AUBURN, N.Y. — Michael Arndt and Ryan Hujar won the New York B.A.S.S. Nation High School Championship, June 7, on Owasco Lake.
The teammates weighed in 19 pounds, 15 ounces in the one-day event and beat 11 other teams.
“During practice, the young men and their boat captain, Chuck Rowlee, found two spots where the bass schooled together,” said Fred Blom, president of the New York B.A.S.S. Nation. “They spent an hour in the morning on the first spot, but the wind was blowing so hard, they couldn’t stay there.”
Arndt and Hujar anchored their bag with two 4-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Because it was during catch-and-release season for bass, all of the teams were assigned special scales to weigh the fish on the water and then immediately release them. They recorded their weights, and when they arrived back at the docks, the weight sheets were collected by tournament officials.
“Everyone returned to Bass Pro Shops Auburn, the co-sponsor for this event, where the anglers did some shopping and enjoyed hot dogs and sodas,” said Blom.
Behind Arndt and Hujar were Liam Blake and Matt Brien of McQuaid Jesuit High School with 18 pounds, 8 ounces. Both teams qualified for the 2015 Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by TNT Fireworks, July 22-25, on Kentucky Lake.
The rest of the Top 5 were Aiden Blake and Lock Holmes of McQuaid Jesuit with 15-2; Isaac Eisch of Sandy Creek High School and Dominick Krause of Phoenix with 11-4; and Earl Leonard and Chris Mattison of Corning Painted Post, 10-13.
“Many thanks to Anthony Lipani at West Irondequoit, Matt Thomas and Chris Mullroy at McQuaid Jesuit High School, Kevin Scanlon from Corning Painted Post High School and Dereck Bigford from Cicero High School who lead the New York club for their many hours working with all of the young people to learn about and to go fishing,” said Blom.
The New York B.A.S.S. Nation High School program is in its second year with clubs forming to help young people learn how to fish. By affiliating with their high schools, the young men and women take pride in representing their schools and in competing for championships at the state and national level. Any school representatives wanting to learn more about starting a program, please contact Blom at 585-748-6222.
