Jim Bianchi closed out the victory at the Oneida Lake Bassmaster Northern Open today, catching a 17-07 stringer to close with 52-07, good enough for a 3-pound win over Opens stalwart Tracy Adams.
The western New Yorker had to figure out something new this week after this typical patterns for this time of year didn't pan out in practice. He made the necessary adjustments and captured his first B.A.S.S. victory. Since he didn't fish the James River Northern Open, he didn't clinch the 2014 Bassmaster Classic berth that goes to Open winners.
“This never gets old," he said.
He weighed in mostly largemouth in the tournament and got keyed in on what they were feeding on during day 2 when he stuck more than 19 pounds before 10 a.m.
“I found something pretty cool,” he said. “I knew that area had some big fish, but it wasn’t until I caught a few that I figured out why. I brought up some fish that had weeds with them, and in the weeds there were hundreds of microscopic crawfish. Either the bass there were eating their parents, or else the baitfish were there eating them.”
Adams, a two-time Classic qualifier, caught 16-13 today and finished with 49-04.
Here's how the Top 12 finished up:
1. Jim Bianchi: 52-07
2. Tracy Adams: 49-04
3. Jacob Powroznik: 48-06
4. Jamey Caldwell: 48-01
5. Mike Morrin: 47-13
6. Mike Iaconelli: 46-14
7. Paul Malone: 46-08
8. Chris Daves: 45-14
9. Eddie Levin: 45-07
10. Seth Feider: 42-09
11. Scott Canterbury: 41-15
12. James Niggemeyer: 41-02
Details of Bianchi's winning pattern will be published shortly.
