Pro anglers at fishing tourney reel in the fans
The Bassmaster Elite Series Empire Chase came to Buffalo’s Small Boat Harbor this weekend, and so did fans and fishermen from throughout Western New York, for whom the event was much more exciting than watching someone on a podium holding up a few fish.
While some enthusiasts got on boats to follow the pros during the small bass tournament, most were content to stay on land and enjoy the atmosphere of the competition.
“It’s a little bit like a festival,” said Anthony Bartkowski, director of communications for the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B. A. S. S.) and ESPN Outdoors.
There were plenty of activities on land to attract fans. Kids could make wooden fish engraved with their names, and people of all ages could take a shot at a casting competition in hopes of winning a $25 gift certificate to Bass Pro Shops.
Bartkowski, a Springville native, said Buffalo’s waters are starting to gain a reputation as being elite.
“A lot of the anglers have said this is probably the best fishing for smallmouth bass,” Bartkowski said.
For fans, accessibility to the professionals is one of the event’s main draws.
“It’s the fun of seeing the anglers, learning about what they use for bait — maybe we could pick up some tips,” said Mary Ide of Olean. She and her husband, Bob, spend their winters in Florida and attend competitions there, as well.
The four-day fishing tournament has a structure similar to golf tournaments. Thursday and Friday, a full field of 106 series entrants is cut down to 50. Saturday, that number is cut down to 12 for Sunday’s finale.
There are two divisions, the first is for professional anglers and the second for coanglers. To make the initial cut, the pros were required to reel in five bass measuring at least 12 inches long, and the co-anglers had to catch three of the same size.
Anglers who didn’t make the cut were around to sign autographs, take pictures and share the tips that many of the local amateurs sought.
Brenden Sabuda, 11, gathered enough signatures to cover a hat.
“Every single guy was more than gracious,” said his father, Dave. “It’s nice to that the best are in our in own backyard.”
Compared with what the pros catch, an average Western New Yorker’s catch is “not even close,” according to Joe Paolini of West Seneca. Still, the difference isn’t embarrassing enough to keep him away. Paolini will travel to Syracuse for another Bassmaster Elite Series tournament next week.
For Andy and Maureen Hector of Hamburg, fishing is a bonding experience with their two kids. Zach, 11, recently caught a 17-inch crappie that he will hang on his wall.
“He wants to see what’s out there for him to catch,” Maureen Hector said.
“It’s nice to see what the professionals catch and compare it to what we catch,” Andy Hector said.
Saturday, South Buffalonian Tim Creighton claimed victory in the $25,000 co-anglers tournament. Elite series entrants competed for $100,000.
The tournament will air at 9 a. m. Saturday on ESPN 2.
