High Stakes in the Motor City: Bassmaster Northern Open Pros to Compete out of Detroit
Category: press release
Aug 9th, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Aug 9th, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Eyes – and more than a few friendly bets – will be on Ryan Said when Bassmaster anglers launch into the Detroit River for the Aug. 19-21 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open.
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Ryan Said (Photo BASS)
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Said is a local favorite to win the $45,000 top prize just because he’s from Wixom, Mich., and very much at home on tournament waters: Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie as well as the Detroit River, which connects the two big lakes.
But pundits aren’t missing the fact that Said came in second last month in the Lake Champlain Northern Open season opener … and that Champlain winner and points leader Dave Wolak isn’t scheduled to compete in the Detroit tournament.
That gives Said fewer worries in the Northern Open’s points race. He’s trying to qualify through the Northern Open for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic. (Wolak, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro, has a Classic seat sewn up through the Elite Series.)
Besides the prize money and one of the Northern Open’s two Classic berths, Said – who works as an engineer with Chrysler Automotive when he’s not competing on the water – is aiming for the Elite Series. Top Northern Open pros will earn Elite invitations after the season’s third and final event in September.
“I’ve been working pretty hard at this,” declared Said. “I started fishing tournaments when I was 18, I’m 29 now, and I’m looking at going into it full time.”
Champlain was his first Bassmaster event as a pro. He had competed in other circuits on Champlain, so he wasn’t a lake rookie. He knows his chances are good in the Detroit event.
“I’m fishing in my backyard now,” he said.
It’s a very big backyard. Anglers will begin each day at 6:30 a.m. ET on the Detroit River at Elizabeth Park Marina (it has a Trenton, Mich., address: 202 Grosse Ile Parkway). From there, the pros can head north to Lake St. Clair, or south to Lake Erie.
Most won’t stay in the Detroit River, according to Said.
“Walleye and catfish are pretty popular in the river, and anglers can find smallmouth there, but for the most part, the bass that will win the tournament will come from Lake St. Clair or Lake Erie,” he said.
Also fair game are the bass in the St. Clair River, the waterway that connects Lake St. Clair with Lake Huron. But running far north from the launch point – about 40 miles – would be a game-changing decision.
Besides narrowing down their options, anglers will also have to contend with toothy species. Pike, muskie and walleye teeth can easily chop through the lines used by bass anglers. Once in a while, an angler targeting bass will haul in a nice-size muskie whose teeth missed the line, according to Said.
Largemouth likely won’t be factor.
“A guy who works very hard might be able to find 15 pounds or so of largemouth,” he said. “It’s questionable if he could do it for two days. For the most part, smallmouth are bigger and there’s more of them.”
The heat wave that has a tight grip on much of the East hasn’t pushed into the Detroit area, he said. Still, temperatures have been higher than normal, and the smallies have moved to deeper water, Said said.
Commercial traffic is a factor anglers will have to figure into their game plans. While the pros will run north or south of the launch ramp early enough to avoid heavy barge traffic, coming back is another story.
“In the morning it’s not bad, but in the afternoon it can delay you as the traffic picks up, the wind picks up and the waves and wakes get big,” he said. “It may take you 30 minutes in the morning to get to Lake St. Clair, but coming back it can take you an hour or more.”
Anglers will bring their catches back to the Elizabeth Park Marina for the weigh-in, set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET. The first two days, the full field in both pro and co-angler divisions will compete. Only the top 30 in each division will advance to the final day.
Bassmaster.com will provide daily results and photo galleries.
The local sponsor for the event is Detroit Sports.
Bassmaster Open Title Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
Bassmaster Open Official Sponsors: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Skeeter Boats and Yamaha
Bassmaster Supporting Sponsors: Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats and Triton Boats
About BASS
For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and its expansive tournament structure while championing efforts to connect directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
The Bassmaster brand and its considerable multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer; comprehensive Web properties in Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPN3.com, and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
BASS oversees the prestigious Bassmaster Tournament Trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, BASS Federation Nation and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.
