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The 23rd Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament 2007
For complete listing of winners of the 2007
Tournaments |
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GREAT PICTURES!
Pictures only on Outdoors Niagara!
Following is from Bill Hilts
Jr. ~ Hilts is the Coordinator of the Niagara County division of the Pro-Am Tournaments. The 23rd Annual Skip Hartman Memorial Lake Ontario Pro-Am Salmon Team Tournament out of Niagara County went off without a hitch June 2-3 2007. Both the weather and the fish cooperated nicely for many of the 84 teams competing in this year's two-day event. Reels were smoking out of both Wilson and Olcott. At the end of the competition, it was Hot Reels/Dreamweaver in the Professional Division with a total score of 403.98 points that ended up with the $10,067 prize package, $5,000 in cash. The team was led by Dave Sullivan of Everett, Ontario, the first Canadian team to ever win the tournament. In the Amateur Division, it was O-Fish-L Business with a total score of 251.06 points to win the $5,000 prize package that includes $3,000 in cash. Team leader was John Hauck of Hughesville, Pennsylvania. Total scores are based on 10 points per fish and a point per pound. There were 43 teams in the Professional Division this year and Day One action saw Onacona/Hooked up take over the early lead with a limit of fish that scored 208.05 points. Leading after the first day, though, has not been a good position to be in. Four other teams came in with 12 fish limits and all were near the top. Hot Reels came in at sixth place after the first day with a score of 187.17 and 10 fish. Day Two was another picture perfect day and Sullivan didn't want his team to out-think themselves. They kept their program simple and trolled in front of Olcott in 70 to 90 feet of water using spin doctors and flies, as well as spoons, to take a limit of fish by 10 a.m. Then they had to play the waiting game.
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![]() Bill Hilts Jr. Keeping the action going and the crowd moving |
Official Tournament Tee |
Wayne Peters working the fish exams |
Official record keepers Notice the modern equipment used now days....digital electronic scales...computer records and instant printouts |
This is the first fish examination for qualifying |
This is the crew Joe Beningo volunteered to "Observe" for |
Connie Adams and Joe Beningo were both volunteer observers on different boats. Each boat was required to have an official observer aboard |
![]() I missed his name but this volunteer has worked this derby since the first one! Will someone please send a name! |
All sizes of entrants! |
Line up of contestants waiting for their fish inspection and eventually to the scales |
Line up of Contestants patiently waiting |
Crowd watching the weigh-in |
Observers and fishermen attending the activities |
Watchers outside the Pavilion |
Captain Jim Gordan Capt. Jim's Charter Service (716) 778-7735 |
Loads of fish! Getting ready for weigh-in |
Guess what's in the cooler! |
![]() Fish Styx finished fine |
![]() Captain Jim Taylor's boat finished well in the final standings 1 [800] 464 0103 |
U-Betcha Charters is operated by Captain Chris Vogt (585) 589-7125 |
![]() Guess what's in this one! |
![]() One of the early leader boards To see all the official winners go to the Lake Ontario Pro-Am site |
![]() Another early leader board |
![]() Hilts Jr. keeping the crowd interested. |