Niagara Pro-Am Results

Sunrise II; Rochester Guys Win Hartman Pro-Am Tourney

It was a battle between two Point Breeze/Oak Orchard charter captain
heavyweights in the Pro Division of the Gander Mountain 21st Annual Skip Hartman
Memorial Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament out of the ports of Wilson
and Olcott this past weekend, reminiscent of the pugilistic battles between
Ali/Clay, Frazier, Norton and Foreman. While there were many teams in the
running for the title, two teams stood out in the two day competition - Reel
Excitement led by Capt. Bob Songin of Rochester; and Sunrise II led by Capt. Bob
Stevens, an Ohio native now living in Medina, NY. Both are good friends and
charter out of the Oak together. When the final bell had rung, it was Sunrise II
standing tall as the 2005 champion by decision, winning a $10,000 prize package
that included $5,000 in cash, a Lowrance X-20 with $1,000 and much more. It
wasn't a knockout as less than a fish separated the two contestants.
In the Amateur Division, it was "The Rochester Guys" led by John Martone
of Hilton, fishing in their first tournament ever, overtaking Pete Kelly's "My
Turn" team from Wilson who were in the lead after the first day. They won a
$5,000 first place package that included $2,500 in cash, a Lowrance X-20 and
more.
In the Professional Division, it was Reel Excitement taking the early
lead with a 15 fish catch that totaled 221.56 points based on 10 points per fish
and a point per pound. They worked the Niagara Bar area off the mouth of the
Niagara River with Pro Troll and Spin Doctor attractors rigged with flies. But
Sunrise II was far off with a 12 fish score of 206.52 points. Their best
program was using Revelator attractors rigged with flies.
On day two, another perfect day on Lake Ontario produced similar results
as the worked the waters off the Niagara Bar drop for a mix of salmon and
trout. Songin's squad came in with another 14 fish, good for a score of 207.44
points and a two day total of 429 even. However, Stevens and company - that
included Richard Marsh of Brocton; Amaury Perez, Jr. of West Milford, New Jersey;
and Dana Zimbordi of Eden - came right back with a 13 fish day fishing right
alongside Songin, but with a heavier weight fish for fish. Their day two score
was 229.57 points gave them a two day total of 436.09 points and their first
ever Pro-Am title. Reel Excitement had to settle for a $5,000 prize package that
included $4,000 in cash. Third and fourth place went to two Canadian teams:
Get It Wet/Scotty with 303.39 points and Lord of the Kings with 290.96 points.
Both boats fish out of St. Catharines. In fifth and sixth place was Cold Steel
and Top Gun, both from Oswego area, with scores of 284.47 and 272.74
respectively. Hotline of Olcott place seventh with 271.82; Pisces from Point Breeze
finished eighth with 262.25; ninth was the Maui Jim Fish Team from Rochester
with 252.73; and tenth place was the Thrillseeker team out of Olcott with 238.17
points.
In the Amateur Division, it was a similar program of using attractors
with flies on the Niagara Bar. The first day it was "My Turn" living up to their
name with a first day total of 139.15 points and the early lead. But having
the lead after the first day has not been a lucky spot to be in for either the
pro or amateur division. History would repeat itself to see a team come from
behind to overtake the lead and win the tournament on the second day. "The
Rochester Guys," with James Piano of Rochester (owner of Hammerhead Tackle), Dave
Shortino of Rochester and Joe Bialuski of Rochester used dodgers and flies to
take their fish, including eight on the final day for a score of 150.18 points,
to overtake My Turn by a score of 287.73 to 235.51 points. Second place
earned $2,000 in cash. Third place went to Screamer with 208.08 points; fourth went
to North of the Ridge with 202.35 points; and fifth place went to Triple J
with 193.11 points.
Overall the tournament was another resounding success with 82 teams
competing - 44 in the Professional division; 38 in the Amateur class. Other prizes
were also given out for the big fish in the professional and amateur
divisions, as well as for big steelhead. They were: Pro - Day One: 21.96 pound king
salmon, Off Shore Tackle Team; Day Two: 22.03 pound king salmon, Thrillseeker;
Day One steelhead: Big Fatty - Thrillseeker tied with a 9.18 pound steelhead;
Day Two steelhead: Get It Wet/Scotty with an 8.39 pound steelhead. Each catch
earned $350 except for the two winner that tied in the steelhead grouping. In
the Amateur class, big fish day one went to The Rochester Guys with a 21.04
pound king; day two was a 23.49 pound king reeled in by the Screamer team. For big
steelhead, it was the Fourells team out of Olcott with a 10.87 pound fish for
day one; a 9.72 pound fish caught by the O-Fish-L Business team on the final
day.
The last place team award of a new Scotty Downrigger went to the legacy
of the person the tournament is named after. The Insane Injun Team lived up to
their name by doing the impossible on the last day of the tournament. After
catching a couple fish for the box, the forward drive in their boat became
inoperable. Rather than get towed in, they continued fishing and managed to troll
back to their home port of Olcott ... in reverse! They also continued to fish in
the tournament, but to no avail. They also won the new Never-Say-Die Award for
their efforts.
Major sponsors for the tournament included Gander Mountain; Lowrance
Electronics; Maui Jim Sunglasses; The Boat Doctors; Hunter Insulation Panels; Alex
Roofing; Okuma Rods and Reels; Scotty Downriggers; the Town of Newfane; RCR
Yachts of Wilson; Fish307.com; Northern King; Michigan Stinger; Niagara Tourism
and Convention Corp.; Niagara County; Sen. George Maziarz; Jack Paluh Prints;
A-Tom-Mik Trolling flies; Opti-Dodger; N & D Sporting Goods; Lake Ontario
Outdoors; and Great Lakes Tackle Supply, including Yeck spoons and Lyman lures.
Great Lakes Tackle Supply is the sponsor for the Challenge Cup Series
that includes tournaments in Oswego and Wayne counties. Next up is the Oswego
event set for July 8-9, follow by the Wayne County contest July 15-16. For more
information, log on at www.lakeontarioproam.com.

A Few Pics!