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By Bill Decoteau
"Lights-Cameras-Lake Cobbosseecontee"
One by one Ranger Bass Boats powered by Evinrude E-Tec Outboards noised their way into Andy and Sheree Wess's Lake Side Cottages along the shores of Lake Cobbosseecontee, in East Winthrop, Maine. Eagerly awaiting each angler's arrival, Andy's 'Home Away form Home' hospitality greeted members of Evinrude Outboards Pro Staff, as his personalized valet service would rival the likes of any Manhattan butler. (www.lakesidelodging.com)
Wrapped in a red, white and blue tow vehicle boasting proudly National Guard Fishing Team, Alabama's top FLW Professional Angler Jonathan Newton was flabbergasted to say the least. "I can honestly say this is the most exciting Evinrude-sponsored event I have ever attended!" Adding with a southern smile tinted with his southern drawl, "My wife Traci and I have never been to Maine, and after driving for several days to get here I feel like we have known the Wess's our entire lives."
As the sun set over the calm waters of Lake Cobbosseeconte blanketing its 4,950 acres of bass'n paradise, Evinrude's 2006 Lake Champlain Stren Series Champion and designated three-day on-site coordinator, Professional Bass Angler Pete Gluszek, held a press conference with some very significant members of the national media.
On board for the third annual Evinrude Outboard 'Northeast Outdoor Writers Maine Event' were Chris Eubanks, editor for FLW Outdoors Magazines, National Bass Fishing Show radio host and freelance writer Steve Chaconas, Delaware Valley Outdoors Television celebrity Bob Murray, along with his complete filming team for a series of up coming television segments, the ever popular Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Inside Line Magazine's columnist Pete Robbins, Massachusetts's Dan Kenney and camera crew from the 'Go Fish Dan' cable network fishing series, then there was my loyal longtime colleague Vic Attardo, best know for his articles in Bassin Magazine. And, yes somehow I managed get my name unto this elite list of outdoor writers as well?
Sitting in the room filled with Ranger/Evinrude Outboard (www.evinrude.com) professional anglers, I somehow found myself more nervous than a long tail Maine Coon Cat in a room filled with rocking chairs! However, Gluszek's friendly demeanor shortly had everyone laughing as team pairings of Anglers/Media seemed to generate to the side going over the next day's on-the-water game plans. You may have thought each team was actually preparing for an FLW Tour event!
With over thirty years experience fishing Maine waters, Maine's FLW/TBF Treasurer, Jeff Morris and I were given the assignment to establish prevailing bass patterns in an effort to eliminate unproductive water. "This fog is certainly going to slow us down, so lets start by working shallow weed beds from top to bottom," suggested Morris. While I worked topwater walking baits such as Zara Spooks, Sammy's, and Spit'n Images, Jeff proceeded to flip and pitch his custom made jigs in and out of weed pockets.
After an hour spent in Lilly Bay and Island Park, working docks and tapering weedy points, we concluded the larger bass were not shallow! "This is a transitional time of year and obviously the larger bass are still relating to deeper humps and weed lines. It's time to test some of my newer black and purple jigs," smiled Morris a retired Navy Serviceman residing in Lewiston, Maine.
As the day lingered on, Lake Cobbosseecontee's scenic panoramic shorelines became the backdrops to the filming for several television shows, especially to elated TV Host Dan Kenney of the "Go Fish Dan" show. "I can not believe how awesome and pristine Lake Cobbie is?" Pausing for a brief moment Kenney and his crew changed camera batteries, as Professional FLW/Stren Series Bass Angler Jess Caraballo and FLW's Real Andrews, a member of the 'Bounty' FLW Fishing Team, utilized Caraballo's Humminbird electronics in search of deep water humps.
As though given a screen play, clued with "Fish On", former Day-Time Television Star and Soldiers of Fortune movie celebrity, Real Andrews west coast finesse tactics enticed one of Lake Cobbessee's largemouth hawgs to perform for Kenney's cameras. After several bass battling jumps, deep diving runs along side Caraballo's Ranger Bass Boat, Real Andrews worked his bass delicately away from the Evinrude E-Tec Outboards starboard side. "This is only 6lb P-Line Fluoro-clear," remarked Andrews referring to his drop-shot rig.
Controlling the boat with his Minn Kota trolling motor Caraballo, watched as Andrews's G-Loomis drop-shot rod bent in half, and cameraman Bill Zollo zoomed in on the action. "I had a 6.8 lb bass earlier and Real's bass is at least eight pounds or larger," voiced Caraballo. With Go-Fish-Dan host Dan Kenney at his side, Andrews's excitement continued. "Oh no this bass is coming straight up, I know he'll make one final mammoth jump."
Real Andrews reeled as fast as he could to keep slack out of the line, but this Cobbosseecontee Largemouth Bass controlled its own destination. Making its final leap within inches of Zollo's camera an estimated eight pound plus largemouth bass broke Andrews's line. Continuing his television show filming the likeable Kenney placed his arm around Andrews's shoulder, and remarked,"That Real is why we call it fishing and not catching!"
Later that evening thanks to Evinrude Outboards, Pro Staffers, and members of the media were treated to a traditional New England Lobster feast……including all the right Maine side dishes! Lake Side Lodging hosts Andy & Sheree Wess, joined together with Jeff Morris presented a hands-on lesson in the proper techniques to enjoying Maine Lobster. Obviously, there were no left-overs at this feast!
For the next two days media members rotated between Evinrude/Ranger Pro Anglers and at times several different media members actually were sharing the same boat. Such was the case for Steve Chaconas of Alexandria, Virginia and me with Connecticut's Bill Eichner, a light line finesse expert who competed in his first B.A.S.S. Bassmaster tournament in 1976 on South Carolina's Lake Marion.
Eichner is 'Old School' all the way, but his techniques and tactics acquired a long list of accolades along his thirty years of tournament competition. "Although newer equipment continues to surface every year, I have to chuckle when I hear of some of these so called 'New Techniques'," says the burly bearded Eichner. "A good friend of mind Hap Burrows hand ties all my jigs, my plastic baits are all Steve McMahan's hand poured Stalker Baits., and that's about it! Adding with a smile, "I lake to keep it simple!"
Eichner may utilize the word "Simple", but his techniques require the patience of Job! Working a 1/16oz hand tied jig in twenty-five feet of water requires constant knowledge of where and what your bait is doing. In addition to dragging a light weight jig in deep water, this Boat Works Ranger NASCAR Angler will also work split-shot and drop-shot rigs on 6lb test line. "It takes some practice, but there is no other more natural presentation than small baits and light line!" Steve Chaconas and I have no problem believing Bill Eichner, we witnessed him land several smallmouth bass over three pounds, out of thirty feet of water along Lake Cobbosseecontee's Cuba Island.
A special note of appreciation goes out to Bill Savignano at Maine's Department of Tourism for his help in coordinating the ever growing Evinrude Outboard 'Northeast Outdoor Writers Maine Event'.
God Bless and Best Bass'n
Northwood's Sporting Journal
Office: 1.207.732.4880
www.sportingjournal.com
Column: Best Bass'n
November 2006 Issue
Bill Decoteau is an outdoor journalist with a strong passion for pursuing the Black Bass. His activities include covering professional bass trails, the New England Paralyzed Veterans of America Bass Trail, as well as coordinating classroom seminars for Bassmaster Universities programs, or sharing winning techniques utilized by some of the nationals' top-bass pro's at many of the regional sportsmen shows.
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