Anglers battle weather, algae to raise money for NIE

July 20, 2008 08:21 am

— NORTHUMBERLAND — On a day that meteorologists like to refer to as a ‘three-H day’ — hazy, hot and humid — 82 anglers competed in the eighth annual Newspapers In Education Bass Challenge presented by The Daily Item at the Shikellamy State Park-Marina.
For the first time in their seven tries, Tom Prowant of Lewisburg and Steve Gray of Winfield took home the top prize. The two have been long-time fishing partners and have competed in seven of the eight tournaments. Before today’s win, they recorded two fifth-place finishes, two fourths, a third and second.
“We had our lines in the water at 6:10 a.m. and the fish were biting at 6:12 a.m.,” Prowant said of their first catch of the day.
Their winning weight was 18.23 pounds. They also landed the biggest lunker in the tournament at 5.08 pounds.
Brady Gehr, of Hughesville, and Tony Reeder, of Cogan Station, finished in second place with a weight of 16.36 pounds.
“The algae was real bad and the fish were biting from the time we started just after 6 a.m. and then around 10:30 a.m. they stopped biting,” Gehr said.
It was the first time the pair has fished in the tournament. They caught most of their fish in the West Branch.
Also battling the algae were third-place finishers Larry Whiteman, of Pine Grove, and Chip Prinz, of Lititz.
“The algae was the biggest challenge all day,” Whiteman said. “It was hot and muggy all day, but the algae was the real challenge.”
Their weight was eight-hundredths of an ounce behind second place at 16.28 pounds.
An approximate total of $2,800 was raised for the Newspapers in Education program.
Anglers also enjoyed a 50/50 drawing and second-chance prizes. While the majority of the anglers were from the Keystone State, boaters came from as far away as Virginia and Florida to participate in the tournament.
Brian Rodriquez, who runs the tournament for The Daily Item, expressed his gratitude toward Robbins Marina and Boats, Sunbury Motors, Kickin’ Bass and Bait and Southside Bait and Tackle for donating prizes.

Photos

Steve Gray of Winfield, left, and Tom Prowant of Lewisburg hold up some winning fish Saturday at Shikellamy Marina. The team recorded the largest haul during The Daily Item's Newspapers in Education Bass Tournament. Gray and Prowant landed 18.78 pounds of bass during the daylong event, which raised more than $2,500 for the NIE. The tournament drew 82 fishermen in 41 boats. Sunbury Motors and Robbins Marine were cosponsors of the event.

Weighmaster Dave Hook of Middleburg, right, prepares to weigh a fish caught by Tony Reeder of Williamsport Saturday at Shikellamy Marina. Reeder and his partner, Brady Gehr of Hughesville caught 16.36 pounds worth of bass during The Daily Item's Newspapers in Education Bass Tournament. The event raised more than $2,500 for the NIE. The tournament drew 82 fishermen in 41 boats. Sunbury Motors and Robbins Marine were cosponsors of the event.

Tony Reeder, right, of Williamsport and Brady Gehr of Hughesville show some of the fish they landed Saturday at Shikellamy Marina. Reeder and Gehr caught 16.36 pounds worth of bass during The Daily Item's Newspapers in Education Bass Tournament. The event raised more than $2,500 for the NIE. The tournament drew 82 fishermen in 41 boats. Sunbury Motors and Robbins Marine were cosponsors of the event.

Bob Oberly of Ephrata readies a fish to be weighed Saturday at Shikellamy Marina during The Daily Item's Newspapers in Education Bass Tournament. The event raised more than $2,500 for the NIE. The tournament drew 82 fishermen in 41 boats. Sunbury Motors and Robbins Marine were cosponsors.