Merschman & Spencer Drop Shot to Victory
The morning of day two of the Northern Legacy Championship brought calm winds to Lake St. Clair. The weather had changed overnight from the northwest winds of 15-20 miles per hour of day one. As the adult/junior teams blasted of at daybreak searching for a large bag of fish, they knew the winds were predicted to increase to 10-20 miles per hour during the day, and they were in a hurry to get to their chosen spots.
As predicted, the winds did blow and some of the anglers found the fishing a little tougher than the previous day. However, those that made the necessary adjustments brought in limits. Eleven limits were brought to the scales on day two compared to 15 limits the previous day. Consistency was the name of the game for our champions, the Ohio team of Jason Merschman and his junior partner, Brock Spencer. They added to their day one weight of five bass weighing 19.69 pounds, with another five fish limit weighing 19.03 pounds. This gave them a total weight for the two days of 38.72 pounds and a prize package of an aluminum Triton/Mercury boat packaged valued at $10,000. Jason and Brock reported catching over 100 smallmouths during the tournament with Brock catching almost as many fish as his adult partner.
The Ohio team of Ed Allen and his son, Austin, made a big charge the second day with the largest bag of the tournament weighing 21.10 pounds moving them from the fifth spot on day one into second place, with a two-day total of ten bass weighing 36.64 pounds. Austin caught the big fish weighing 5.13 pounds and told us that he out fished dad.
The team of Kevin and Cody Sieben brought in another five fish limit on day two and moved from their fourth place spot on day one to third with a two-day total of ten bass weighing 32.92 pounds.
The Michigan team of Terry Bucciarelli and his daughter, Aleesha, made a big jump from tenth place on day one to finish fourth with ten fish weighing 25.78 pounds. Terry commented that he had been involved in many tournaments, but fishing with his daughter was the greatest of all.
Moving from 12th place on day one to fifth place was the Ohio team of Trent Spencer and his son, Reid, with a two-day total of ten fish weighing 25.62 pounds.
Sixth place went to the Ohio team of James and Tom Saywell. The Saywells added to their first day total of 13.19 pounds and finished with ten fish weighing 24.43 pounds.
The Virginia team of Christopher and Connor Harrison brought in three fish weighing 10.86 pounds, jumping them from eleventh place on day one to seventh.
The Michigan team of Jon Jerieski and Mike Sharp moved from sixteenth on day one to eight on day two with ten bass weighing 22.88 pounds.
Day one big bass honors went to the team of Christopher and Conner Harrison with a fish weighing 4.95 pounds. Day two big bass honors went to Ed and Austin Allen with a bass weighing 5.13 pounds.
This event sponsored by Shakespeare concludes our 2008 Legacy Championship Series. We have had a great time and will have memories of these events the rest of our lives. Watching these junior anglers fishing with their parents or another adult angler is indeed a blessing. If it is God's will, the Legacy series will be back in 2009.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail possible; Triton Boats, Mercury, Shakespeare, All Star Rods, Pflueger, Strike King Lure Company, Reese Marine Towpower, XTools, Solar Bat, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Berkley, Keelshield, Grace Full Gospel Church, MotorGuide, SOSPENDERS, Marshall's Marine Lake City SC, Kistler, Mizmo Bait Company, Dual Pro Charger, , Buckeye Lures, Stanley Jigs, Deka Marine Master Batteries, Spike-It, Jacobs Glass, Poor Boys Baits, T&H Marine, Rejuvenade, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers
Rich Soderquist
MI Legacy Director
It sounds like St. Clair gave everyone a pretty good blow for the Legacy tournament. Hopefully everyone still had a great time. I know my son and I had fun fishing the two division tournaments. I wish we could have made the regional. We will see you again next year.
Eric ,Yes we will be at the next two and the regional, I sure would like to win that boat.
All the participants had a great time and most looked well worn but happy!!!!
Outback, good to here from you, you were our anchor this year sorry you could not make it.
See you next year, and consider joining us for the adult series, you and your son would do well and the rules are good for adult / junior teams. We have one tournament left. Come join us at the Detroit River.