Connecticut’s Matthew Desimone rallies to win BASS Federation Nation Eastern Division
Category: press release
Sep 20th, 2008 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Sep 20th, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Connecticut’s Matthew Desimone rallies to win BASS Federation Nation Eastern DivisionLaconia, N.H.- Matthew Desimone of East Berlin, Conn., and his state team claimed the top two honors of the BASS Federation Nation Eastern Divisional today at Lake Winnipesaukee.After moving up to second place yesterday with one of the heaviest limits of the day, Desimone added another limit today to his three-day catch to finish as the Eastern Divisional overall champion with 15 bass weighing 34 pounds, 3 ounces.By winning this final divisional of the year and leading his team, Desimone and seven other anglers who finished atop their state or provincial teams advance to the BASS Federation Nation Championship, the world championship of amateur bass fishing set for Nov. 6-8 on Kansas’ Milford Lake. The field for the Federation Nation Championship has been completed and can be found on http://www.Bassmaster.com.Joining Desimone at the Federation Nation Championship will be the following state and provincial winners: Glen Bruce, Maine; Eric Femiak, Massachusetts; Joe Matt, New York; Scott Parker, New Hampshire; Mike Desforges, Ontario, Canada; Leo Bevelaqua, Rhode Island; and Skip Sjobeck, Vermont. The 55 contenders who advanced will be vying for six spots to the Bassmaster Classic set for Feb. 20-22, 2009 at the Red River in Louisiana.Competing in his first divisional, Desimone caught a five-bass limit each day to climb from 19th place Wednesday, the first day of competition, to the top spot Friday. Multi-day tournaments on Lake Winnipesaukee are usually won with limits of smallmouth so Desimone targeted brown bass every day of practice and during the competition.”I didn’t catch a single largemouth in 10 days of fishing up here,” he said. Relying on a green Lunker City Rascal finesse worm and a watermelon/gold flaked Yamamoto Cut Tail, Desimone worked the lures on drop shot rigs in deep water. The 35-year-old gas company worker used a 1/4-ounce weight tied on 10-pound Power Pro line with a 6-pound fluorocarbon leader. He worked his drop shot rig with a 7-foot Quantum Super Lite spinning rod and Shimano spinning reel. The weather changed daily as wind and a cold front passed through the area the last two days, but Desimone noticed his fish in deeper water were unaffected by the changing conditions. The Silver City Bassmasters member took all of his fish from depths of 30 to 35 feet. “I caught most of my fish in areas with rocks and pretty sheer drops,” said Desimone. His most productive area each day was a rocky point that narrowed into a rock pile on one end. “On the south side of it there were rocks that dumped into 35 to 40 feet of water,” said Desimone. “Those fish were on the drop right on the bottom.”Desimone anchored the Connecticut team, which won its second straight divisional. The 12-angler squad accumulated 286 pounds, 7 ounces to take home the top prize-a $30,000 Skeeter bass boat/Yamaha outboard rig. The $1,000 Purolator Big Bass award went to New Hampshire angler Scott Parker who caught a 6-pound, 4-ounce largemouth at 11 a.m. the first day. Parker was flipping a watermelon/red-flaked 1/2-ounce Arky spider jig along dock about 10 feet deep on the main lake when the big fish bit. Sponsors of the Federation Nation include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, MotorGuide, Lowrance Electronics, Advance Auto Parts, Mustang Survival, Evan Williams Bourbon, Longhorn and Ramada Worldwide.