Day One Eastern Divisional Results
Orillia, Ontario, Canada—James Moorey is usually flying high, but today he soared to new heights at the BASS Federation Nation Eastern Divisional at Lake Simcoe.
The 43-year-old airline pilot from Whitinsville, Mass., caught a five-fish limit weighing 21 pounds, 14 ounces to take over the lead in the divisional. Competing in his second divisional, Moorey brought a mixed bag of quality largemouth and smallmouth bass to the scales even though he had never previously fished Simcoe.
I thought it would be a lot like (Lake) Champlain because they are on the same latitude but it is a completely different lake,” said the Massmasters club member.
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Simcoe has structure and cover similar to what Moorey fishes back home, but he believes the lake is totally different than anything he has fished before. “Places where I expected to see fish I am not seeing them here and places where I would not expect to see fish I am seeing fish,” he said.
Moorey was still able to fish his strengths and some tips from his partner, David Maiorano, helped him figure out a smallmouth pattern. “I am not a real strong smallie guy,” said Moorey. “I used to fish for them exclusively but I went to largemouth lately. My partner had a good spot and some techniques (for smallmouth) that were working that I thought would work so I asked him some questions.” His partner apparently gave him the right answers as Moorey completed his limit with smallmouth in the afternoon.
Individual and team honors are at stake in this event. The top finishing angler in their team standings from each state or province earns a berth to the BASS Federation Nation Championship, the ultimate tournament of amateur bass fishing. Their daily catches also contribute to the cumulative score of their 12-man teams as seven states and the Canadian province of Ontario are competing for bragging rights and a top prize of a Skeeter/Yamaha rig valued at $30,000.
Rhode Island leads the eight Federation Nation chapters with 157 pounds. Tournament leader Moorey also tops his Massachusetts team. Other competitors leading their team standings include Al Gambardella, Connecticut; Mark Desjardin, Maine; Tyler Hanatow, New Hampshire; Peter Borelli, New York; Scott Huffman, Ontario; Mike Wolfenden, Rhode Island; and Rose Jeffries, Vermont.
The team champions and the top state of the Eastern Division will be decided at the conclusion of this three-day event on Friday.
Weigh-ins are being held at Centennial Park at 2 p.m. EDT each day.
