Barger & Wilson Triumphant in 2000 Debut

     Larry Barger (L) and Bill Wilson narrowly edged the field to claim the first title of the season at Prettyboy Reservoir on June 15, 2000. One half of a pound was all that separated the first three finishers, with fewer than average fish being caught for the event.

 

     The Barger / Wilson team fished what has become a very predictable and successful pattern for them at Prettyboy in the early summer. They made their dash to the creek feed of Georges Run, where the two have won nearly every June tournament at Prettyboy in the past five years. However, this time the fish were quite reluctant to bite and Larry and Bill struggled to catch five fish weighing 11.82 pounds.

     Second place was captured by the team of Charlie Gochnour and Larry Penny. Fishing a deeper pattern than our champions, Charlie and Larry also coaxed five fish to the livewell. Their total weight of 11.45 pounds was a mere four one hundredths of a pound more than third place weight.

     Weighing five fish totaling 11.41 pounds was the team of David Kirk and Wes Parrish. Their third place bag was anchored by the largest fish of the day, a 4.98-pound largemouth bass. The top three finishers are now qualified for the season ending Tournament of Champions.

    Fourth place was claimed by the team of Larry Bertholdt and George Wilder with 9.87 pounds. Theirs was one of only two eight fish limits brought to the scales. Fifth place was awarded to the father—son team of Tim Jones Sr. and Tim Jones Jr. Their four fish weighed 9.35 pounds.

     In all, only fifty-four fish were brought to the scales for the first event of the 2000 season. The official weight of 91.76 pounds is also abnormally low for Prettyboy Reservoir. However it should be noted, we urge our members to not bring their fish to be weighed unless they feel they have a legitimate chance to win a prize or qualify for our Tournament of Champions.

     We are proud to acknowledge Ray Electric Outboards, Inc. as a season sponsor of the M.R.A.I. for the second straight year. Ray Electric is the largest manufacturer of primary power electric motors in the world! Twenty-seven of the thirty-seven boats in this tournament (73%) were powered by Ray motors, including the second place and fifth place finishers. Also, seen in tournament action for the first time was the newest version of the Ray motor, a 60-volt model. Visit their website at www.rayeo.com for more information.

     We also wish to welcome a new season sponsor this year, Joseph Bertazon & Sons, Inc. Joseph Bertazon and Sons is a masonry subcontractor in the Baltimore Metropolitan area and a perennial sponsor of the Metro Reservoir Angles, Inc. Thanks for your continued support!

     Our tournament sponsor for this event was Hunt Valley Motor Coach and Limousine Service, Inc. Like Ray Electric, Hunt Valley Motor Coach is a sponsor of the Metro Reservoir Anglers, Inc. for a second straight year. Headquartered on Cockeysville Road, Hunt Valley Motor Coach and Limousine offers a full line of scheduled trips as well as custom charters for you and your group. Contact them at (410) 584-7377.

     Our trophies were sponsored by Kern Ducote from Precision Tune Auto Care, Inc. (410) 391-5300. Precision Tune is another one of our second year sponsors! Refreshments were D. & S. Body & Fender Shop, Inc. (410) 655-4118.

     Gift certificates given as consolation prizes were made possible by The Fishin’ Shop (410) 391-0101 and Old Reisterstown Bait and Tackle (410) 526-6500. Km Rutley won the $50 certificate from Old Reisterstown Bait and Tackle. Denny Barnes, Joe Schultz, Brett Palmer and Rob Bertazon each won a $25 gift certificate from The Fishin’ Shop.

Lark and Stahler Squeeze Victory at Liberty

     In what will certainly be remembered as one of the most difficult days of tournament fishing in our history, Jim Lark, pictured on the left, and Gary Stahler emerged victorious at the July 16, 2000 tournament at Liberty Reservoir. Their seven fish weighing 8.60 pounds was more than enough to outdistance the field.

     In fact, the biggest obstacle that Jim and Gary had to overcome was a barley legal keeper that officials struggled to make measure. After a tense few seconds, the fish was declared to have measured the minimum of 12 inches and the results were final. Had the fish not made the measurement, Jim and Gary would have been disqualified even though the remaining six fish would have easily won the tournament.

     Finishing in second place was the team of Scott Erisman and Kim Rutley. Scott and Kim netted three fish for the day weighing a total of 6.72 pounds. One of those three fish also happened to be the tournament lunker, a 3.63-pound largemouth.

