TBF SC16
Southshore Bassmasters
2016 Mass Bass Fishoffs
Aug. 20, 2016State Championship
Wheeler wins it - State Champion
Allen, D'Ambra, Farrell, B. Wheeler all advance
Lake Champlain (VT)
Whenever he hits the water, Brian Wheeler sets the bar high. He expects the best of himself, and he usually delivers, with consistent club tournament wins and a club AOY on his resume. But, despite coming close a number of times, Wheeler had never put together a strong enough performance at the Mass Bass Championship to make the State Team. Well, that streak was broken this year in high style as Brian Wheeler bagged 18.48 lb of Champlain bass to win the State Championship and advance to the TBF National Semi-FInals in October.
Interestingly, Wheeler captured the victory, and his first State Team berth, from the back of the boat! And, he credits his boater, Steve Tepper, as one of the main reasons that he made it to the winner's circle. A perennial State Team member and top stick in New England, Tepper was unable to pre-fish Champlain for the 2016 Championship. After his first spot didn't pan out, Tepper offered to let Wheeler fish his own spots for the rest of the day. Skipping and flipping a combination of docks and shallow cover, Wheeler got onto a consistent bite throughout the day. Mixing in a couple of offshore spots with his shallow pattern, Wheeler culled up all day until he hit his final weight of 18.48 lb. That was enough to put him in the lead over Wildside angler Eric Manseau by just under 1 lb. And, when the normally 2-Day long tournament was cut to 1-Day due to extremely high winds on Sunday morning, Wheeler was declared the winner! So, after years of coming close, Brian Wheeler not only made the State Team, but managed to win the whole thing! Congratulations to Brian Wheeler for an impressive victory and best of luck in the upcoming TBF National Semi-Final in Ticonderoga this October.
Joining Wheeler on the "Top 12" State Team was Matt Allen who landed in third place overall with an impressive performance of his own. Allen landed 17.10 lb and locked up his spot on the State Team and in the National Semi-Final. Also qualifying for the TBF National Semi-Final under then newly expanded advancement group were Jim D'Ambra, Tim Farrell, and Bob Wheeler and they will join Brian Wheeler and Matt Allen in representing SSBM at the Ticonderoga tournament in October. Congratulations to Wheeler, Allen, D'Ambra, Farrell, and Wheeler for their great performances and to all the SSBM club members who represented Southshore at the 2016 Mass Bass State Fishoffs.