bass, the Kellogg’s pro said, “They still bite, but the wind makes it where you can’t move around and you can’t fish exactly the way you want to.”

Quick numbers

1: Total purse, in millions of dollars, at the third BP Eastern Division event of the season.

5-8: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of the Snickers Big Bass in the Co-angler Division.

37-7: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of pro leader Danny Correia’s two-day catch.

124: Number of limits registered by the field of 190 pros.

380: Number of sore backs after 20 mph winds seized Lake Champlain.

18-8: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of the heaviest five-bass stringer caught on day two in the Pro Division by Pat Fisher.

19-11: Weight, pounds and ounces, of the heaviest five-bass stringer caught on day two in the Co-angler Division by Bob Bjorkland.

Sound bites

“Yesterday I took a boat ride into another time zone.” – Co-angler Ken Murphy, who rebounded on day two with a 14-pound, 12-ounce sack.

“Chris Jones’ mouth is watering.” – Tournament official Tim Porter, playfully taunting his co-worker with Chester Williams’ 5-pound, 4-ounce largemouth.

“Come on up Chuck.” – Jones, not referring to seasick anglers, but rather to the next co-angler in line.

“As Rob Newell would say, today was Clap off.” – Lake Erie legend Steve Clapper, talking about his struggles on Lake Champlain.

“I don’t really fish for smallmouth in Louisiana so I don’t know what I’m doing – just drifting around and getting lucky.” – Pro Craig Dowling, who has a two-day total of 31 pounds, 15 ounces.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 6:30 a.m. Eastern time from the Dock Street Landing, located at 2 Dock Street in Plattsburgh. Following Friday’s weigh-in, the field will be cut to the top-10 pros, who fish one final day to determine the winner.