Erie/Niagara Northern Open
Costabille Gets Lead With 20-08

Photo: Bassmaster.com Gaspare Costabile fished slow to get the big ones to bite.

He was the only angler who broke 20 pounds, but several others got close. Former BassFan Rookie of the Year Frank Scalish of Ohio is in 2nd with 19-04, 1-04 out of the lead. Former tour pro Aaron Hastings is in 3rd with 18-08, tour pro Danny Correia is in 4th with 18-05 and Connecticut's Chris Bielert is in 5th with 17-15.

The two anglers tied for 9th at 16-03 are a big 4-05 out of the lead, and it takes until 57th place to get that much of a margin going the other way. It's tight, but it might not be much of a horse race tomorrow depending on what BASS does.

With 4-6 foot waves and occasional 8-10 footers, the conditions were a little nuts today. "The wind was a little stronger than we'd predicted," said BASS tournament manager Chuck Harbin. "If the conditions are like this tomorrow, we may not let (the anglers launch). We will be monitoring the weather tonight and, depending on the conditions tomorrow, we may decide to cancel day 2."

Costabille Managed to Slow Down

What do you do when the weather is nasty in smallmouth country? Slow down?! That's what Costabille did, and it worked.

"I'm very pleased with my first-day total in spite of the conditions," said today's leader Gaspare Costabille. "When you catch a 20-pound-plus bag of smallies, you feel real good.

"It was a tough bite, but you have to take your time," he noted. "I was fishing transition areas between sand and rock, really concentrating on the rock. The fish were relating to the bottom – they were not suspending – and you had to fish very slowly. I even used a drift sock off the front cleat, and had to keep on the trolling motor to slow down even more."

He had all his fish by noon, which included the big fish of the day, a 5-08 smallie. "I caught a few more after that, but it was so rough that it was hard to stay on them. I couldn't keep them pegged."

He feels he can get on more big fish tomorrow, in the same spot. But "I usually don't make up my mind on the gameplan until the morning, and tomorrow will be the same," he said. "We're supposed to be getting a cold front, but because the lake is so big and smallies really don't get affected that much, I'm not concerned by it.

> He's fishing the heaviest jighead he could find on a 6' 6" spinning rod. He wouldn't disclose the exact bait he's using.

Can Scalish Get Back?

Scalish fished out in the middle of the lake. "It was brutal today," he said. "There were probably 7-foot waves out there."

On the plus side, he caught his limit early – "I was culling fish at 8:30 this morning" – so if he can get back out there tomorrow, he might have a shot at another good bag. But that's a big if.

Ferguson Glad He Made It Back

Art Ferguson III, who won the Northern Open points last year, is in a four-way tie for 59th with 11-11. "This was a rough one," he said. "The wind was unbelievable. We had 8-10 foot waves coming in, and we fished 4-6 footers all day. It got real nasty – very serious stuff. I'm just glad I made it back.

"I guess I should be pleased with my limit today, but I haven't been able to find the big fish. It seems they're still in post-spawn mode, and the big guys are hard to find. Add the wind to it and it's nearly impossible."

> He's fishing a Mizmo tube fished with a Kistler Helium LTA rod.

Notable

> Two anglers capsized today, but made it back safely. A wave crashed over the bow of New Yorker Dave Marion's boat, and his bilge pumps couldn't keep up. BASS stated that Marion and his co-angler, Lutz Spika from Connecticut, both made it back safely and the Coast Guard was called to retrieve the sinking vessel.

> Several anglers got seasick today.

> If the anglers are allowed to fish tomorrow, looks like they'll have to battle a cold front too.

> Day 1 stats – 173 anglers, 121 limits, 8 zeroes.

