"Meet The New Boss.......Same As The Old Boss"

The year 2005' was a break-through year for Kenny. He had moved quickly up the ladder of success landing and square in the middle of the 'Kings Throne' and winning the clubs coveted 'Angler Of The Year' crown.  I had to admit his rapid rise to the top had taken me totally by surprise.  Having fished with Kenny during one of the clubs 2004' tour events (Copake Lake) I had no doubt of his ability, but what I had witnessed over the next few months had been eye opening.  He entered the clubs final tournament, the "Classic Championship", needing but a single fish to lock up the title.  I now believe he took his foot off the pedal and simply went through the motions during this event, enjoying the fruits of his accomplishment.  He caught the fish he needed just minutes into the first day of competition.

At days end when I congratulated him on his achievement, he looked me square in the eye and said.  “Just watch, I’m going to win it again next year”.  I was floored to say the least, but impressed by his confidence.  The season hadn’t officially ended and already he was thinking of next year.  I walked away smiling but thought to myself of the difficulties he was sure to face trying to repeat.  He was ‘the man’ now, no longer just a shadow in the distance.  He wore a bulls-eye on his back whether he wanted to or not and was now smack-dab in the center of everyone's radar.  There is a burden to carry that comes with wearing the AOY crown and it’s a heavy one.  That burden just might be too much I thought.  Well, as it turned out, I was wrong.

Kenny began the 06' season by missing the ‘Early Bird’ tournament.  I felt that was a mistake that would come back to haunt him and I told him so.  While he agreed somewhat with my assessment, he laughed it off and said…” I’ll just have to fish a little harder”, then he  laughed.  Kenny as I already knew always fished hard. He would have a lot to think about between the ‘Early Bird’ and the ‘Open Championship’ in April, almost six months away. But  he made the most of that down time and came charging out of the gate on Candlewood smoking, weighing in an impressive two-day total of 32 lbs and 4 ozs. This performance placed him in third (3rd) overall for the Championship.  It was certainly a nice beginning for this determined young angler.

The second stop on the 'Atlantic Bassmasters Tour 06' was East Twin Lakes in Connecticut, a lake Kenny was very familiar with.  He had won his first bass tournament there a few years ago and he felt confident with his chances for success.  I reminded him of the pattern he had won with back then but he just smiled and said. ”did you think I was going to forget?”  The results proved he had not.  Kenny won this tournament by weighing in one of the largest five fish limits in club history, a beautiful 20 lb.,14 oz. bag of largemouth.  Although it was early on in the new season he was beginning to build momentum.

Every now and again you can get stuck ‘nostalgia fishing’.  You have no chance to practice.  You prepare for one body of water (Connecticut River) and then due to severe conditions the tournament is switched on you.  Your forced out of necessity to fish those places where you have had success in the past and that’s what we call nostalgia fishing.  Kenny had won the tournament 05’ on Highland Lake but this years tournament had a different ending in store for him, a less than stellar 10th place finish. Weighing in three bass for just a bit over four (4) pounds forced him to use up one of his valuable three drops. 

The fourth stop on the Atlantic Bassmasters Tour 06’ tour was Candlewood Lake, the clubs home water so to speak.  Kenny evidently felt right at home, winning this event with a respectable five fish limit weighing 14 lbs and 08 ozs.  He was beginning to open up some room in the AOY race even though it was early on in the season and he had all the earmarks of a ‘runaway train’ on a collision course with destiny.   Somebody better blow the whistle and move the civilians out of the way ‘Kenco’  had the big diesel hummin’ and was rolling down the tracks full speed ahead.  Clickty-clak …don’t look back, someone may be gaining on you.   Dave.......

Stop five  on the Atlantic Bassmasters Tour 06' was our old friend, Lake Mahopac.  We hadn’t fished this wonderful lake in two years and I for one was unsure of how it would fish.  I need not have worried, the lake proved up to the test though it was not and probably never will be the lake it once was.  Kenny found it much to his liking finishing in fourth place with a respectable five bass limit weighing 14 lbs and 04 ozs. and increased his lead over Dave McLaughlin, who did not fish this event, to 10 points in the AOY race.  Next up, the Masters Championship.

