Articles
BRYAN’S FISHING CAMP 2003
Candlewood Lake – August 11-15
By Ray Kerchal
This year, during the sixth consecutive year for Bryan’s Fishing
Camp, boys and girls in the A Group (first timers) were outstanding! On
tournament day in Group A (any species of fish allowed), Benjamin
Gillotte (age 9) of Danbury, CT placed 1st in the big fish category with
a 14.21 pound carp. He also caught a 2.68 pound bass. Nicola Gillotte
(age 7) of Danbury won the 1st place trophy for most fish caught (98).
Second place finisher, Giseldo Hernandez of Danbury also had 98 fish but
lost the tiebreaker, which was based on the weight of their biggest
fish.
In Group B (any species of fish allowed), Casey Popke and Cody
Gillotti, both of Danbury, finished 1st and 2nd for most fish caught (84
& 82). Ethan Farrar, age 8, of South Royalton, VT caught the lunker,
which weighed. 3.60 pounds. Only .01 pound separated 1st and 2nd place.
Michael Fisher of Pleasantville, NY brought in a 3.59 pound bass!
In Group C (bass fishing only), Richard McNamare of Danbury, CT took
1st place in the Friday tournament. Richard’s five fish limit weighed in
at 11.50 pounds. His adult boat captain was Terry Baksay of Monroe,
Connecticut. Cameron Blossom of St. Albans, VT took 2nd in the
tournament with a total of 8.39 pounds and also took 1st place for
lunker with a 3.83 pound bass. Alex Clawson of Bristol, CT took 3rd with
7.49 pounds. A third trophy was presented to Cameron for landing the
biggest bass during the week, a 5.1 pound fish, which he caught on
Thursday. Cameron has won a lunker trophy three straight years.
The Bryan Kerchal Memorial Fund sponsors Bryan’s Fishing Camp. It
teaches fishing techniques and an appreciation for the protection and
preservation of our water and fishery resources. Thanks to our 46
volunteer boat captains, 56 children, ages 7 through 13, participated in
the largest camp to date. At the end of the week, all new participants
received a tackle box from PLANO, a spinning rod & reel and a bag
containing hooks, soft and hard plastic lures, a knot book and other
miscellaneous items. The advanced anglers received an assortment of hard
plastic and wood lures. Additional companies donating products included
LUNKER CITY, LUCKY CRAFT, LUHR-JENSEN, DARTER BAITS, GARY YAMAMOTO
CUSTOM BAITS, GENE LAREW TACKLE, PURE FISHING, KINAMI BAIT CO,
TOURNAMENT FORCE TACKLE and N.E.H. TROPHIES. STOP & SHOP again donated
food and drinks for the Friday weigh-in and Patrick Mohan at CANDLEWOOD
BAIT AND TACKLE of Danbury donated the live bait used during the week. |