Day 1 Standings

1. Gaspare Costabille -- Niagara Falls, N.Y. -- 5, 20-08
2. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland, Ohio -- 5, 19-04
3. Aaron A Hastings -- Middletown, Md. -- 5, 18-08
4. Danny Correia -- Marlborough, Mass. -- 5, 18-05
5. Chris Bielert -- Danbury, Conn. -- 5, 17-15
6. George Saliba -- Lakefield, Canada -- 5, 17-12
7. Louis Iribarren -- Port Jervis, N.Y. -- 5, 17-06
8. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 5, 17-01
9. Jordan Paullo -- Coventry, Conn. -- 5, 16-03
9. O T Fears III -- Sallisaw, Okla. -- 5, 16-03
11. Richard Smith -- Dumfries, Va. -- 5, 15-15
12. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, Okla. -- 5, 15-13
13. Gerald Brumbaugh -- Martinsburg, Pa. -- 5, 15-07
14. Rick E Anderson -- Dover, Pa. -- 5, 15-06
15. Tony Black -- Manassas, Va. -- 5, 15-05
16. Frank Ippoliti -- Smithsburg, Md. -- 5, 15-00
17. Robert Merkin -- Downers Grove, Ill. -- 5, 14-15
18. Shelley Perry -- Hurricane, W.Va. -- 5, 14-13
19. Ernest Freeman -- Gamerills, Md. -- 5, 14-10
20. Pete Gluszek -- Franklinville, N.J. -- 5, 14-06
21. Mike Desforges -- Burlington, Canada -- 5, 14-04
21. Kurt Johnson -- Cedar Rapids, Iowa -- 5, 14-04
23. Stephen Miller -- Mechanicsville, Va. -- 5, 14-02
24. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 5, 14-00
24. Jimmy Cannoy -- Martinsville, Va. -- 5, 14-00
26. James Pocratsky -- Uniontown, Pa. -- 5, 13-15
27. Mark Duerr -- Milwaukee, Wisc. -- 5, 13-12
27. Benjamin Felton -- Marshall, Mich. -- 5, 13-12
29. Dan Martin -- Egg Harbor Twnshp, N.J -- 5, 13-11
29. Justin McGuinness -- Athens, Ga. -- 5, 13-11
31. Paul H Kimball -- Glastonbury, Conn. -- 5, 13-10
32. Mark Burgess -- Norton, Mass. -- 5, 13-09
33. Wally Szuba -- Cary, N.C. -- 5, 13-08
33. Robert Genter -- Tidioute, Pa. -- 5, 13-08
33. Fabian Rodriguez -- Ocean City, Md. -- 5, 13-08
36. Brian Bylotas -- Olyphant, Pa. -- 5, 13-05
37. Christopher Oeser -- Egg Harbor Township, N -- 5, 13-04
37. Loren Wetzel -- Sharon, Canada -- 5, 13-04
39. Randy Yarnall -- Womelsdorf, Pa. -- 5, 13-02
39. Robert F Werner -- Lewisburg, Ohio -- 5, 13-02
39. Mike Weiss -- Union Grove, Wisc. -- 5, 13-02
42. Rodney Sorrell -- Stokesdale, N.C. -- 5, 13-01
43. Wayne Collins -- Shawsville, Va. -- 5, 13-00
43. Peter Brown -- Sandwich, Mass. -- 5, 13-00
45. Ray Craig -- Crooksville, Ohio -- 5, 12-15
46. Jason Houchins -- Clarksville, Va. -- 5, 12-10
47. Dale Wilson -- Huddleston, Va. -- 5, 12-09
48. Jason Carleton -- Rochester, N.Y. -- 5, 12-07
48. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, Md. -- 3, 12-07
50. Matthew Sphar -- Attica, N.Y. -- 5, 12-05
51. Jon Bondy -- Windsor, Canada -- 5, 12-04
52. David Mansue -- Robbinsville, N.J. -- 5, 12-02
52. John Schwarzel -- Coolville, Ohio -- 5, 12-02
52. Erhardt Tulgestka -- Alpena, Mich. -- 5, 12-02
55. Bruce Neal -- Manheim, Pa. -- 5, 12-01
56. Jamie Fabian -- Pleasant City, Ohio -- 5, 12-00
57. Michael Hicks -- Mineral, Va. -- 5, 11-15
