BASS RATTLERS ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT TRAIL

No Fluke

There has now been 21 Bass Rattler Classics in the club’s history. Each of which has a name engraved on the Trophy

which circulates each year with its rightful owner. There are many different names that share a short story about the

weekend that the Top 8 or 10 guys from the club got together to fish for the honor of having their name inscribed on

this Trophy. Over the years, many of the anglers who attend the Classic have remained the same and each year there

are also some newcomers. For instance, this year was the first for angler Bruce Wolosyn and on the other side it was

around Classic number 18 for guys like Ronnie Mitchell and Dell Hatfield. Though the number of Classics these 2 have

made may not be exact, one thing is certain, Dell had never won the Classic in his 18 or so tries. He has had a few close

calls, but in the end it had always somehow eluded him.

This year’s Classic was setting up to be a little different in more ways than one. In recent years , Classics had been

hindered somewhat by either a cold front, a thunderstorm, or both. Not this February weekend. The weather was scheduled

to be a picture perfect 80 degree high, partly cloudy, full moon weekend with a slight breeze to boot. Though fishing

overall during the first session was not phenomenal it was obvious one angler was on a magical spot. Dell Hatfield had arrived

at the first session weigh-in with 2 fish around 7 lbs. and a limit that weighed 15.99 pounds. He said he caught both of the

monsters using his favorite bait, a Zoom Watermelon Candy Fluke. Bruce Wolosyn was in second with a very good first

round of 13.25 pounds. The group set back out on the lake in the afternoon for the second session and came back in

with Dell weighing a respectable 9.79 including a 7.01 big fish. Kevin Hatfield was the one who caught them in second session.

He came to the scale with 11.39. Ronnie Mitchell weighed 10.69 with second big fish of the session at 5.88. Kevin Hatfield(18.45)

jumped to second and Bruce Wolosyn(18.00) was close behind in 3^rd. There were also a bunch of guys just behind including

former Classic Champions Mike Cass and Steve Meszaros. Though Dell had just over a 7 pound lead heading into the final day

this was Lake Istokpoga and at this lake no lead is safe .

Sunday proved to be overall the best day of the tournament. For the first time, every angler came to the scales with a limit.

Though it wasn’t the same people catching the larger stringers, there was definitely no shortage of fish or weight brought to

the weigh-in. Day 3 was another gorgeous February day with a little stronger breeze, but just enough to make it comfortable. The group came

in for the 2pm weigh-in and there were rumblings among the competitors that the finish would be a little closer than expected.

Steve Meszaros stepped up to the scales as the first real threat and did not disappoint. Apparently the breeze helped the pitching

bite. Steve weighed a whopping 15.95 anchored by a 7.45 lb lunker. This put Steve in the lead with 30.85 pounds. After Steve set the

bar a couple of anglers came and went to avail. It came to the season's Angler of the Year, Mike Cass. Mike needed to weigh 14.51

to overtake Steve and though he gave a great effort, his sack weighed in at 13.58 for a total of 29.92. Bruce also gave a little scare

with a 10.62 lb bag including a session tying 7.45 pounder and finished his first Bass Rattler's Classic with 28.62 pounds. Then the

moment we were all waiting for was finally here. Dell said that he didn't get them that day, but he came up needing 5.08 to win

his first ever Classic. Rick put the fish on the scale, paused, and congratulated Dell while announcing his 7.05 weight. Dell finished

the tournament with 32.83 pounds and swears he used that same bait in all 3 sessions. It may be his first win in 18 tries, but I can

assure you, it was no Fluke.

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Congrats to Ronnie Mitchell for qualifying for the Classic as well as the
other 7 who had already qualified.