The premier event of the year on Lake Winnipesaukee is, hands down, the Northern Bass Supply Tournament of Champions. There is no other local tournament where you can fish for your share of $43,000 in prize money with a $150 dollar entry fee in a field of 54 teams.

This year, Lake Winnipesaukee was a bit stingy in the weights that came to the scales. This is the result of the fishing pressure that existing on the lake in the last month, as well as the high pressure and bluebird skies both days. In the previous few weeks, there was a state qualifier with 85 boats for two days, and two separate divisional tournaments, each three days with 45 boats for all three days.

The end result was predictable – you needed a lot of spots, and a lot of experience to put two solid days together. That might be why the top two teams each had a team member over 60!

At the end of the first day, there were three teams with over 20 pounds for eight fish, which everyone figured you would need two days in a row. Leading was Chad Jackson and Dave LeBlanc with over 21 pounds, and hot on their heels was Skeeter Pro Alan Denise and Scott Canelas, and Ranger Pro’s Joe and Steve Lucarelli virtually tied at 20 lbs.

The Luc’s are the hot team on the lake, but Alan Denise and Scott Canelas have won their share of money on the lake as well.

Behind them there were a number of teams with weights in the mid to high teams. In a two day event, you can’t win it on the first day, but you can lose it. With the consistent weights of the fish on the lake, it’s very hard to get an eight fish limit over 21 or 22 pounds.

As the boats waited to weight in, it became pretty apparent that it would come down to either Team Lucarelli or Alan and Scott. Both Alan and Steve Lucarelli had “cat that ate the canary grins” so it seemed like both felt good about their chances. When all was said and done, Alan and Scott edged the Luc’s by .59 of a pound, and drove home with a brand new Ranger 170VX. Team Luc had to settle for $3,000 in cash and $1,000 in Ranger Cup money.

Alan and Scott have years of experience on the lake, and it showed in their ability to bring in hefty bags both days. This is their second NBS TOC win – and with pretty much identical weight.

Third place was the first day leader Chad Jackson and Dave LeBlanc and fourth was Jim Gildea and Dave Roberts. Finishing a very strong fifth was Gary Clawson and Joe Slattery, a PVA team. They did what the third and fourth teams failed to do – they brought in consistent weights both days.

At this point, among these teams, everyone has a general idea of how each team catches their fish. The Luc’s rotate through a series of standard smallmouth tactics – jerkbait, topwater, Carolina rig, spider jig and drop shot until they figure out what’s working. Alan Denise and Scott Canelas got their fish by targeting both smallmouth and largemouth. Alan and Scott are able to consistently bring in a mixed bag, which many teams attempt to do, but with less success.

The third and fourth place teams, Chad Jackson/Dave LeBlanc and Jim Gildea/Dave Roberts both fell a couple of fish short of being in the hunt. Gildea and Roberts had 18 lbs on the first day, and Dave and Chad had 17 on the second day.

The sixth place finisher, Penny and Kevin Tenny also won the Husband/Wife category with two solid days. They won $500 for being he top mixed couple and $700 for finishing sixth.

The top Parent/Child was Rick Wentworth and his son, winning $500. It’s great to have this option, so Parent/Child teams can compete on a level playing field against other similar teams.

Overall, this was a phenomenal event – it was very well-run, the fish were returned healthy to the lake, and everyone had a good time.

Northern Bass Supply focuses on tournament anglers – unlike most tackle retailers, their main customers are tournament fisherman, and it shows in the products they stock and in their service. It also shows in how Sandy Oja and her team run their tournaments.

As a result, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Toyota, Minn Kota, Humminbird, and Lucky Craft all provide great financial support. Over the course of the year, Northern Bass paid out over $147,000 in cash and prizes. This is a lot of money for a local trail with a modest entry fee.

Reynolds Marine supported the trail all year with their “Fish for Free” program. The top finisher running a boat purchased at Reynolds get their entry fee back. Silver Sands Motel and Marina was a gracious host, and did everything they could to accommodate the fisherman.

This trail is growing every year, with more boats, more sponsor support, and more ways to qualify. As everyone was driving away, the shouts of “See you next year” aren’t just folks being polite.

We’ll all be back next year to try again.