     Third place was awarded to the team of Larry Bertholdt and George Wilder. Larry and George, fourth place finishers in our first tournament this year, brought 6.40 pounds to the scales in three fish. As in the first event, all three of the top finishers receive a berth into our Tournament of Champions to be held in November of this year.

     Fourth place belonged to the team of David Kirk and Wes Parrish (3rd place in the first tournament of 2000) with three fish totaling 6.02 pounds. The team if Mike Beck and Lenny Crunkilton finished fifth by capturing four fish that weighed 4.23 pounds and edged out Tom Brown and Walt Miciche for the last prize by one-one hundredths of a pound.

     When the scoring was done, only 34 fish were weighed, and the total weight of all fish was a meager 52.29 pounds. The seven fish of Jim Lark and Gary Stahler represented 21% of all fish caught and 16% of the total weight of the tournament!

     Prior to the start of the tournament, all our members participated in a moment of silence in memory of our recently departed friend and co-member, Brad Beach. An accomplished fisherman and outdoors writer, Brad will be greatly missed.

     As always we wish to thank our season sponsor, Ray Electric Outboards, Inc. The first, second and fifth place finishers in this tournament were powered by Ray motors! In all twenty eight of thirty-six boats (78%) were powered by dependable Ray motors. Also, we wish to thank Joseph Bertazon & Sons, Inc. our other season sponsor for their support.

     Thanks to our tournament sponsor for this event - J.B.J. Electric, Inc. T/A Dotson Electric Company. Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated.

     Washington Homes, Inc. was kind to sponsor our tournament trophies for this event. Thanks for the second year of support from Washington Homes, Inc.  Hebbville Auto Repair, Inc. was our refreshment sponsor. Hebbville also sells used boat trailers and accessories, should you ever have a need.

     Denny Barnes, Mike Gamber, Gary Gangi and Fred O’Neal were winners in the gift certificate drawings. Each one of them received a $25 gift certificate courtesy of The Fishin’ Shop.

Anderson and Wolfe Coast To Loch Raven Win

Pictured Left to Right: Rob Corbin, Bruce Corbin, Ron Wolfe, Waino Anderson, Tom Kobus and Sam Ritch

     The trend of the previous two tournaments was smashed, as the Metro Reservoir Anglers, Inc. enjoyed the most prolific of catches in its three-year history. When the smoke from the scale cleared, it was Waino Anderson and Ron Wolfe walking away with top honors from the August 6, 2000 tournament at Loch Raven Reservoir.

     In the process of winning this event Waino and Ron set the new mark for heaviest stringer in a regular season event. Their eight fish tipped the scale at 23.36 pounds, breaking the mark they had set last year of 21.36 pounds at Liberty Reservoir. Their limit of nearly three-pound fish came from the mainstream area north of the Dulaney Valley Road Bridge.

     Finishing in second place was one of the hottest teams from last season, Bruce Corbin and Rob Corbin. The brothers combined for a solid limit of eight fish weighing a total of 18.25 pounds.  Like the champions, their fish came from the area around and north of the Dulaney Valley Road Bridge.

     Third place was captured by the team of Sam Ritch and Tom Kobus. Sam, who normally fishes with Joe Schultz, teamed with Tom after Joe was unable to participate and Tom missed the entry deadline to register his own team. The Ritch / Kobus team hooked eight fish weighing 17.44 pounds. Included in that bag was the largest fish of the tournament, a 3.83 pounder that edged a fish caught by our champions by .02 pounds.  As in the previous two tournaments, with no repeat qualifiers, the first three teams earn a spot in our Tournament of Champions.

     Fourth place finishers were the team of Larry Barger and Bill Wilson whose eight fish limit weighed 16.05 pounds. Fifth place was taken by the team of Charlie Gochnour and Larry Penny with 15.36 pounds of bass in their eight fish limit.

     Twenty-three teams weighed in a total of one hundred seventy one bass. The total weight was two hundred eighty five point thirty eight pounds. Of the fourteen teams that did not weigh in, we know there were at least eight more limits of fish that were not brought to the scales, and all of the teams had fish.

