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The Bass
Trail |
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Ocean State Rallies for Veterans |
There is a hidden jewel within
the scenic setting of Providence,
Rhode Island's Roger Williams Park
that far surpassed its estimated
value. Discovered on October 20th
during the grand finally season
ending New England Paralyzed
Veterans of America Bass Trail's 1st
Annual Rhode Island TBF/NEPVA Roger
Williams Team Bass Tournament.
"We ran into some logistic problems,
however John Candelmo, Rhode Islands
TBF Vice President, some how managed
to assemble a team of RI Federation
volunteers and organized the entire
event with just three weeks notice,"
said an elated Tiny LaFontaine,
tournament director for the NEPVA
Bass Trail!
Hosted by Rhode Islands FLW/TBF
Federation, anglers representing
Rhode Island's FLW/TBF and B.A.S.S.
Federation Nation partnered in
assembling one of the most
extravagant events in the NEPVA's
nine-year history. With a roster
totaling twenty-two registered
paralyzed veteran anglers, Rhode
Island federation anglers were
paired with members of the New
England Paralyzed Veterans of
American Bass Trail in a random
drawing filling the quota by
volunteering their time as Team Boat
Captains for a friendly day of
competitive bass fishing! According
to TBF Federation President Joe
Cinguegravo, the two federations
pool their resources when it comes
to helping organizations such as the
NEPVA. “Rhode Island's The Bass
Federation (TBF) and the BASS
Federation Nation may complete for
tournament lakes and permits,
membership as well as sponsorship
dollars, however when it comes to
opportunities within the Ocean State
of Rhode Island that are beneficial
to others such as the NEPVA, we have
collectively pulled our resources
together as one to get the job
done!” adding, "Rhode Island BASS
Federation Nation President Roy
Costa, is to be commented for
helping to fill our quota of needed
volunteer Boat Captains on such a
short notice!"
“There is no doubt had it not been
for the dedicated members of both
federations, we would not have had
enough Boat Captains for all of our
Boater Division NEPVA Anglers,” says
Tiny LaFontaine. “Our Bass Trail is
the number one sporting event for
the New England PVA (www.nepva.org),
with its Free Entry Fee the Bass
Trail continues to grow with every
tournament event! The addition of
the Rhode Island event gives us
representation in five of the six
New England States!" Early morning
registration coupled with coffee and
donuts, compliments of Erikson's
Bait & Tackle, seemed to sooth the
air as laughter and newly assigned
teams began heckling each other
claiming bragging rights before the
tournament even started. Members
from the Nam Knights Motorcycle Club
of America representing the White
Mountain NH Chapter
(www.nknewhampshire.com) teamed
with the Boston Nam Knight Chapter
(www.namknightsboston.org)
transferring the Paralyzed Veterans
into their partners’ bass boats. The
uniqueness of Rogers Williams Park
is the trolling motor only rule,
while the pathways and roads
surrounding the ponds allow
spectators to actually enjoy the
tournament while sitting on park
benches. As teams of anglers were
witnessed landing bass, Rhode
Islands Hot Rod Clubs circled the
ponds demonstrating their support to
both the New England Paralyzed
Veterans as well as hosting a ‘Toy’s
for Tot’s’ collection.
Ole School Hot Rod enthusiast and
NEPVA Board member Bob “Soupy’
Campbell stole the Hot Rod show with
his orange colored roadster, and
Rhode Island’s own Harley-Hogster,
Cappy owner of Cappy’s Cycle Center
and his Chopper Crew revved up their
V-Twins HD Engines riding
side-by-side with Boston’s Nam
Knight’s on a tour of Roger Williams
Park, before Cappy volunteered his
time assisting weigh-master Tiny
LaFontaine.
(www.cappyscyclecenter.com)
With three cameras rolling the
Angler Productions cable television
fishing series THE BASS BUREAU,
found each Rhode Island Federation
Boat Captain paired with their NEPVA
Anglers instant TV Celebrities as
camera shyness seemed to be vacant
in every boat. “We have some very
exciting coverage on the water, and
the beautiful foliage surrounding
the ponds will only enhance our
show," reflected cameraman Paul
Gauvin as the Angler Productions
crew setup for the
'Drive-thru-Weigh-in' parade. Lead
by John ‘Maddog’ Scanlon and his
Marine Corp Escort Flag Truck, the
Nam Knights Motorcycle Club of
America
(www.namknights.org) joined with
bikers representing Cappy’s Cycle
Center and over thirty-five of Rhode
Island’s Custom Hot Rods, paraded
through Roger Williams Park followed
by every volunteer Boat Captains tow
vehicle and bass rig.