58. Christopher Davidson -- Watertown, Wisc. -- 5, 11-12
59. Art Ferguson III -- Saint Clair Shores, Mi -- 5, 11-11
59. Nick Radtke -- New Hampton, N.Y. -- 4, 11-11
59. Jess Salmon -- Milford, N.J. -- 5, 11-11
59. Bill Selawsky -- Edison, N.J. -- 5, 11-11
63. Brian Wilhoit -- Oxon Hill, Md. -- 5, 11-10
63. David Wolak -- Warrior Run, Pa. -- 5, 11-10
65. Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Conn. -- 5, 11-09
66. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, Fla. -- 5, 11-08
67. Vance E Manchester -- Wakefield, Mass. -- 5, 11-07
67. Paul Mazzitelli -- Pittston, Pa. -- 5, 11-07
69. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala. -- 5, 11-06
69. Raul Morineau -- Mexico City 03810, Mex -- 5, 11-06
69. Aaron Wessels -- Watervliet, N.Y. -- 5, 11-06
72. Andrew Kartesz -- Ludlow, Pa. -- 5, 11-05
72. Jim Short -- Berlin, Md. -- 5, 11-05
74. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Silver Spring, Md. -- 5, 11-04
75. Ken Brodeur -- Niantic, Conn. -- 5, 11-03
75. Mark Desjardin -- Vassalboro, Maine -- 5, 11-03
75. Kurt Dove -- Warrenton, Va. -- 5, 11-03
75. Rick Kazmierczak -- Orchard Park, N.Y. -- 5, 11-03
75. George Lagonia, Jr -- Spencertown, N.Y. -- 5, 11-03
80. Abraham Street -- Pulaski, Va. -- 5, 11-02
81. Woo Daves -- Spring Grove, Va. -- 5, 11-01
82. Greg Mills -- Dayton, Ohio -- 5, 11-00
82. Paul Noechel -- Lost Creek, W.Va. -- 5, 11-00
84. Luke Dunkin -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn. -- 5, 10-15
84. Lawrence Mazur -- Lancaster, N.Y. -- 5, 10-15
86. Kevin Long -- Berkley, Mich. -- 5, 10-14
86. Robert Vogelsang -- Jessup, Md. -- 5, 10-14
88. Ryan Hawthorne -- Mansfield Center, Conn -- 5, 10-13
88. Phil Paradis -- Minot, Maine -- 5, 10-13
88. Randall R Romig -- Barto, Pa. -- 5, 10-13
91. Todd E Cole -- Geneseo, N.Y. -- 5, 10-12
92. Ken Golubjatnikov -- Pittsford, N.Y. -- 5, 10-11
93. Cary Bever -- Rhinelander, Wisc. -- 5, 10-09
93. Chris Daves -- Hopewell, Va. -- 5, 10-09
93. Christopher Forsythe -- Somerville, Tenn. -- 5, 10-09
93. Scott Shafer -- Dallas, Pa. -- 5, 10-09
97. Bill Berry -- Terre Haute, Ind. -- 4, 10-08
97. Bryan McNeal -- Springfield, Ohio -- 5, 10-08
99. Benjamin Gusciora -- Williamsport, Md. -- 5, 10-05
100.Norman Dubois -- Lyman, Maine -- 5, 10-04
101.Wayne Burchett -- Draper, Va. -- 5, 10-01
101.Brad Wall -- Clarksville, Ohio -- 5, 10-01
103.Swift Spaulding -- Germantown, Md. -- 4, 10-00
104.Timothy Braun -- Buffalo, N.Y. -- 5, 9-14
104.Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, N.C. -- 5, 9-14
106.Edward M Schlein -- Leesburg, Fla. -- 5, 9-12
107.Justin Riley -- Woodbine, Md. -- 5, 9-11
108.Brian Kirkpatrick -- Colonial Heights, Va. -- 5, 9-06
109.William D Capwell -- Allentown, Pa. -- 5, 9-03
109.Edward Hargraves -- Langhorne, Pa. -- 5, 9-03
111.David Hall -- Kunkletown, Pa. -- 5, 9-01
112.Scott Brefeld -- Round Lake Beach, Ill. -- 5, 8-15
113.Timothy Harris -- Tyrone, Pa. -- 5, 8-14
114.Gerald Gostenik -- Dearborn, Mich. -- 4, 8-13