The 2006’ Masters Championship dropped anchor in Chaumont, New York where we would be fishing Chaumont Bay, one of the states new ‘hot spots’ famed for its largemouth and smallmouth fishery.  The club had heard about places like this before and rarely did they live up to their advanced billing.  This time was different however, it was everything they said it would be (there are those ‘they’ guys again) and more.   Mr. Sullivan found it very much to his liking winning this Grand Slam event with a second day charge.  He weighed in a whopping 19 lbs and 13 ozs. which brought his two day total weight to a new club record of 35 lbs and 06 ozs.   WOW!!

Reflecting back for just a moment it is interesting to note that Kenny had won seven (7) out of the last fifteen tournaments he had fished.   That’s exceptional fishing in my book.  Now back to the chase….and then…..and then.

 Lake Zoar, was another replacement lake.  Greenwood Lake our original destination had become infested with giant green sea urchins the size of Burt.   Translation…we couldn’t get a permit to launch out of  DeFeo’s Marina.  No worries mate, we'll go to Lake Zoar.  That’s just great.  Kenny thought so as well, weighing in a modest five bass limit totaling 8 lbs and 05 ozs. that was just good enough for a fourth place (4th) finish.   Kennys lead in the AOY race was now only 6 points ahead of Dave McLaughlin with Ray Scully a distant third.

The next stop on the Atlantic Bassmasters Tour 06' was home sweet home Candlewood Lake. This particular tournament would be a quasi-night tournament to boot; though not the old ‘midnite madness’ -13 hour marathon- that we once fished thank God.   However, there was just enough ‘night’ in there to make some people unhappy.  I like when that happens.  Kenny usually sleeps during this tournament but somehow stayed awake long enough to bring a respectable 13 lb.,14 oz limit to the scales.  Unfortunately, that total would get him little more than ‘extra sleep’ and a sixth (6th) place finish for an evenings work.    Dave came away here with the win and took the lead from Kenny by 2 points.  Uh oh!

Next on the schedule was another Candlewood Tournament. Say what?  How many does that make, twelve?  We should all have our mail delivered there.  It was beginning to look like Kenny might be spitting the proverbial bit.  Dave was on fire, increasing his AOY lead  after finishing second (2nd) to Kenny’s  fourth (4th) place finish.  Kenny held a slight edge in “Total Weight’ points but it was precarious at best.  Paul Ritchie won this event and moved up into contention.   At this junction Dave led by 7 points over Kenny, 10 points over Ray and 11 points over Paul.  Lets all head to the river….the Hudson River.  Oh Joy!!

 Yep, the Hudson River, the last stop before the Classic and home of the infamous 'river skunk'.  Why I punish myself like this I cant imagine.  We should just give Paul and Kevin the points and be done with it.  Unfortunately I needed the punishment.  Kevin and Paul won, Kenny blanked, Dave and I caught one fish.  Drops all around.  Heading into the final points tournament, the Classic Championship on Oneida Lake, the race seemed to be a two man race between Kenny and Dave with Ray and Paul having only a slight chance to overtake them.  The 8-11 drop can take you by surprise and that’s what almost happened as the race came down to the finish line.

Oneida Lake would be the difference maker and under extreme conditions the race for the 2006’ Atlantic Bassmasters AOY title took a decided turn.  Kenny and Dave found the going difficult and struggled both days, neither of them weighing in the limit that would have clearly given either one the crown.  When the smoke had cleared and the numbers were crunched the unexpected occurred.   Kenny, largely on the strength of his 30 bonus points to Daves 14 captured his second AOY crown.  I missed spoiling the party by that……much.  

Congratulations Kenco.  You backed up the talk and you walked that walk.  You may have stubbed your toe a few times along the way, but you always kept your focus.  Meet the new boss…..same as the old boss.

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