Paul T Smietana's Elite Invitational(The Best of The Best)

[John C]

12 Club Champions face off on the water while honoring a lost Champion both On and Off the Water.


Angler                  CLUB       FISH   LUNKER  WEIGHT   Place
Kevin Clark          Bass Bums        5   3.60   9.30   1
Mike Wolfenden  Warwick BM     4   4.25   7.95   2   
John Candelmo  East Bay BM        5   3.90   7.70   3   
Todd Rana         South Shore    4   2.95   6.05   4
Mike Broggi Jr       RI Jr BM        5      5.40   5
Mark Haverly          NEBRI        3   2.5   4.40   6
Ron Proia          RI Adult BM        2      3.25       7
JimmyJohnson   Scitaute BM        3      3.00   8   
Dave Breault       Team RI        1   1.3   1.30   9
Greg Horn       RI State BM        1   0.95   0.95   10
Mike Martin     North Country     0        0            0        11
Ron Bestwick   Kent County       dnf      dnf   dnf   dnf

Congratulation's to Kevin Clark of the Bass bums the best of the best
2007.

We raised $675.00 for the Philippines children's fund that will be donated in Paul's name


Thanks to all who attended and donated to this event. RI BASS federation nation, The Bass federation of RI, Erickson's Bait & Tackle, Mario(Lester)Villegas,Mike Wolfenden and Kevin Lateier.

Thanks to Mike and Delaney Broggi for all there help with the setup and weigh in and Mike Martin for showing up and fishing even though he didn't have the use of his outboard motor witch put him at a disadvantage.

Thanks to Dave Breault for arriving early to Help.

Thanks everyone:
    John Candelmo

Kevin Clark  Bass Bums  First


Mike Wolfenden Warwick Bassmasters Second & Lunker


John Candelmo  East Bay Bassmasters Third

[Sharon]

  ALLLLLLLLL RIGHT!!!! Love to hear you guys from my home state doing something for others.... way to go John!!!! 

[John C]

It accrued to me most on the board didn't know who Paul was.

This was quoted from Bass Times.

An angler, sportsman and member of the RI B.A.S.S. Federation died Oct22 in the Philippines.

Paul Thaddeus Smietana was a member of several RI Bassmasters Federations State Teams and competed in Bassmaster open tournaments from late 1990s through 2005.
He was a consummate professional and true sportsman who gave unselfishly of himself time and time again" Roy Costa, RI, s chapter president, told BASS times.
The 39 year old electrician lived in Taunton, Mass and was best known for when he and his partner saved the life of a stranded wind surfer during the 2003 BASS federation divisional on Vermont's Mallet's Bay.

"They were in between spots, and they saw something bobbing in the water" Costa said. "They decided to go see what it was, and sure enough, it was a woman. The water was probably in the 70s, and she could have easily gotten hypothermia because the water was colder than normal body temperature"

Smietana and his partner Danny Shanz of Maryland gave up hours of fishing time to take the woman to safety and answer questions from investigators, Costa said.

That sacrifice earned Smietana the clubs annual Joseph J. Andrukiewitz Sportsman of the year award.

"Most years it's a popularity contest," Costa said of the honor.
"But when I told the story of Paul saving that woman, it was a unanimous decision. We chose a true hero."

Smietana is survived by his wife Chitadelia Badoin Smietana; daughter, Connie Marie Smietana; parents, Thaddeus and Barbara A. Smietana; two Brothers Theodore and Robert Smietana; sister, Kristen Rounseville; and many nieces and nephews.