05/07/2008
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Staff photo by Travis Barrettfrom the Kennebec Journal
Rep. Pingree hears varied proposals for health-care solutions
HALLOWELL Fire that cut communications labeled arson
MONMOUTH Police defended after slim budget rejection
State's schools chief to parley
Wasser will lead newsrooms at KJ, Sentinel and in Portland
BRIEFS
Hockey still in picture for Harrington
Portland boxer to face legend's son
All of today's:
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from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
$1.3 MILLION FOR HEALTHREACH
Families Matter grows to meet special needs
Chellie Pingree listens to ideas on health care reform
FARMINGTON Rain alters plans for 4th of July
District regroups after budget failure
Vote on county budget hits snag
Burnham driver wins checkered flag at 2 tracks on same day
Maine boxer gets unique opportunity
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
"I've never fished this place before, not once, never even seen it until today," said Craig Castro of Warwick, R.I., sweeping a wide arm in the direction of Cobbossee Lake. "I looked out at the water this morning, looked at a map and thought, 'I'm in trouble.' "
Unbeknownst to them, all of the 118 fishermen who signed up for the Maine Bass Open Tournament last weekend were in trouble. Not only did it rain from sun-up to sundown on Sunday, leaving the lawn at the Lakeside Motel and Cabins suited for an impromptu game of mud football, but it was also one of the rarest of rare early spring days.
A day where the water temperature of 47 degrees Fahrenheit was actually warmer than the air temperature reading -- a balmy 43 degrees -- at official weigh-in time.
The waves in the open water were rough and tumble in the middle of the day, the alternating rain and mist soaked anglers through to the bone on a day that felt more like early March than early May. At least there was no wind to speak of.
"Yeah, there was that," mused one of the fishermen.
"Yep, aside from all that, it was just the kind of day you want," laughed another.
For Maine Special Olympics, it was certainly just the kind of day they wanted. Angler participation was down somewhat, but still every penny generated by the tournament is donated to the charity.
It's been that way for 19 years now.
Andy Wess, who owns Lakeside and runs the tournament, said usual participation is closer to 70 boats each year. There were only 59 on Sunday, due largely to the miserable weather conditions.
But you wouldn't have necessarily known things were down from the faces of the people working the tournament. In fact, about the only telling sign of the weather was the rush on coffee at the snack bar when the small army of boats finally docked.
And once the anglers warmed up, they got serious all over again. Heck, the tournament may have been for charity -- but it was also for some serious early-season bragging rights on one of Maine's premier bass fisheries. Plus there was also the matter of the winners' share, which measured in the thousands.
So, yeah, these guys were all keeping score.
Castro and his teammate were among the first to weigh-in. Helped by the biggest fish of the day -- a lunker largemouth tipping the scales at more than 7 1/2 pounds -- the duo's official tally topped out at over 32 total pounds of fish.
That, with eight fish allowed per team, means they averaged better than four pounds per fish.
Those are some big gills, folks.
Not suprisingly for someone new to the lake, Castro said the team fared better as the day went on.
"By 11:30 (in the morning), we had four fish in the live well," Castro said. "All of those ended up being culled out."
But Castro was not a man of many words, and he vanished into the crowd almost before he finished his sentence. See, weighing in early in such impressive fashion makes for a long late afternoon of waiting for everybody else to have their catch weighed. He could be seen popping in and out of the tent, pacing back and forth from the boat, dragging his feet through the wet grass. The wait -- and the weight -- proved worth it, resulting in the tournament win.
For a guy like Castro, who owns a bait and tackle shop in his hometown, it came as a mild surprise.
"Like I said, I've never even set foot here (on Cobbossee) before," he said. "It's a beautiful place, and I love coming up here."
While his fishing counterparts may not love having the guy "from away" taking home the top prize, it's a safe bet that the folks from Special Olympics consider it "the more the merrier."
Rain or shine, warm or cold, it's a beautiful place there along Cobbossee's shores in early May. A place where everybody wins on this particular day.
Travis Barrett -- 621-5648
tbarrett@centralmaine.com
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