Fristik Scores Big Payout On Lake Champlain

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Henry J. Fristik won the Boater Division in the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, New York Division 23 tournament, held June 25, 2022, at Lake Champlain.

Launching at Dock Street Marina in Plattsburgh, N.Y. the angler from Blandford, Mass. brought in a 5-bass tournament limit for 20.29 pounds with a 4.55-pound kicker. That gave him a 4.06-pound average. He headed back home with a check for $5,000 in his pocket.

“I made a long run because I was on fish down there,” Fristik reported. “Fishing is crazy down there right now. I was pretty sure I could get more than 20 pounds down there. I was fishing post-spawners on points. Down south, I threw a frog. I missed a good fish. On the way back, I culled out a couple fish. Up north, I was fishing small black grubs.”

In second among the boaters, Bryan Labelle of Hinesburg, Vt. also landed his 5-bass limit. He finished with 20.25 pounds, including a 4.70-pounder that took tournament lunker honors. He won $1,550. 

Placing third among the boaters, Robert J. Cruvellier of Alburg, Vt. landed a limit for 19.20 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 4.11-pounder and picked up a check for $700.

“We went up north and fished beds in about 10 feet of water,” Cruvellier commented. “I had all my fish by 8 a.m. Then, I looked all day for a bigger one. I fished for some largemouth, but that didn’t work out.”

Placing fourth, Ryan T. Latinville from the hosting town of Plattsburgh, N.Y. finished with five bass and 19.14 pounds to earn $500. In fifth for the boaters, John Paul Pelletier from Castleton, N.Y. brought in five keepers for 18.92 pounds including a 3.71-pound kicker to pocket $400.

In the Co-Angler Division, Sudhir H. “Suds” Nath of Cheektowaga, N.Y. won with a 3-bass division limit for 11.11 pounds, capped by a 3.54-pound kicker. That gave Nath a 3.70-pound average. He earned $1,050.

“We fished in about 12 feet of water,” Nath described. “I caught most of my fish on a Ned rig in California craw.”

Landing in second place for the co-anglers, Nathan T. Tremblay from St. Jean sur Richelie in Quebec, Canada, brought in three bass for 10.51 pounds including a 3.68-pound kicker. He earned $1,600. 

“We went north and fished both the New York side and the Vermont side,” Tremblay revealed. “I was fishing beds with a drop-shot rig in dark colors. We were fishing the rig very, very slow, just waiting for them to take it. Most of the fish we caught came from about five to 10 feet of water.”

John M. Ciavaglia from Pittsford, N.Y. placed third with three bass going 10.35 pounds. His biggest bass weighed 3.27 pounds, enough to put $400 in his pocket.

“We fished the mid-lake area with a Ned rig around beds,” Ciavaglia said. “We were mostly targeting smallmouth. I couldn’t see the beds, but my boater was telling me where to throw. He was a great boater.”

Placing fourth for the co-anglers, Jordan R. LaClair of Ogdensburg, N.Y. found three good keepers for 10.27 pounds. The sack included one bass weighing 3.47 pounds. LaClair collected $300.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers, Chuck Vacanti from Penn Yan, N.Y. landed three bass for 10.25 pounds. His largest weighed 3.21 pounds, enough for him to win $250. 

Rudy J. Staab from Roxbury, N.Y., landed in 11th place for the co-anglers with three bass weighing 9.65 pounds. However, one of them dropped the scales to 4.28 pounds and took the division lunker title. Staab earned $135 for the lunker.

The division next goes to the St. Lawrence River to fish the Thousand Islands area on July 23, 2022. That tournament runs out of French Creek Marina, located at 250 Wahl Street in Clayton, N.Y. To register for this tournament, see www.americanbassanglers.com/proddetail.php?prod=14764.

American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Garmin Electronics, Power Pole, Lucas Oil, RT Outdoors, Sportsman Card, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.

About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low-cost, close-to-home tournaments for the weekend angler and, at the same time, offering each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. 

For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Open Series, the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, the annual Military Team Bass Tournament, and the Top 150 Solo Tour, all presented by Caymas Boats, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406

This story was written by ABA staff writer John N. Felsher. To submit articles of interest email info@americanbassanglers.com.