“This is the most amazing drive-thru
bass fishing tournament weigh-in I
have ever seen,” voiced Russ
Thetonia, Northeast Events
coordinator for C.A.S.T. for Kids (jrussellthetonia@castforkids.org)
Snapping photos, as an escort of
military vehicle representation, Nam
Knight Motorcyclist, Harley Davidson
and Buell Motorcycles, Antique
Hot-Rods and West Coast Hydraulic
Funny Cars saluted and blew their
horns, as they passed by the
official weigh-in stage, Thetonia
replied, “No where have I ever
witness such enthusiastic community
involvement! This is equal to a
professional bass tournament, and
the excitement on the faces of these
paralyzed veteran anglers and their
partners waving to the crowd as
their names are announced arriving
the weigh-in stage, then holding up
their bass is overwhelming!”
With the leaders’ board seeming to
be changing hands as every other
team weighed in, it finally leveled
out when Mike Broggi Jr. paired with
NEPVA Angler Todd Tu heard Weigh
Master Tiny LaFontaine call out
their three-bass weight of 5.07 lbs!
However, their lead lasted as long
as it took Rhode Island’s Scott
Balasco and his NEPVA partner Ray
“The Big Indian” Clary” to reach the
scales! “Folks we have a new leader,
with 7.67 lbs,” announced LaFontaine.
“Anchored with the tournaments
Largemouth Lunker, tipping the
scales at 5.41 lbs.”
Rhode Island’s own Alan Jackson and
NEPVA seasoned Veteran Angler Mike
‘Rollin Gibo’ Guilbault added a
little bit of Country music ‘Blues’
to Broggi Jr and Tu’s total weight,
as their four-bass limit of 6.05 lbs
claimed second place dropping Broggi
and Tu into a third place tournament
finish.
As teams made their way to receive
their prizes, each revealed an over
zealous interest in continuing the
Rhode Island NEPVA Team Bass
Tournament on the scenic waters of
Roger Williams Park. Bass patterns
appeared to be almost identical with
each team. Black/blue jigs rigged
with a variety of plastic trailers
and Yamamoto Senko’s out numbered
most baits of
choice. A few anglers were witnessed
landing bass on both crankbaits and
soft plastic jerkbaits.
Posing for pictures, while spilling
the beans on their winning pattern,
Scott Balasco just laughed, when
‘Big Indian’ Ray Clary started a Pow-Wow
song, praising Gary Yamamoto for his
sponsorship to the NEPVA Bass Trail.
“I have never in my life caught so
many bass, nor have I had so much
confidence in one bait as I do the
Senko! Scott caught our Lunker on a
Senko first thing this morning, and
thanks to Yamamoto Custom Baits I
qualified for the NBS Tournament of
Champions!”
As the awards presentation
concluded, everyone was treated to
delicious Pizza from “Off the Wall
Pizza & Pub, while refreshing cold
soft drinks compliments of Coca Cola
were enjoyed as 50’s music, Hot Rod
Engines and the sound of patented
Harley Davidson exhaust pipes echoed
throughout Roger Williams Park.
All NEPVA Bass
Trail Tournaments are totally FREE
to ALL participates and open to all
individuals with disabilities
whether veterans or non-veterans!
Individuals interested in fishing
the tournaments may contact
Tournament Director Tiny LaFontaine
@ 1.781.935.2480. As a non-profit
organization the tournament trail is
funded only by generous donations
from its sponsors, with all sponsor
donations being tax deductible. For
information on becoming an NEPVA
sponsor, contact the NEPVA office @
1.800.660.1181 or visit their web
site
www.nepva.org.
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The New England
Paralyzed veterans of America Bass Trail
would like to thank the following sponsors
for their continued support throughout the
2007 tournament season and success of the
1st Annual Rhode Island NEPVA Team Bass
Tournament; Rhode Island TBF and liaison
John Candelmo, volunteer Boat Captains from
both the TBF and the BASS Nation
Federations, Off the Wall Pizza & Pub, Dave
Bergis and Thomas Hunt of Coca Cola,
Erickson’s Bait & tackle, Cappy’s Cycle
Center, J.J. Trucking,
Marine USA, Inc (www.marineusainc.com),
FLW’s Dave Simmons (www.flwoutdoors.com),
Yamamoto Custom Baits (www.baits.com),
Mark Shealy of Shakespeare Fishing Products (www.shakespeare-fishing.com),
Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club (www.namknights.org),
John ‘Maddog’ Scanlon and his Marine Escort
Flag Truck and all of the NEPVA Staff and volunteers.
God Bless and Best Bass’n
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