Peter Larmand Journal Entries
Year in Review
Another season has come and gone. Soon the winter months will be upon us and we will be looking back at what we did last season and what we can do next season to improve upon things…. well perhaps maybe that’s just me. Once the cold weather starts leaving us and the anticipation of the warmer spring then summer air comes into our minds, it’s then and only then that we start preparing for the next season of…fishing!!!!
This year along with fishing the Bass Anglers Association series, I decided to fish some different bigger water than I have fished in the past. I decided to fish the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series. This is a new circuit that has been introduced by BASS to allow weekend tournament anglers an opportunity to fish bigger water with some of the better weekend anglers in North America. I fished out of the Northeastern division. There were 5 tournaments on the following bodies of water: The Potomac River, Cayuga Lake, St. Lawrence River (twice) and Lake Champlain.
Fishing that series was a big learning curve for me, that’s for sure. The fields are larger, over 120 boats at some of the tournaments. Most of boaters were all sponsored in some way. Mostly boat deals of some sort. It’s very intimidating for a good old boy from up north. Most of these guys were fishing for bass when we were still digging through 4 feet of snow. However, once I realized that I was fishing against the fish and not against the other anglers, I did all right. Unfortunately, that was after the season was over. All in all, it was very educational season fishing down in the United States. I’m just disappointed that I didn’t qualify for the regionals. I finished tied for 88th out of 241 anglers. Looking forward to fishing this series again next season.
Along with the ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series I fished the Bass Anglers Association events here in the Ottawa region. Last year I fished this series with my wife and we won Team of the Year honours. This season a little different, my wife could make out to the tournaments because our daughter had skating or soccer, so that left me fishing alone. Like most of the season it was either hit or miss for me. Consistency was lacking this year. Out of the 5 regular season tournaments I finished 2nd twice. I was 4th overall. However, my season would end on a really great note. The Bass Anglers Association 2 day Classic was held again this year out of White Lake. The limits were increased from 4 to 6 fish per day. Although I didn’t catch my limit either day, I still brought in enough weight to win the tournament, along with big bass of the tournament. That was my first tournament win and I was excited. Not only was it a tournament win, it was a 2 day classic win.
I also fished a few walk on tournaments where my best finish was a 12th on the Rideau River. This type of tournament allowed me to fish with a different partner if I wanted and that suited me fine. No money wins but learned lots each time I was out with some one else.
To summarize my season, I would have to say that it was a roller coaster of emotions as well as varying levels of frustration. I have to admit that this season has made me a better angler and when you can say that at the end of the year, the year wasn’t a complete wash out then. I am already planning for next season and God willing perhaps I’ll see you out on the water.
Yours in fishing,
Pete Larmand
