The PAYCHECK Tournament Series Grand Championship was held on Oneida Lake in Brewerton, NY on October 10 and 11. Although over 100 teams qualified by fishing a minimum of 5 PAYCHECK tournaments throughout the season only 29 teams elected to fish. Many teams canceled out due to the high winds that prevailed during the earlier part of the week. 30-35mph winds kept most teams off the lake during practice.
Thursday and Friday tournament days, however featured much less stronger winds, but still blew enough to keep the smallmouth biting. 23 teams managed a limit on day one with Larry Mazur and Ian Renfrew leading the pack with 18.90. Following closely behind with 18.54 were Mike Yeager and Chuck Finn. Rounding out the pack were Ken Golub and Jamie Hartman with 17.22, Randy Yarnall and Dennis Deeley with 17.05, and Jeff Edgarton and Brett Milliken with 16.95. The other teams were close all the way down the line-up and within striking distance on Day two.
Day two, Friday saw the wind a little calmer and continuously changing direction. It fired up the smallmouth, however as a lot of nice brown bass visited the scale. Still, some teams had a mixed bag that included at least one nice largemouth, too.
As the Day two weigh-in results were being calculated it was announced that a Charger bass boat rig will be awarded at the 2015 Championship.
When the final results were tallied they were announce at the awards presentation. Up until now, teams had no idea what anyone else’s total weight was, including their own.
John Chacosky and Scott Thomas finished in 7th place with 30.78 and received $180. Nothing wrong with a 3 pound-plus average in tough conditions.
Rich Bruce and Bill McDonaugh won $240 for 6th place, thanks to their overall weight of 31.09 pounds. They had to scramble on Day 2 as their fish from Thursday were gone!
Ken Golub and Jamie Hartman had a great season in the Oneida Division and today they had a 5th place finish with a total of 31.23 pounds, good for $300.
Bryce Melchior and Jake Kupselaitis were consistent both days with 15.80 on Thursday and 15.84 on Friday for a total of 31.64 pounds. They received $400.
Mike Yeager and Chuck Finn had a great tournament finishing 3rd with 34.48 pounds. They had the lunker on Day 1 which weighed 4.82 pounds…a great smallie! In all, they received 3 plaques and $685 in prize money.
Jeff Edgarton and Brett Milliken had 16.95 pounds on Thursday and figured they needed about 17 pounds per day to cash. Cash they did as they backed it up with 17.66 pounds on Friday for a total weight of 34.61. Including Option Pot money and the value of a new HDS combo unit they were awarded a total of $1450 in cash and merchandise along with 2 plaques.
Going wire-to-wire for the victory were Larry Mazur and Ian Renfrew with 35.87 pounds. They had some beautiful smallies during the tournament the brown bass carried them to victory. Including the sportsman series Power Pole and 1st place Option pot Larry and Ian won $2730 in cash and merchandise. They are looking to sell the Power Pole if you are interested.
Ray Griffith and Keith Shroyer had big bass on day 2, a fat largemouth that weighed 4.87. That bass earned them $145 and a plaque.
See Paycheck Championship 2014 Day 1 Final Results
See Paycheck Championship 2014 Final Results
Every bass caught in this tournament was released alive! Thanks for taking care of your livewells!
The 2015 PAYCHECK scheduled should be out soon. Thanks for your support this year!
