Day 1
Place: D.O.D Lake, Pedericktown, NJ
Time: 6:30am-2:30pm
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2016
Weather: Full Bright Moon greeted us with a cool 63 Degree morning start warming up to 83 Degrees
Water Temps: 73 Degrees at start and rising to 76 Degrees by days end.
Water Clarity: More Stain and dirty than normal... Less than 2.0' visibility
Water current and Level: Normal pool level
Best Lure: Pickem'
Depths fished: 2.0'~ 12.5'''
Bass Limit: 3
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Where has the time and season gone? That was the question as 16 of SJHT finest anglers embarked on our 2 Day Club Classic where winner takes all and gets to take home.... yours truly.
We even had some of Rainbow Lake buddies show up for the finale. LOL
The 2016 SJHT season has officially ended. There were more records broken with overall total weight by a single individual, Total overall points, and Lunker weights by many members. Week in and week out, Anglers came out to give their best and the numbers reflect the results of there overall seasonal point standings and improvements from the 2015 season. This weekend was no different and anyone game to be won. Over this past weekend, we had 21 anglers qualify for our end of the season Bass Classic however only 16 anglers actually came out to compete for the purse and of course the Belt.
It’s a winner take all format and the opportunity for the winner to claim the original SJHT D.O.D. Lake\Manasquan Res. Championship Bass Classic Belt and the entire purse goes along with it. Not too mention bragging rights till the following year. LOL
Back to Day 1 of the SJHT Classic:
There were a total of 16 Bass caught giving way to a total of 21.02lbs. 9 out of 16 anglers caught at least 1 Bass. We had 2 limits caught. Day 1 Lunker went 3.58lbs and was won by Rob “Ram1212” M.. The overall avg. weight went 1.31lbs.. Ironically this avg. was only .01 ounces off of the 2015 Day 1 at Stewart Lake. Talk about South Jersey Lakes staying consitant with weights and avg. per lb. Geesh!!!
2016 Angler of the Year Rob “Must be the Shirt" M.. led day 1 with 3 Bass weighing a total of 5.06lbs. He was followed by the 2015 AOY and Classic Champion the Fu Man with 2 Bass going 3.78lbs. In 3rd place was the 2007 AOY Dennis *Jiggen Den* T. with 2 Bass going 3.63lbs.
Rob's 3 Bass going 5.06lbs:
Jiggen Dens 2 Bass going 3.63lbs:
5lb Head with a 3lber body:
John *Bama* B. 1 Bass after Trolling motor steering cable broke on water.
Jackson Fu Miscellanous SnakeHead 2.08lber Winner
Other anglers Day 1 pics and weigh in:
Wish I could show more, but D.O.D. prove to be TOUGH!!!! So I'll just what the parking lot looked like with our rigs...
Day 1 D.O.D. Lake Tale of the Tape:
Most anglers were finding the bite very tough to come by including myself. With the Full moon, changing weather and cooling temps, the bass seemed scattered throughout the water column. I loss a nice 2lber on a dropshot and never really had another solid bite. With less than a 1.28lb difference between 1st and 2nd place anglers, most anglers that didn't do well at D.O.D. felt pretty good heading into Day 2 of the Squan event. Like last year at Carnegie, the Squan was going to be the Humilator.
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Day 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016
Finale Day 2
Place: Manasquan Res., Howell, NJ
Time: 6:30am-2:30pm
Weather: A bit warmer at 68 Degrees and comfortable breeze. Temps warming up to 88 degrees. Blue bird skies late in the AM with some clouds mixed in later in the day gave way to a decent day.
Winds: 5-10mph most of the day.
Water temps: 75~78 Degrees throughout greater portion of the Res.