BASS offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
BASS PRO SHOPS BASSMASTER NORTHERN OPEN POINTS STANDINGS
2010 BPS Bassmaster Northern Open 1 Lake Champlain, NY – Northern Open 1 – Lake Champlain, NY Boater Points After Lake Champlain, Plattsburg, N.Y. Ending 07-24-2010, Day 3
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Place Name St Pts
——————————————-
1 Dave Wolak N.C. 310
2 Ryan Said Mich. 295
3 Tracy Adams N.C. 290
4 Ish Monroe Calif. 285
5 Mike Haggerty Tenn. 280
6 Casey Lyon Vt. 276
7 Brandon Coulter Tenn. 272
8 J Todd Tucker Ga. 268
9 David Walker Tenn. 264
10 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 260
11 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 257
12 Scott Rook Ark. 254
13 Nate Wellman Mich. 251
14 Travis Manson Wisc. 248
14 Kevin Short Ark. 248
16 Jason Knapp Pa. 245
17 Mike Wolfenden R.I. 241
18 Timmy Horton Ala. 239
19 Thomas Lavictoire Vt. 237
20 Chip Harrison Ind. 235
21 Michael Simonton Ohio 233
22 Jamey Way N.C. 231
23 Nathan Kawlewski Ind. 229
24 Jason Quinn S.C. 227
25 Dave Mansue Texas 225
26 Brian Gates Vt. 223
27 Mark Desjardin Maine 221
28 Brian Bylotas Pa. 219
29 Jack Rinkers Pa. 217
30 David Reault Mich. 215
31 Jimmy Kennedy Vt. 213
32 Randy Howell Ala. 211
33 Marty Robinson S.C. 209
34 Gary Gaussiran Canada 207
35 Brian Ward Mich. 205
36 Preston Johnson Wisc. 203
37 Shawn Skobel Pa. 201
38 Jerry Williams Ark. 199
39 James Niggemeyer Texas 197
40 Mark Burgess Mass. 195
41 Matt Greenblatt Fla. 193
42 Koby Kreiger Fla. 191
43 Gerald Swindle Ala. 189
44 Donald Haskins Md. 187
45 Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 185
46 Todd Cole N.Y. 183
47 Pat Golden N.C. 181
48 Doug Kirkbride N.Y. 179
49 Jason Root Ohio 177
50 Joe Balog Mich. 175
51 Ben Parker Tenn. 173
52 J Judd Vt. 171
53 Jason Ober Pa. 169
54 Derek Jones Ill. 167
55 Scott Patton Ky. 165
56 Dana Perrotte Vt. 163
57 Casey Ashley S.C. 161
58 Bill Day Ky. 159
59 Mike McClelland Ark. 157
60 John Hempel Mich. 155
61 Mike Elkins Mich. 153
62 Chris Sumansky Pa. 151
63 Trevor Jancasz Mich. 149
64 Charlie Hartley Ohio 147
65 Bernie Schultz Fla. 145
66 Trevor Knight Del. 143
67 Douglas Wilson Vt. 141
68 Chris Baumgardner N.C. 139
69 Mark Hickory Vt. 137
70 Rob Webster Canada 135
71 Chris Noffsinger Mich. 133
72 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 131
73 Hugh Crumpler Fla. 129
74 Chad Pipkens Mich. 127
75 Rodney Sorrell N.C. 125
76 Skip Sjobeck Vt. 123
77 Nick Gainey S.C. 121
78 Charlie Ingram Tenn. 119
79 David Dudley Ohio 117
80 William Roe Mass. 115
81 Joseph Thompson Pa. 113
82 Mark Hicks Ohio 111
83 Adrian Avena N.J. 109
84 Jeremy Prouty Fla. 107
85 Mike Weiss Wisc. 105
86 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 103
