Rick and Katelyn Allen were crowned “Weekend Getaway Champs” on the Better-Half Fishing Tour held at Chautauqua Lake last weekend, winning by 0.01 pounds with 16.06 pounds for their three fish.
Submitted Photo
Chautauqua Lake bass fishing has become legendary among dozens of bass fishing clubs. Overall, people bass fish for several good reasons. Team bass fishing is even more special. Change the “man team” to a man-woman team or a couples team, and a “next level” of shared joy and accomplishments bond them together to make bass fishing popular.
The “Better-Half Fishing Tour” was established for male-female bass fishing teams. The competitive, family friendly bass fishing circuit brings husbands and wives, best friends, neighbors, and even brothers and sisters into a new brand of fishing competition. This group organizes tournaments to run once a month for five months on a different waterway. It creates more than one reason for couples to go on a weekend getaway. When that competition comes to a Bass Master Top 100 fishing lake like Chautauqua Lake, there are expectations for heavy success at the scales. For this special bass tour group, that’s how it was for the competitors last weekend at Long Point Marina on Chautauqua Lake. Their competition day is divided into two periods of the day. It’s an excellent idea similar to Major League Fishing where they divide the fishing day to allow fishing teams to fish different parts of the lake for a specified time. A total of 14 teams fished the Better-Half event from their early morning start at Long Point Marina.
After a full day of fishing, the weigh-in was exciting. Rick and Katelyn Allen were crowned the “Weekend Getaway Champs,” winning by 0.01 pounds with 16.06 pounds for three fish, winning the weekend trophy and cash. Second place went to Rob Grunden and Lauren Pyzoha, and third place went to Ed and Vicki Hankins. Jim and Sue Lipo caught the period one big bass, while Tim and Tammy Johnston caught the period two big bass (6.00 lbs). This catch-and-release tournament allows future fishermen to continue to enjoy this fishery thanks to tournaments like this.
The Bart’s Cove Lake Erie “Integrity Walleye Tournament Series” will run this Saturday and Sunday from Chadwick Bay. The two-day tournament event requires a $500 entry fee per boat and a three fish bag/per day for the two days, with winners in the mix for top prizes.
“The winner will take home $20,000 for the two-day big bag total,” said Mark Mohr, tournament director.
The Bart’s Cove Lake Erie “Integrity Walleye Tournament Series” will run this Saturday and Sunday from Chadwick Bay, featuring a $20,000 cash first prize.
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As of Thursday morning, Mohr said there were only 30 boats registered so far. He is accepting late entries. Call Mohr at 716-998-9871 to register for this 100% payout event.
Gotta love the outdoors.
CALENDAR
July 27-28: Bart’s Cove Walleye Dual-2, Integrity Walleye Series, Dunkirk Harbor, three fish bag/per day, two days, $500 entry/team; Info: Mark Mohr, 716-998-9871.
Aug. 2-4: 20th annual Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Walleye Tourney, $300 entry/team, Dunkirk Harbor, NCCC club weigh-in each day; three fish bag/per day, 3 three days; Info and registration, contact Zen Olow, 716-640-2776.
Aug. 16-17: Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge, Dunkirk Harbor from HQ at the Clarion Hotel Gazebo, $500 entry/team; info, contact Jim Steel at 716-481-5348 or visit https://innovative-outdoors.com.