Water Clarity: Less clear than in July. Down to maybe 2.5'
Water current and Level: Way FREAKING DOWN!! About 5'-6'. See PICS
Best Lure: Drop Shotting and Deep diving Cranks
Depths fished: 2.5'~ 18.0'
Bass Limit: 3
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With everything still up for grabs, 15 out of 16 anglers came back for Day 2 of this event with eyes set on dethroning 2015 and 4 times SJHT Classic Champion Jackson *I'm still the Greatest* Fu down. Rob held a slim lead with Jackson, Jiggen Den, and White Mike not far behind. Everyone else also knew they were in catching distance as unsung anglers like Bama, Troop, and Trapper saved there best for last.
Similiar to last year, when the top 5 heading into Carnegie Lake had there game face on, there was something different in how Mike White came to this years showdown. Like "UNFINISHED BUSINESS" type stuff. LOL!!! Coming up ounces short of dethroning the previous Classic Champs, White Mike had the unenviable start of his Rod\reel combo falling out of his boat and it getting crushed as he launched his boat. The water level was crazy low. Anyhow...this time around, Mike had that Leave it to Beaver look like, here we go again.... Others were more or less like lets roll the dice and see where they fall.
Back to the Day 2 Finale:
Like last years Day 2 Finale at Carnegie Lake, Manasquan turned out to be the equalizer which brought out the “Big Girls” quite literally and beautiful Smallie Bass from the deep depths.
Our 2016 AOY Rob *It Must Be the Shirt* M. held a little over 1.28lbs lead. He knew what the Squan could produce. So did everyone else. Ladies and gentlemen, here is how the conclusion went down at the weigh in.
Can you say LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE! There were some huge Real Lunker type Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass caught on this last day. How nice was it to catch these nice quality Bass compared to Day 1. Anglers brought in another b]16 Bass[/b] but the Quality and weight difference was pretty amazing. There were 2Limits weighed in. On the final day, only 7 out of 15 anglers caught at leasts 1 Bass. This gave way to a total of 40.07lbs and a 2.50lb per avg. bass. This was an amazing 1.19lb avg. increase from the weights at D.O.D. Lake. The Lunker weights increased and changed hands on almost every angler weigh-in. Tournament Director and Weigh Master Rob was like WTF? Holding onto a total bag of 8.62lb over 2 days and the Fu Man coming in with 8.41lbs due to a dead fish, Rob pretty much had things sealed up but then it Happen!!
Ladies and gentlemen, please congratulate SJHT’s NEW 2016 Bass Classic Champion and Most Improved Angler Mike *Every Dog has it Day* White on taking this years coveted belt, Day 2 Lunker winner going 4.56lbs, and the overall monetary purse with 3 Bass going 10.57lbs giving him a combine 13.55lbs overall weight
2016 Angler of Year:
Rob *It Must Be the Shirt* M.
2016 SJHT Bass Classic Champion:
D.O.D. Lake & Manasquan Res.
Mike weighed in a total of 6 Bass going 13.55lbs.
2016 SJHT Rookie of the Year David Snedeker
Official 2016 SJHT D.O.D Lake & Manasquan Res. Tale of Tape:
Anglers Day 2 Bass Caught:
Bama's Bag:
Rob's Bag:
Jackson's Bag of Bass:
Bill “Fishing Troops” Catch:
Dennis “Jiggen Den’s” Catch:
Trapper's Bag of Bass
My Lone artificial Keeper but worth its weight in Gold”. Presented by the members.
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2016 SJHT Bass Classic Participants:
--------------------------------------- Manasquan Res. Low water images:
Summary: When you keep coming in 2nd place for the SJHT AOY Race and seeing your arch nemesis up on the podium blingling and shining like Puff Daddy, it begins to wear on you. In what has been one of our most dominating, single angler, record breaker, check cashing, Lunker Slaying, and history observation in our clubs existance, my congrats goes out to Rob *Grinding it out* Masterson in finally taking this years AOY. Fellow anglers actually raised their game by catching heavier total weight bags and improved on the number of Bass weigh in. Although Points sheet may depict dominance by one angler, overall as a group many anglers have improved and stayed consistent pretty much over the last 4 years. See SJHT previous years standings. Competing in nearly 17 Tournaments this season, anglers consistently made it to our events. I'm truly honored and fortunate to have a great group of men who get along, communicate amongst one another, share tips and techniques in the meaning of bettering the club, and last but not least enjoy the sport of Bass Fishing for what it is. Like Carnegie Lake last year, the Squan was the deciding body of water that ultimately determined who would be this year’s 2016 SJHT Classic Champion. I salute all anglers that came to do battle and challenge for the ultimate conversation piece that one could hold.
