FLW EverStart Northern Lake Erie (Eastern portion Day 1: Press Release

Co-angler Ramsier sacks 20-plus in EverStart Northern

18.Aug.2011 by David A. Brown

Gaspare a close second due to penalty.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – EverStart Northern Division anglers started today with two expectations: First, Lake Erie holds the potential for smallmouth quantity and quality. Second, the great lake would make anglers work for their weights. Suffice it to say that Erie delivered on both levels.

We’ll get the latter out of the way right off the bat. Sparing everyone the whimsical analogies, Lake Erie was downright rough. Winds kicked up to 15-mph and seas rose to eight feet. That’s nothing new for Erie, as the shallowest of the Great Lakes is easily stirred. However, that’s no consolation for those who spent eight hours in the relentless slop.

No one’s complaining – this is all voluntary recreation. Nevertheless, a lot of worn-out and nearly psyched-out anglers crossed the stage today with tales of brutal poundings, broken trolling motors and motion sickness.

FLW EverStart Northern Lake Erie (Eastern portion) Day 1: Frost and Brodnicki Tie for first!

Big Weights result in a Tie for Lead. 
By Luigi De Rose

Frost in  first.
(Photos: David A Brown FLW)

I was humble during the last EverStart tournament when I predicted the winner and almost the entire top 5 but today I really predicted well. Simon Frost and Brad Brodnicki tied for first with a 22-05. Amazingly, Gaspare Costabile actually was the leader but fell to a first day weight of 22-02 due to a dead fish penalty. John Voyles captured fourth with a great bag 21-08 and Bassmaster Elite angler, John Murray landed fifth with 21-02. Three out of five isn't bad for odds.

Fishing was great on Erie for the ones who had located them. The top 6 anglers all had over 20 pounds and the rest of the top 10 had over 18 pounds. With so many local guys doing well it is politically incorrect to pick a leader or stronger angler. Barry Pringle and Derek Strub are both in the top 10 and  Chris Johnson is in 11th with 18 pounds. Again, never count out Bob Izumi or Mike Desforges. They are too talented to ever dismiss. I'll give it another day but my faves are Frost and Costabile.

The official press release will be up shortly.

Top 20
1  BRAD BRODNICKI  AMHERST, NY 5 22-05             
1  SIMON FROST  ST. CATHARINES, ON 5 22-05         
3  GASPARE COSTABILE  NIAGARA FALLS, ON 5 22-02         
4  JOHN VOYLES  PETERSBURG, IN 5 21-08                
5  JOHN MURRAY  PHOENIX, AZ 5 21-02                 
6  LAWRENCE MAZUR  LANCASTER, NY 5 20-04            
7  BARRY PRINGLE  WELLAND, ON 5 19-07                 
8  JESS CARABALLO  DANBURY, CT 5 18-15               
9  DEREK STRUB  ELORA, ON 5 18-10                
10  BILL CHAPMAN  SALT ROCK, WV 5 18-07           
11  CHRIS JOHNSTON  PETERBOROUGH, ON 5 18-06       
12  DANIEL WELCH  NEW MARTINSVILLE, WV 5 18-03              
13  RANDY YARNALL  WOMELSDORF, PA 5 18-01             
14  MATT STASIAK  PITTSBURGH, PA 5 17-14                
15  FAB MARCHESE  ANCASTER, ON 5 17-08              
15  STEVE VOROS  SPRINGFIELD, ON 5 17-08              
17  ALVARO LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ  SAINT CHARLES, IL 5 17-07               
18  GEORGE LAMBETH  THOMASVILLE, NC 5 17-05               
19  KEVIN SHORT  MAYFLOWER, AR 5 17-04            
20  DENIS KREZE  FORT ERIE, ON 5 17-03