TBF of Connecticut Youth Club
TBF OF CT. CANDLEWOOD JR. BASS MASTERS TOURNAMENT RESULTS
A Candlewood Jr. Bass Masters tournament took place at Lake Lillinonah on August 15th, 2009. This event was the fourth of the five qualifiers with the next and final event scheduled for October 3rd, 2009 at Candlewood Lake.
All eight of the Jr. anglers participated for this event and everyone weighed in fish at the end of the day. All fish were returned alive.
The four boat captains, Rich Schumacher, Jonahan Dingle, Mike Zeno and I provided the guide service for this event. Dominic Gambardella again also volunteered as the rescue and photograph boat.
The final weigh-in took place at approximately 2:15 PM. In the 15 to 18 age category, Will Dionisio took 1st place with 6.56 pounds with a limit of 5 fish. Brandon Annunziata placed 2nd with 6.18 pounds, Chris Dionisio placed third with 4.52 pounds, Zack Zeno finished 4th with 4.45 pounds, Matt Merullo finished 5th with 2.97 pounds and Casey Popke finished 6th with 2.77 pounds.
In the 11 to 14 age category 1st place was awarded to Justin Dingle with three fish weighing 3.42 pounds and 2nd place was awarded to Mike Toohey with 1.28 pounds.
The big fish Lunker for the tournament was a smallmouth bass that weighed 4.33 pounds which was caught by Brandon Annunziata who received $20 gift certificate to Valley Angler in Danbury. The winning boat captain was Jonahan Dingle.
As expected, the competition for representatives in both age groups will come down to the end of the fifth tournament on October 3th. Based upon the total points so far, all Jr. anglers are in the running to qualify as the one Jr. angler in the 15-18 and one Jr. angler in the 11-14 age groups for Connecticut’s contestants for the National Guard Jr. National Championship in the July/August time frame in 2010.
The Jr. Angler who has the highest total of points from best 3 of 5 qualifying tournaments in each age group will be awarded this trip to this championship in Atlanta, GA.
A set of tournament rules for all eight of the Jr. Anglers and the boat captains was distributed to the anglers on 8/15/09. After all parties were asked for comments, changes or additions, the rules were finalized at the end of 8/15/09 tournament.
Joe Rackiewicz
TBF of CT. Youth Director
Click to download 2010 Candlewood Jr. Bassmaster Standings
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TBF OF CT. CANDLEWOOD JR. BASS MASTERS TOURNAMENT RESULTS
A Candlewood Jr. Bass Masters Tournament took place at Candlewood Lake on July 18th 2009. This event was the third of the five qualifiers with the next two event scheduled for August 15th and October 3rd, 2009.
Unfortunately, only two Jr. anglers participated because of previous commitments for that day by the other anglers.
Rich Schumacher and I were the boat captains and provided the guide service for this event. Dominic Gambardella also volunteered as the rescue and photograph boat.
The final weigh-in took place at approximately 1:15 PM. In the 15 to 18 age category, Casey Popke took 1st place with 2.74 pounds with one fish.
In the 11 to 14 age category 1st place was awarded to Mike Toohey with two fish weighing 4.25 pounds.
Lunker for the tournament was a largemouth bass that weighed 3.43 pounds and was won by Michael Toohey who received $20 gift certificate to Valley Angler in Danbury. The winning boat captain was Rich Schumacher.
At the end of the fifth tournament on October 3th both age groups will qualify one Jr. angler for the National Guard Jr. National Championship in the July/August timeframe in 2010. The Jr. Angler who has the highest total of points from best 3 of 5 qualifying tournaments will be awarded this trip to this championship in Atlanta, GA.
A preliminary set of tournament rules for both the Jr. Anglers and the boat captains was distributed to the anglers, their parents and the boat captains on 7/18/09. The Jr. anglers and boat captains that were not present will be e-mailed a copy of these rules. All parties will be asked for comments, changes or additions in order to be finalized no later than the end of 8/15/09 tournament.
Joe Rackiewicz
TBF of CT. Youth Director
TBF OF CT. CANDLEWOOD JR. BASS MASTERS TOURNAMENT RESULTS
A Candlewood Jr. Bass Masters Tournament took place at Lake Lillinonah on May 9th 2009. This event was the third of the four qualifiers with the last event scheduled for June 6th, 2009.
After several days of rain preceding this event, the weather was finally sunny and perfect. Even the boat launch at Pond Brook cove had enough high water so all boats could successfully launch. The four boat captains, Rich Schumacher, Mike Zeno, Dominic Gambardella and I provided the guide service for this event. Lee Johnson also volunteered was not needed but provided the guide service for Casey Popke’s father for that day.