2016 SJHT Top 3 Finishes:
Overall 2016 SJHT Point Standings:
2016 SJHT Award snapshots:
Congrats to Gary "The Elder" Kelmer on your 2016 Humanitarian ward.
Congrats to Rob “Ram1212” for taking the 2016 SJHT Ironman Crown for the 5th time along with your Most improvement Angler award on your 2015 Standings .
Rob's 3 Heaviest Bass Caught at Sassafras River 13.45lbs
Thanks again to Joe Reed our VP and Rob our TD, and those fellow members that helped and assisted in anyway in making this season another success.
BN06
Edited by BigNasty06 on 09/26/2016
BN06, President
Congrats Mike! One hell of a bag and win. That 2 day tournament is a tough one to win for sure. Congrats again!
Hell of a report Nasty, as usual you have out done yourself. Thanks again for getting this club to where it is and doing all that you do the last 10 seasons. Like I said at the ramp, this club doesn't exist without your efforts.
I'm sad to see the year end. Between my kid being born at the end of November and having the best fishing year of my life, the last 10 months have been amazing. Glad I got to do it with a great group of guys. Thanks everyone for a great year and I can't wait for 2017.
Rob, Congrats for such a consistent year and grinding every tournament. Mike Congrats for a heckuva Sunday at the Squan and grinding it to get 3 at DOD. you guys were determined all year. What a great bunch of guys to fish with. I think everyone stepped up their game this year. There were some impressive bags pulled from a lot of the the places we fish. BN, year in and year out you always make it enjoyable to come out to the tourneys and to read each report. Rob and Joe, thanks for keeping things running smooth in BN's absence and to everybody for always lending a helping hand, whether launching, or loading boats, or just being a great bunch of guys. Come on next year!!!!
What can I say, Rob you are SJHT,BEAVIS & BUTTHEAD Champ!!! LOL !! Congrats on an awesome year of fishing! Your gonna need a bigger trophy case next year! Congrats Mike on a big comeback from day one! Awesome bag of big Girls!!! And Jackson you still are one hell of a angler in my opinion. Congrats on runner up!! A big thanks to Big Nasty for all his dedicated time that goes into making our club unique above all others. Your choice of words, encouragement, ideas, etc. all make this club fun to be in. Like someone said your reports are the BEST!! Al;ways enjoy reading them, its like reading a section in Bassmasters Magazine! HA! Thanks to Rob, Joe Reed and all the members for making this year another great one for the books! Come on SJHT lets put all the other clubs in a Bass Bowl and eat them up!!!LOL
Thanks guys, it was definitely a day of highs and lows, i ruined my rod and reel and lost a giant at the side of the boat, somehow i stayed positive and made up ground throughout the day.
I wasnt even too sure i had it won coming in with that bag, i know what lives there, its not impossible to sack 3 for 13-15lbs, the place holds up spectacular for the ammount of pressure it gets, i heard there was 30 -40boats there saturday.
Edited by white mike on 09/21/2016
Congrats Rob & Mike, looks like it was another good one. You people burned out the already dead DOD for me saturday. I mustered a whopping 1 for 0.75 sunday smh, im going back to delaware. Thanks again to BN, rob, and joe reed for running the show. also to the folks who assisted with boat launching and loading this year. Looking forward to coming back to the SJHT bass bowl team and whooping some sjbca butt "2nd place is just the first loser"
