2007 Niagara County, Lake Ontario Pro-Am Tournament
Hot Reels, O-Fish-L Business Win Pro-Am Tourney
By Bill Hilts, Jr.
The 23rd Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament out of Niagara County went off without a hitch June 2-3. Both the weather and the fish cooperated nicely for many of the 84 teams competing in this year's two-day event. Reels were smoking out of both Wilson and Olcott. At the end of the competition, it was Hot Reels/Dreamweaver in the Professional Division with a total score of 403.98 points that ended up with the $10,067 prize package, $5,000 in cash. The team was led by Dave Sullivan of Everett, Ontario, the first Canadian team to ever win the tournament. In the Amateur Division, it was O-Fish-L Business with a total score of 251.06 points to win the $5,000 prize package that includes $3,000 in cash. Team leader was John Hauck of Hughesville, Pennsylvania. Total scores are based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound.
There were 43 teams in the Professional Division this year and Day One action saw Onacona/Hooked up take over the early lead with a limit of fish that scored 208.05 points. Leading after the first day, though, has not been a good position to be in. Four other teams came in with 12 fish limits and all were near the top. Hot Reels came in at sixth place after the first day with a score of 187.17 and 10 fish. Day Two was another picture perfect day and Sullivan didn't want his team to out-think themselves. They kept their program simple and trolled in front of Olcott in 70 to 90 feet of water using spin doctors and flies, as well as spoons, to take a limit of fish by 10 a.m. Then they had to play the waiting game.
When it came time to weighing in, three other teams had limit catches. However none were the same at the previous day. Only the Hotline Team led by Capt. Bob Cinelli of Newfane had a chance. With 11 fish in the box, they came up just short with a total score of 386.83 point and runner-up once again. Third place went to the Destiny crew led by Capt. Eric Bickel of Burt. Fourth place went to the Tracker Charters team led by Capt. Dave Siegfried of Brockport. Vision Quest, a team led by Capt. Pete Alex of Erie, Pennsylvania came in fifth place overall. For his finish, he also won the West Basin Challenge Cup, tournament points totaled between Niagara and Orleans county events.
A total of 41 teams competed in the Amateur Division this year, a new tournament record. One the first day of action, Trophy Teasers led by Dick Tither of Columbus, NJ was one of only two teams to produce a limit for the day, the other being the Double R Team of North Tonawanda led by Ray Pacuilli. Trophy Teasers led the way with 109.51 points, but O-Fish-L Business was only 1.21 points off the pace. On Day two, three teams hit for a limit and one was O-Fish-L Business. That was all they needed to wrap up the Niagara title. A Michigan Team, Stank In The Pail led by Ed Giraud of Milan, scored the biggest one day total for the amateur division to vault into second place with a score of 231.35 points. Third place was the Liquid Plumber team led by Del Casterline of Mountaintop, PA, followed by Trophy Teasers and the Double Play/Dreamweaver team captained by Tom Letcher of Newfane. For a complete rundown on tournament scores, check out the tournament website at www.lakeontarioproam.com The information is already up on the site.
Next tournament on the docket is the Oswego County Pro-Am, set for July 7-8. That event will be followed by the Wayne County event out of Sodus Bay, slated for July 14-15.
There was certainly a bustle of activity the past week around Wilson and Olcott, the whole intent of holding this competition in early June. What really made the tournament a success (outside of all the teams in attendance) is how the communities pull together to make this all happen. Not just the volunteers around Olcott and Wilson who donated their time, but the people who came over from Orleans County and beyond - including Wayne and Oswego counties - to pitch in and work toward a common goal of successful fishing competitions along the south shore of Lake Ontario. Without groups like the Newfane Business Association, the event couldn't be held. The Olcott Fire Company supported the event with a building and with emergency assistance when needed. The Krull Park staff through Niagara County Parks did an outstanding job at taking care of the little things - allowing Niagara County to shine across the board. Karen Evarts at The Boat Doctors who handles the website. This was an event that allowed us to showcase Niagara County to seven states, all across New York, as well as Southern Ontario. Special thanks to all helped to make this event happen.
Which brings up the sponsors. By the time it's all said and done, we were able to hand out in excess of $60,000 in cash and prizes - $42,000 of which was cold hard cash. That's a major event in anyone's book and the tournament should continue to attract new faces in addition to keep the diehards coming back. Major sponsors this year were Maui Jim's Sunglasses and Lowrance Electronics, but even the smallest sponsor plays a role in the success of the tournament. Thanks to all who supported the contest. Tentative dates for 2008 are May 31 and June 1.