Lake Ontario Pro-Am Tournament News and Press Releases

The second annual Orleans County Pro-Am Tournament was held this past Saturday and Sunday out of the port of Oak Orchard.  “What a difference a year makes,” said Mike Waterhouse, Pro-Am Chairman.  Last year’s inaugural tournament was shortened by severe weather on the second day but this year’s tournament went off without a hitch.  The Orleans County Tournament is the first tournament in the Lake Ontario Pro-Am Series on Lake Ontario and is the first leg of the Pro-Am Challenge Cup Race. 

The first day of competition found clear skies, a flat lake and plenty of fish for those teams willing to look for them.  In the Pro Division, Captain Pete Alex’s Vision Quest Team set the pace with a 12 fish score of 220.64 based on 10 points per fish and 1 point per pound.  Captain Rick Hajecki of Yankee Troller checked in with an impressive 11 fish catch totaling 217.64.   Team Cannonball/Stinger ended the day with 203.14 while Captain Clarence Crisp and his Rally Killer Team came in with 200.02.  Captain Chris Vogt’s U-Betcha Team rounded out the Day 1 top five with a score of 194.14.

The Amateur Division, with its 19 teams, showed equal skill.  Utilizing the new rule changes in the Am Division allowing the release of smaller fish, Team Screamer/Atomik led by Dave Antenori, racked up a 6 fish catch totaling 147.92.  Del Casterline’s Liquid Plumber Team took their 6 salmon and then managed to boat their bonus lake trout for a 7 fish catch totaling 134.12. 

Day 2 broke with overcast skies but after a brief downpour the day just kept improving and so did the fishing.  Limit catches abounded in both Divisions.

In the Pro Division, Yankee Troller came roaring back with an impressive catch to edge out Team Vision Quest by a scant 5 points with his total score of 430.53.  Captain Pete Alex and Team Vision Quest, plagued by the Day 1 leader’s “curse” had to settle for second but their cloud had a “green” lining as Captain Pete won the Calcutta bet and took home $1200 in cash in addition to his second place purse.  In third place was Team Cold Steel, led by Captain Tom Burke with 413.59.  Captain Greg Gehrig held his Top Gun Team together and pulled out aN

 impressive limit catch in a little over two hours and moved into fourth  place with a total of 406.20. Captain Randy Calus, fishing with Mike Gustin, one of the tournament’s major sponsors, took fifth with a score of 404.93.

In the Amateur Division it was another nail biter with barely 10 points separating first from second.  Coming out on top was Team Screamer/Atomik with a 2 day total of 265.35 followed by The Real Team with 255.02, Team Sparks with 246.12, Liquid Plumber with 239.37 and Team North of the Ridge with 212.29.

When the dust finally settled and the prizes were awarded the 46 competing teams shared in over $40,000 in cash and prizes.  The teams are now on to the Niagara County ports of Olcott and Wilson for the Niagara Pro-Am and the second leg in the Challenge Cup Race.  The Lake Ontario Pro-Am Series continues to grow by leaps and bounds.  Competitive fishing is alive and well on Lake Ontario.