87 Chris Lane Ala. 101
88 Bill Spence Vt. 99
89 Larry Materia N.J. 97
90 Frank Scalish Ohio 95
91 James Jeffries N.Y. 93
92 Luke Sharder N.J. 91
93 Troy Sitar Mich. 89
94 Greg Pugh Ala. 87
95 Chris Jackson Ala. 85
96 Jeffrey Randall N.Y. 83
97 Alvin Shaw N.C. 81
98 Pete Gluszek N.J. 79
99 Mark Peiser Ind. 77
100 Larry Butler Vt. 76
101 James Moorey Mass. 75
102 Todd Auten S.C. 74
103 Craig Townsend N.J. 73
104 Thomas Waltz Vt. 72
105 Ken Phillips Calif. 71
106 Joby Poster Pa. 70
107 George Acord Pa. 69
108 Tom Spangler Tenn. 68
109 Leo Reiter Ind. 67
110 Gregory Dipalma N.J. 66
111 Todd Schmitz Ind. 65
112 Mark Schafer N.J. 64
113 Mike Leblanc Vt. 63
114 Michael Woolley Mich. 62
115 Kaku Usui Mich. 61
116 Brian Kanke Texas 60
117 Andrew Upshaw Texas 59
118 Scott Dobson Mich. 58
119 Bill Rea Ohio 57
120 Brian Hensley Mich. 56
121 Jason Dudek Minn. 55
122 Chris Johnson W.Va. 54
123 Steve Lucarelli N.H. 53
124 Ray Brazier Tenn. 52
125 Jess Caraballo Conn. 51
126 Robert Cook Mich. 50
127 Luke Gritter Mich. 49
128 Gaspare Costabile Canada 48
129 Jeff Stoner Pa. 47
130 Matt Arey N.C. 46
131 Jim Dillard Ark. 45
132 Andrew Dick Del. 44
133 Wayne Macklin Mich. 43
134 Teddy Carr Va. 42
135 Ryan Rogers Canada 41
136 Bruce Bingenheimer N.Y. 40
137 Ben Bilott Pa. 39
138 Eric Miller N.Y. 38
139 Jim Tedesco Canada 37
140 Brian Cook Ohio 36
141 David Ottman N.Y. 35
142 Todd Glover Mich. 34
143 Stu Martel Ill. 33
144 Emery Peine N.J. 32
145 Kyle Kempkers Mich. 31
146 James Castillo Ala. 30
147 Josh Giran Pa. 29
148 George Martin N.Y. 28
149 Henry Stone N.Y. 27
150 Jim Tutt Texas 26
151 Callum Johnson Canada 25
152 Roger Zalucky N.Y. 24
153 Eric Smith Mich. 23
154 Curtis Richardson Canada 22
155 Jack Mumbower Ind. 21
156 Randy Crawford Ohio 20
157 Louis Iribarren N.Y. 19
158 Jonathon Vandam Mich. 18
159 Rick Ash Pa. 17
160 Joseph Trinko N.C. 16
161 William Johnson Va. 15
162 Ed Spicker Ohio 14
163 John Shumate Md. 13
164 Brent Ehrler Calif. 12
164 Steve Oleksyn N.Y. 12
166 Darrin Schwenkbeck N.Y. 10
167 Mike Kaminskas N.J. 9
168 Leon Dykas Conn. 8
169 Ken Lang Wisc. 7
170 Steve York Mich. 6
171 Dylan Freeze Ohio 5
172 Louis Consoli Pa. 4
173 Denis Lavoie Canada 3
174 Terry Baksay Conn. 2
175 Nick Mumbower Ind. 1
176 Will Jefferies Utah 0
176 Jon Bondy Canada 0
176 Thomas Kiefer Mich. 0
176 Tim Aldrich Mass. 0
176 Arnie Lane Fla. 0
176 Jason Bezio N.Y. 0
176 Luke Clausen Ga. 0
176 Kraig Kettelkamp N.Y. 0
176 William Lortz N.Y. 0
176 Garry Welch Canada 0
176 Marcos Malucelli S.C. 0
176 Lyle Atkins W.Va. 0
176 Michael Randolph Texas 0
176 Brian Easler S.C. 0
176 Al Farace Md. 0
176 Marc Kinnelly Md. 0
176 John Pelletier N.Y. 0
176 Keith Williams Ark. 0
176 Jerrod Lloyd N.J. 0
176 James Wilson N.Y. 0
176 Steve Schubert Ohio 0
