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“Blais and Dardanelli Crowned"

Saturday, August 27, 2011

“Blais and Dardanelli Crowned
Massachusetts 2011 Divisional Champions”
By
Billy "Hawkeye" Decoteau

In a tournament where big bass seldom cross the scales, Massachusetts Division Anglers managed to find the secret to enticing them to bite! Seven teams managed to carry largemouth bass weighing over 2.5 lbs each to the scales, via the drive-thru weigh-in. However, in a Big Bass Battle for the Lunker Title, youth angler Jacob Gasbarro’s 4.09 lb Wattuppa Hawg, was edged out by veteran bass anglers Jon Wheeler and Bill Laundry’s 4.68 lb Lunker! “That bass ate my Gitzit as soon as it hit the water,” claimed the veteran Nitro Team.

While, Jacob Gassbarro revealed, “I was just minding my own business, when all of a sudden that bass ran off with my Senko!” When asked if it was an awesome bass battle, young Jacob replied, “I have never experience sure a hard fighting bass!” While, the sun climbed high in the sky, so did the heated temperatures and humidity. Reaching the high nineties, S. Wattuppa’s water temperatures idled in the high seventies, with a three-foot visibility. However, keeping the bass alive was succeeded by anglers conscious concern.

“We kept changing the water, running our recirculation pumps, and of course added Rejuvenate several times throughout the day,” said USA Marine Team Walker. Adding, “I also believe that having our drive thru weigh-in, is a major plus when it comes to preserving our bass for catch and release purposes!” A ten-minute separation time between the two-flights allowed teams to do an awesome job of keeping every bass alive and extremely healthy when released.

With the Leaders Board changing what seemed be every time another team brought their bass to the scales, yet only five teams managed to secure a 5-bass S. Wattuppa limit? That is until “Team Grizzly” pulled up to the scales with their Tracker Boat.
One-by-one Chris Blais and partner Dave Dardanelli, pulled a 5-Bass limit form their livewell and placed each bass into their weigh-in bag. Needless to say, “Team Grizzly” drew everyone’s attention as a crowd gathered around the weigh-in scales.

An echo from the crowd revealed Blais and Dardanelli had won the South Wattuppa USA Bassin Massachusetts 2010 event with a big bag of bass the previous year!
No doubt Blais and Dardanelli had the same tournament winning smiles in 2011 when they asked Tournament Director Trish Decoteau what the leading weight was? “Wilson and Chapin, 5-bass 9.56 lbs,” answered Trish. With “Team Grizzly’s” big bass on the scales in case of a ‘Tie-Breaker’ the scales settled to 2.88 lbs.

As the weigh-master placed all 5-bass unto the scales you could almost hear Blais and Dardanelli’s hearts beating. “10.87 lbs called out the weigh-master, we have a new leader added Trish Decoteau. To this announcement Blais and Dardanelli received a huge round of applauds. With only two more teams to weigh-in Blais and Dardanelli were more nervous than a long tail cat in a room filled with rocking chairs!

Nitro Team Jon Wheeler and Bill Laundry stood behind Team Joyce, as Team Joyce’s two bass tipped the scales at 5.54 lbs. Asked if the well know Joyce Spinnerbait enticed their bass? Tim Joyce replied, “Not today, we caught these bass on jigs and that 3.07 lb bass came just twenty minutes before we had to check-in.”

Hidden in a black weigh-in bag, Wheeler and Laundry kept extremely quiet as they handed their bag over to the weigh-master. “5-bass all alive and one huge bass,” revealed the weigh-master. Holding their bass for pictures, Laundry and Wheeler’s big bass was placed on the scales……………….”4.68 lbs,” registered the weigh-master. Watching intently Blais and Dardanelli held unto their front row seats, as Wheeler and Laundry bit their tongues in anticipation of what the scales would register their 5 bass limit.

As the scales settled their official locked-in weight registered 10.60 lbs. ‘Team Grizzly’, Chris Blais and Dave Dardanelli managed to hold unto their 2010 South Wattuppa Championship Title by a mere .27 lbs! “This is simply unbelievable,” acknowledged Chris Blais. “I want to thank everyone who fishes this trail for their outstanding sportsmanship and support. It has made for a really fun and exciting tournament trail all year long.”

Chris Blais and Dave Dardanelli, not only edged out Team Wheeler and Laundry for the South Wattuppa 2011 Championship Title; they also tied Team Wilson and Chapin in the overall point’s category for the Massachusetts Angler of the Year Title! “Our Angler of the Year Title for the 2011 Massachusetts Division goes to Chris Blais and Dave Dardanelli,” announced Tournament Director Trish Decoteau. Adding, “The tie breaker for the 2011 Angler of the Year Title was the Team with the Highest Season Weight. Chris Blais and Dave Dardanelli won that category with a total season weight of 47.43 lbs.”

God Bless and Best Bassin