114.Gordon Kralovetz -- Roseville, Minn. -- 5, 8-13
116.Steve Rogers -- Coal City, Ill. -- 4, 8-11
117.Wesley Kemper -- New Straitsville, Ohio -- 4, 8-08
118.James C Fiato -- Birdsboro, Pa. -- 5, 8-07
119.James Hanley -- Angola, N.Y. -- 4, 8-06
120.David Barnes -- Weeks Mills, Maine -- 4, 8-05
121.Norio Tanabe -- Tokyo 153, Japan -- 3, 8-03
122.Matthew Lazaroff -- Mercer, Pa. -- 5, 8-02
123.Phil Colarusso -- Stillwater, N.Y. -- 5, 7-15
124.Bret King -- Lenoir City, Tenn. -- 4, 7-13
125.Robert F deGrandcourt -- Alexandria, Va. -- 5, 7-11
125.Karl Guegold -- Westerville, Ohio -- 5, 7-11
127.Davis Murphy -- Blue Ridge, Va. -- 5, 7-07
127.Robert Strader -- Castalia, Ohio -- 5, 7-07
129.Jeff Kashuba -- Stroudsburg, Pa. -- 5, 7-06
129.Joe Thomas -- Milford, Ohio -- 5, 7-06
131.Rick Morris -- Lanexa, Va. -- 4, 7-02
132.Gregory Roth -- Cambridge, Canada -- 3, 6-09
133.Jeff Stoner -- Clayton, N.C. -- 4, 6-08
134.William Terry -- Raleigh, N.C. -- 3, 6-07
135.Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, Pa. -- 3, 6-06
135.Skip Morse -- Belle Mead, N.J. -- 4, 6-06
137.Wayne Hayes -- Virginia Beach, Va. -- 3, 6-04
138.Paul Le Blanc -- Norfolk, Mass. -- 3, 6-03
138.Bob Marelli -- Milford, Mass. -- 5, 6-03
140.Joby Poster -- Dingmans Ferry, Pa. -- 4, 5-12
141.Tim Bauman -- Pitman, N.J. -- 3, 5-09
142.Terry Baksay -- Monroe, Conn. -- 3, 5-08
142.Jeff Caruthers -- Scott Depot, W.Va. -- 3, 5-08
144.R Kevin Baldwin -- Vandergrift, Pa. -- 2, 5-05
145.George Frollo -- Mendon, Mass. -- 4, 5-03
145.Dennis G Hill -- Vinton, Va. -- 2, 5-03
145.Steven McGahan -- Gales Ferry, Conn. -- 3, 5-03
148.Al Capachietti -- Tewksbury, Mass. -- 2, 5-02
148.Glenn Delong, II -- Bellville, Ohio -- 4, 5-02
148.Gary Krammes -- Pottsville, Pa. -- 3, 5-02
151.Christopher J Wilson -- Moosic, Pa. -- 3, 5-00
152.Jeffrey Viverette -- Frederick, Md. -- 2, 4-08
153.Walter Hash -- Dublin, Va. -- 2, 4-01
154.Christopher M Smith -- Absecon, N.J. -- 2, 3-12
155.Michael McMillan -- Greensboro, N.C. -- 2, 3-09
156.Marc Amtower -- Storrs Mansfield, Conn -- 3, 3-01
157.David Kuo -- Alexandria, Va. -- 2, 2-07
158.Kevin Price -- Westerville, Ohio -- 1, 2-04
159.Ed Stiefel -- Mahwah, N.J. -- 1, 2-01
160.Mathew Applebaum -- Johnson, Vt. -- 1, 1-15
161.Carl C Chambers -- Salem, Va. -- 1, 1-11
162.Robert Sylvester -- Milford, Pa. -- 1, 1-09
163.Gregory Alexander -- Hebron, Md. -- 1, 1-08
164.Brian Clark -- Gouldsboro, Pa. -- 1, 1-06
165.Jeffrey Hippert -- Buffalo, N.Y. -- 1, 1-03
166.David Marion -- Cold Spring, N.Y. -- 5, 0-00
166.Craig Daino -- Central Square, N.Y. -- 0, 0-00
166.Douglas Foulke -- Chalfont, Pa. -- 0, 0-00
166.Mark Hanafin -- Endicott, N.Y. -- 0, 0-00
166.Archie E Moore -- Graham, N.C. -- 0, 0-00
166.John Nee -- Middleboro, Mass. -- 0, 0-00
166.Adrian Patten -- Portage, Ind. -- 0, 0-00
166.Jim Staszewski -- West Gardiner, Maine -- 0, 0-00
166.Michael Wolfenden -- Warwick, R.I. -- 0, 0-00

Big Bass
> Day 1 – Gaspare Costabile -- Niagara Falls, N.Y. -- 5-08 -- $1,000