     Our season sponsor, Ray Electric Outboards, Inc. will be happy to know that the first, second, third and fifth place teams were powered by fine Ray motors. Twenty-seven of the thirty-seven boats (73%) used Ray motors as their primary means of propulsion. Thanks to Ray Electric Outboards, Inc. . . . “We don’t troll, We Motor!”

     Again, we wish to thank our second season sponsor, Joseph Bertazon & Sons, Inc. The president of the Metro Reservoir Anglers, Inc. is Rob Bertazon, who just so happens to be the vice president of J.B.& S. Thanks for your support.

     Ashland Café - Best Breakfast, located at the corner of York and Cockeysville Roads was our gracious tournament sponsor. At the Ashland Café you can enjoy a great meal in their dining room or get one to go if you are in a rush to get to the lake. Thank you Ashland Café!

     Always dependable, our friend Jim Belcher from Modernized Plumbing and Heating, Inc. was our trophy sponsor for this tournament. Modernized is a third year sponsor of the Metro Reservoir Anglers, Inc. And a special thanks to Walt Miciche for sponsoring the refreshments for this event. Walt, along with Tom Brown, was victorious at last years Tournament of Champions.

     The Fishin’ Shop was kind enough to donate four gift certificates for $25 each for our consolation drawing. The winners at this event were Mike Farrell, Randy Hill, Bobby Standiford and Larry Bertholdt.

     We also would like to recognize the help and cooperation of Kevin McComas and the staff from the Loch Raven Fishing Center. Thank you for allowing us access and use of the facility for this tournament.

In Memoriam:

 Bradley Paul Beach

Feb 5, 1954 - July 7, 2000

     It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our fellow member Bradley P. Beach on July 7, 2000 following an extended illness.  Brad will be remembered as one of the most knowledgeable and talented reservoir anglers in the Baltimore area.

     To say that Brad loved reservoir fishing would be an understatement. He had a passion for fishing. It was an insatiable desire to learn and master all that pertained to the lakes.

     Brad made fishing his life and livelihood. For years he guided on the Baltimore watersheds until such practices were prohibited. Brad was also a fixture at the flea markets in Maryland, where he sold fishing tackle. He knew what lures worked on the reservoirs and he made them available to the public.

     In addition to his excellence on the water, Brad was an accomplished writer. He had been a regular contributor to the magazine “Fishing and Hunting Journal”. His column detailed the patterns and techniques that consistently produced fish on the Baltimore reservoirs.

     Brad had also been published in the national magazine “In-Fisherman”. His article on outfitting a reservoir boat is one of a few articles on that topic to appear in such a well-read publication.

     And while no one could come close to making a living fishing tournaments on the reservoirs, Brad was one of the most consistent tournament anglers in the area. His consummate knowledge of seasonal patterns, as well as his mastery of virtually every fishing technique, made him a force to be reckoned with.

     Brad also worked to ensure that we have the opportunity to continue to fish the Baltimore watersheds. He served on the Reservoir Anglers Association board for a number of years. He was also appointed to the board of the Friends of the Watershed, a watershed watchdog group, until failing health forced his resignation.

     Brad suffered for many years from a rare disease called Polymyositis, which causes muscular inflammation and weakness. As debilitating as the disease was, Brad often claimed that the side effects from the medications he took were worse than the illness itself. Still, Brad was fortunate to have a group of close friends that made certain he was able to enjoy the sport of fishing even as late as this spring.

     We are thankful to have had the chance to know Brad, and to have shared in his love of fishing and of the reservoirs. Rest in Peace!

Weigh-in Trailer Purchased

     Thanks to the generosity of our season sponsors Ray Electric Outboards, Inc. and Joseph Bertazon & Sons, Inc., the Metro Reservoir Anglers, Inc. has been able to purchase a weigh-in and equipment trailer. The trailer will be in use at the next tournament, August 27, 2000 at Liberty Reservoir.

     The trailer will serve a number of duties for our group. It will house all the equipment in one location between tournaments. It will also simplify transporting all the equipment and supplies to each event. The trailer will also serve as the focal point for all our weigh-ins, even allowing us to set the scales up inside during inclement weather. This will help protect our electronic equipment from damage in wet weather.

     In addition, the trailer also has a couple other benefits. It will help to reflect and promote the professionalism for which our organization has become known. Last, it gives us a perfect location to show our appreciation for our sponsors.  Check out the trailer at our next event!