Decker Doubles Down
Copake Lake
October 29, 2017
by Gary Menchen
The 2017 club tournament season for Watershed Bassmasters ended with the final event on Copake Lake on Sunday Oct 29. The conditions were less than stellar with steady rain & wind all day but temps in the low 60's made it bearable. Local talent dominated the field with the top four anglers calling Copake their home lake.
First place was claimed by young Scott Decker, our otherwise touring pro who can normally be found anywhere in the state fishing a number of bigger tournaments. Scott's limit weighed in at 9.88 lbs and were caught fishing the “Ned Rig”. He said he was fishing around 10 to 12 feet deep at the outside weed edge. This was Scott's second WBM win of the year. Decker's rider Joe Raguzin also fished the “Ned” using his homemade hand-poured fat plastics in a green pumpkin color. His two fish at 3.95 lbs gathered him the top non boaters check.
Second place went to Watershed's rookie Sean Gottschalk whose limit weighed 8.60 lbs. Sean's boat almost never leaves Copake Lake and he used his local knowledge of the lake well. He fished an in-line spinner most of the day and also had the tournaments lunker, a 4.53 lb largemouth.
Greg Menchen fished various spots junk fishing to catch his 8.50 lb limit. With only 4 fish in his well with less than ½ hour remaining, Greg ran to a number's spot to fill out his creel and actually cull a fish. Fourth place was Gary Menchen with one fish short of a limit. His 7.82 weight was with all brown fish caught as shallow as 1 foot and as deep as 24 feet.
Watershed Basssmaster’s 2017 “Angler of the Year” is Timmy “The Original Hammer” Thompson. This is Tim's second club title putting him among the few who have won multiple AOL's. His formula for success this year was to concentrate on the spring spawning tournaments, the big weight “all-nighters” and then try to hang on for the remaining events. Congratulations to a long time member and this proves nice guys can finish first. Timmy now will captain Watershed's 2018 team at the NY State BASS Nation's Club Team Championship on Cayuga Lake next July. Rounding out the team are Bryan Gudd, Greg Menchen, Andy Krayewsky, Gary Menchen, and John Ogolik.
Watershed Bassmasters will host the annual “Turkey Trot Tournament” on Lake Mahopac Sunday Nov 19. If interested contact Gary Menchen for details. Our annual awards & season “kick-off” banquet will be in March, date & venue TBA.