176 Paul Pagnato Va. 0
176 Brandon Sykes N.C. 0
176 Woo Daves Va. 0
176 Byron Haseotes Mass. 0
BASS PRO SHOPS BASSMASTER NORTHERN OPEN- CO-ANGLER POINTS STANDINGS
2010 BPS Bassmaster Northern Open 1 Lake Champlain, NY – Northern Open 1 – Lake Champlain, NY Non-Boater Points After Lake Champlain, Plattsburg, N.Y. Ending 07-24-2010, Day 3
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Place Name St Pts
——————————————-
1 Thomas Rizzo Pa. 305
2 Phillip Jarabeck Va. 295
3 James Schneider N.Y. 290
4 Roger Winn Mass. 285
5 Ben Bottoms S.C. 280
6 Masahiro Yanase Tenn. 276
7 Brent Heyn Vt. 272
8 Anthony Savino N.Y. 268
9 Ron Horton Del. 264
10 Vincent Mucci Conn. 262
11 Bobby Woods Va. 260
12 Greg Tesch Conn. 254
13 John Cox Fla. 251
14 Brian Wishwanick Pa. 248
15 Bill Walker Canada 245
16 David Kovack Pa. 243
17 Jon Zera Conn. 241
18 Peter Valente Vt. 239
19 Edward Knight Del. 237
20 Keith Carson Fla. 235
21 Chris Van Vliet Canada 233
22 Kevin Haley N.Y. 231
23 Christopher Hall Pa. 229
24 Jason Putman N.Y. 227
25 Christopher Helfer Ohio 225
26 Harold Range Pa. 223
27 Samuel Clements Pa. 221
28 Steven Williams Maine 219
29 Renee Hensley Mich. 217
30 Kris Thygesen N.J. 215
31 Steve Springer N.Y. 213
32 William Jj Wich Del. 211
33 James Kline Md. 209
34 David Shively Pa. 207
35 Mike McDonald N.C. 205
36 Douglas Buturla Mass. 203
37 Mike Allard Canada 201
38 Justin Moore Mich. 199
39 James Bricker Md. 197
40 Bill Valberg Canada 195
41 Shawn Daly N.Y. 193
42 Scott Shafer N.Y. 191
43 Blaine Lemasters Ohio 189
44 John Adams N.H. 187
45 Herb Brown Maine 185
46 Michael Agranoff Conn. 183
47 George Beville N.C. 181
48 Gary Walker R.I. 179
49 Bryan Labelle Vt. 177
50 Frank Zabski Conn. 175
51 Tom Alt Ind. 173
52 Geoffrey Montgomery N.Y. 171
53 Kevin Hawk Calif. 169
54 Troy Garrison Maine 167
55 Robert Pelletier N.Y. 165
55 Rick Scherer Wisc. 165
57 Jeff Cutler Pa. 161
58 Keith Diluzio Pa. 159
59 George Bryant Va. 157
60 Brian Garrity Conn. 155
61 Daniel Avena N.J. 153
62 Carl Alexander Vt. 151
63 Johnny Claeys N.Y. 150
64 Ryu Ishihara Japan 149
65 Theo Corcoran Mich. 147
66 Steve Morrow Mich. 143
67 Joshua Kolodzaike Ohio 141
68 Anthony Zitzmann Canada 139
69 Craig Daino N.Y. 137
70 Bob Seelley Mass. 135
71 David Johnson Conn. 133
72 David Allen Va. 131
73 Ben Merkley N.Y. 129
74 Peter Barello N.Y. 127
75 Matt Jones Ind. 125
76 Tomas Gomez Fla. 123
77 Stephen Barrett Canada 121
78 William Schwartz Ohio 119
79 Rick Sweadner Md. 117
80 William Eccleston Pa. 115
81 Al Furbacher Pa. 113
82 Cody Andrews N.C. 111
83 Erik Jacques Mich. 109
84 Jay Clingenpeel W.Va. 107
85 Tom Tutt Texas 105
86 Ryan Smith N.J. 103
87 Gerald Adrian Pa. 101
88 Ryan Doherty Mass. 99
89 Tom Bever Colo. 97
90 William Tager Md. 95
