The Columbus Bassmasters recently completed the first portion of their tourney schedule with three tournaments at Buckeye Lake, Delaware Reservoir, and Indian Lake. The Columbus Bassmasters have been an organized club since 1985 and currently have 21 members. The club competes in local, regional, and state catch and release tournaments, and also participates in youth events and conservation efforts throughout central Ohio.
The first tourney of the year was held at Buckeye Lake on April 23rd. The tourney was marked by the passing of a cold front the night before, and the weigh-in showed the results. Dan Campbell won the tournament with one bass weighing three pounds. Second place went to Gary Shephard, and third place went to Rob Doughty. Doughty is a first year member of the club.
The club next visited Delaware Reservoir the following week. The tournament was won by Rod Russell, who is in his second year with the club and is its acting tournament director. Mark Starkey, another new member of the club, finished in second place while third place honors went to Dave Sprow. Other anglers weighing in fish included Gary Shephard and Eric Huber.
Indian Lake was the site of the third tournament of the year and the club had its best showing to date. Ten of the fifteen anglers brought fish to the scales. The tournament was won by Scott Buzinski of Gahanna. Buzinski, fishing in his first tourney of the year, weighed in five fish that weighed over eight pounds. Two other anglers brought limits to the scales. Jim Goodwin finished in second place with his five fish limit, while Will Presley, Jr. wound up in third place with his five fish. The other members of the club who weighed in fish were: Ralph Ward (four fish), Dan Campbell (3), Jay Bucci (3), Eric Huber (2), Rod Russell, Dave Sprow, and Greg Gayer (1 each).
The club returns to tournament action the first weekend of June when regional competition begins at Delaware Reservoir. Competitors will have the chance to advance onto further tournaments within the state, region, and nation as a member of The Bass Federation. The following week, the club resumes its 2006 tournament schedule when it visits Clear Fork Reservoir near Mansfield.
Anyone interested in joining the club should visit our web site at www.ohiobass.org/columbus. Contact one of our officers via email or join us for one of our monthly meetings which you can find on the calendar on the web site. Eric Huber is a staff writer for UltimateBass.com and can be reached at warpath@ultimatebass.com.
Eric Huber
warpath@ultimatebass.com