The final weigh-in took place at approximately 2:30 PM. In the 15 to 18 age category, Brandon Annunziata took 1st place with 6.46 pounds with a five fish limit. The second place was awarded to Casey Popke with 4.90 pounds with three fish, third place was won by Matt Merullo with 4.09 pounds, fourth place was Will Dionisio with 2.70 pounds and fifth place was Jake Kelly with 1.04 pounds.
In the 11 to 14 age category 1st place was awarded to Mike Toohey with three fish weighing 2.90 pounds and second place being awarded to Justin Dingle with two fish weighing 1.80 pounds.
Lunker for the tournament was a largemouth bass that weighed 3.26 pounds and was won by Matt Merullo who received $15 gift certificate to Valley Angler in Danbury. The winning boat captain was Joe Rackiewicz.
At the end of the fourth tournament on June 6th both age groups will qualify one Jr. angler for the National Guard Jr. National Championship starting July 29th, 2009. The Jr. Angler who has the highest total of points from best 2 of 4 qualifying tournaments will be awarded this trip to this championship. The second tie breaker will be the number of fish and the third tie breaker will be big fish.
As expected there will be an exciting finish. In the 15 to 18 age group, there are a minimum of 4 anglers that could win this spot and in the 11 to 14 age group, both anglers have the chance to win.
While the 2009 qualifying season ends after the June 6th event, the 2010 qualifying season will begin on June 20th with dates on August 15th and October 3rd scheduled for 2009. At the start of 2010, at least 2 more qualifying events will be scheduled.
Joe Rackiewicz
TBF of CT. Youth Director
Youth club Lilly May 9 2009
From Aimee Suhie 746-5155
CANDLEWOOD JR. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT RESULTS
Will Dionisio and Christopher Poole, both of New Fairfield, have won the 2008 The Bass Federation (TBF) Candlewood Junior Club Championship in their respective age divisions. And because Will is unable to attend the Junior World Championship in August, Mike Iovino, also of New Fairfield, will attend.
The TBF of Connecticut is "a grass-roots organization of anglers dedicated to the future of bass fishing, promoting catch-and-release, encouraging community involvement, lobbying for and against proposed legislation of interest to bass fishermen statewide, introducing youth to fishing and the enjoyment of fishing for the beloved bass," according to the TBF of Connecticut Web site.
TBF hosted the Junior Club Championship June 14 on Candlewood Lake. The event was the second and last qualifying tournament for 2008. The maximum point winner from both the June 1 and June 14 age groups qualified for the Junior World Championship to be held August 15 and 16 in Columbia, South Carolina, at Lake Monticello.
Prior to the June 14 tournament, the point leader in the 11-14 age group was Chris Poole and in the 15-18 age group was Mike Iovino. The lunker award for the June 1 event was won by Jake Kelly of New Fairfield with a 4.36-pound smallmouth bass. Jake was also the recipient of a $15 gift certificate to Valley Angler Tackle Shop in Danbury. TBF state president Joe Rackiewicz recounted, "After Junior Club members were assigned their boat captains for the start of the June 14 tournament, things started to warm up -- and I don’t mean for the anglers. The weather on Candlewood was bright, sunny, humid and hot" Despite the pending late afternoon thunderstorms, the Junior members were fishing for their limit right up to the ending at 2 p.m.
"The final weigh-in told the tale of who would be champion for both age groups," Rackiewicz explained. The first-place winner in the 11-14 age group was Justin Dingle of Meriden with 4.5 pounds. The first-place winner in the 15-18 age group was Will Dionisio with 10.23 pounds. Will also took lunker for the day with a 3.05 pound smallmouth and also was awarded $15 gift certificate to Valley Angler Tackle Shop.
The ultimate prize of top angler in the 11-14 age group was Chris Poole based upon his entries in both qualifying tournaments. The second-place finish in the 11-14 age group was Justin Dingle. And because Chris Poole will not be able to attend the Junior World championship, Justin will be the Connecticut representative.
The ultimate prize of top angler in the 15-18 age group was earned by Will Dionisio based upon his second-place finish on June 1 and first-place finish on June 14. The order of finish in the 15-18 age group was Mike Iovino, Jake Kelly, Casey Popke of Bethel and Chris Dionisio.
"I would like to thank the boat captains, Rich Schumacher of Newtown, Mike Winston and Lee Johnson of New Milford, and Jonathan Dingle of South Meriden" who all provided the semi-professional guide service for these two events,” Rackiewicz said. "Rich Schumacher won both boat captain awards as the top guide for 2008." The TBF this week sadly remembered Mike Winston who passed away June 23.
All contestants received tackle packages and Ranger T-shirts and posed for pictures.
Photo cutline:
TBF of Connecticut Junior Club team members pose after the June 14 tournament on Candlewood Lake . Left to right are: Chris Poole, Justin Dingle, Casey Popke, Will Dionisio, Mike Iovino, Jake Kelly and Chris Dionisio. (Photo by Aimee Suhie)