91 Jimmy Hayes N.C. 93
92 Kyle Schuchard Canada 91
93 James Shaneyfelt N.Y. 89
94 James Perez N.Y. 87
95 George Saliba Canada 85
96 Erwin Zahler III N.Y. 83
97 Kevin Petticord Pa. 81
98 Colby Cotterill Fla. 79
99 Will Peet Ill. 77
100 Robert Gulley Miss. 76
101 Dwight Marchant Mass. 75
102 Victor Walker N.H. 74
103 J Kipp Del. 73
104 Collin Walker Mass. 72
105 Kenneth Hoffman N.Y. 71
106 Nathan Vogt N.Y. 70
107 David Paul Conn. 69
108 Leo Keating Conn. 68
109 Michael Sweeney Mass. 67
110 Mark Donio N.J. 66
111 Lamar Spade Pa. 65
112 Thomas Landish Pa. 64
113 Richard Chambless Mich. 63
114 Jim Nelson Ill. 62
115 Paul Burton N.H. 61
116 Bill Tyger Ariz. 60
117 Michael Hammer N.J. 59
118 Joe Nucci Pa. 58
119 Aaron Anders Mass. 57
120 Nathan Knapp N.Y. 56
121 Edward Pecore N.Y. 55
122 David Canestrare N.Y. 54
123 Dakota Wilson Mich. 53
124 Bob Snyder Ind. 52
125 Don Ahart N.J. 51
126 James Mccaskey Texas 50
127 Mark Pozzuto N.Y. 49
128 Mick Robeson N.J. 48
129 Jerred Matthews Ky. 47
130 Joseph Cusato N.Y. 46
131 Gary Crayton Pa. 45
132 Jeff Kuhar Ohio 44
133 Shawn Gokey Vt. 43
134 Kristopher Martin Vt. 42
135 Jason Seaton Ind. 41
136 Lisa Diehl Pa. 40
137 Cliff Howland N.Y. 39
138 David Lloyd N.J. 38
139 Jeffrey Childers N.J. 37
140 Adam Singer Conn. 36
141 Steven Brinster N.J. 35
142 Michael Edwards Canada 34
143 Keith Montgomery Conn. 33
144 Jason Bassett Minn. 32
145 Stephen Zarbaugh Ohio 31
146 PJ Mcmanamon N.Y. 30
147 Skip Morse N.J. 29
148 Kermit Crowder Va. 28
149 Bob Melanson Mass. 27
150 Cory Krawczyk N.Y. 26
151 Zachary Paradis N.H. 25
152 Tim Wyckoff Ohio 24
153 Bob Lett Pa. 23
154 Gary Besmer N.Y. 22
155 Douglas Strickland Ohio 21
156 Thomas Jobson N.Y. 20
157 George Lett Pa. 19
158 Kevin Hoogenboom Ohio 18
159 James Nolen Ky. 17
160 Mark Zgurich Pa. 16
161 Ashley Bishop Va. 15
162 Robert Felix Mass. 14
162 Marvin Stith N.J. 14
164 Cj Shaver Ohio 12
165 Jimmy Brunton Ohio 11
166 Jim Staszewski Maine 10
166 Kenneth Dixon Del. 10
168 Paul Hall Canada 8
169 Dean Elliot Long Canada 7
170 Amber Randall N.Y. 6
171 Mike Davis Ohio 5
172 Andre Beaudry Canada 4
173 Jacques Sauve Canada 3
174 Stephen Schneider N.Y. 2
175 Ronald Belanger Mass. 1
176 Jeff Lobaugh Texas 0
176 Kevin Phelps Pa. 0
176 Mike Barrett N.Y. 0
176 Trevor Bethke Mich. 0
176 Stephen Collins Canada 0
176 Jeff Cooley Ill. 0
176 Andrew Bray Mich. 0
176 Jock Waple N.J. 0
176 James Bartolotto N.J. 0
176 Jeff Graham S.C. 0
176 Alvin Black Pa. 0
176 William Beekman N.Y. 0
176 Gary McClain Va. 0
176 Matthew Klinker N.H. 0
176 Peter Wright Vt. 0
176 Jim Feathers Ohio 0
176 Lawrence Turke N.H. 0
176 Todd Smith Pa. 0
176 Jimmy Boone W.Va. 0
176 Darrell Schwartz Pa. 0
176 Bean Lefebvre Mass. 0
176 Otis Montgomery N.Y., &n, bsp; 0
176 Mickey Ruiz