Bay Area Bassmasters is “the world’s largest B.A.S.S. Nation ‘buddy’ team tournament trail.” Based out of Tampa, FL this “bass fishing club is designed to provide a little something for anglers of all ages, with or without experience,’ and holds events on bodies of water across the state. The final event of the 2014 season was held on a body of water known at the Big-O. The club held their 2-day classic November 8th-9th, where 35 teams set out to unlock the bite on Lake Okeechobee, but only one would be crowned Classic Champions.
Mike Blanchard holds up his 8.50-lb. Trophy Catch Lunker
Allen Powers and Billy Wood set the bar on day 1, taking the top spot on the leaderboard with a 15.19-lb., 5 bass limit.
Tom Craighead and Tim Hibbs sat in 2nd place, catching a 13.19-lb., 5 bass limit on day 1.
Tom and Carol Mahoney had the 3rd best weight on day 1, bringing a 12.59-lb., 5 bass limit to the scales.
Carl Powers and Matthew Miller finished the day in 4th place. Their 5 bass limit weighed 12.24 lbs.
Tony Office and Mike Blanchard weren’t able to catch a limit on day 1, but did round out the Top 5 with a 12.19-lb. bag. The 8.50-lb. lunker that anchored their bag helped with that effort, and would end up winning the Big Bass award for the tournament.
Day 2 brought about a change in weather, as well as in the standings. In 2 day events, teams who weigh good bags on day 1, don’t always do as well on the 2nd day. The same can be said for the reverse. Anglers threw on their rain suits at the start of the morning, and were forced to wear them all the way through weigh-in due to all day rains.
Tom Craighead and Tim Hibbs who sat in 2nd place heading into day 2 slipped to 5th place after catching an 11.01-lb., 5 bass limit. Their 2-day total weighed 24.20 lbs.
Carl Powers and Matthew Miller didn’t budge on the 4th place spot. Their 12.53-lb., 5 bass limit on day 2 gave them a 24.77-lb. total for the weekend.
John and Perry Cincotta broke into the Top 5 with a 14.23-lb. limit on the 2nd day. Their 26.00-lb. 2-day total secured a 3rd place finish.
Day 1 leaders Allen Powers and Billy Wood stayed consistent on the 2nd day, weighing a 15.06-lb., 5 bass limit. However, their 2 day total of 30.25 lbs. would fall just shy of holding off Tom and Carol Mahoney.
The Mahoney’s caught a tournament best 17.71-lb., 5 bass limit on the 2nd day, giving them a 2-day total of 30.30 lbs., 5/100th’s of a pound over Powers and Wood. A 4.69-lb. kicker anchored their bag, and helped Team Mahoney to the Classic win.
The Bay Area Bassmasters are scheduled to begin their 2015 season on January 10th on the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Photos: Bay Area Bassmasters
