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| FishTails |
Burdette/Matuga Win Inaugural Mon River Championship
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| Jim Matuga (left) and John Burdette captured the inaugural 2007 University
Motors West Virginia Bass Federation Invitational Championship July 28-29 on the Monongahela River in Morgantown,
WV. |
(July 30, 2007 - Morgantown) - Milwaukee iron was rumbling through the streets while Arkansas gel-coat was screaming
up and down the river during the inaugural University Motors West Virginia Bass Federation Invitational Championship
on the Monongahela River in Morgantown.
John Burdette and Jim Matuga found the right combination to capture the first ever bass tournament staged as part
of the Wild, Wonderful Mountainfest in Morgantown.
"It started with a conversation between Mayor Ron Justice, John, and myself during the Mon River Summit last
year." Said Matuga prior to the opening of the two day tournament.
"We told them if they could come up with the money, we could put on a tournament." Said Burdette.
The City of Morgantown, The Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau, University Motors and Wells Fargo
came through in a big way, putting $14,000 on the line and making the tournament part of the city-wide festival.
The aim of Morgantown was to showcase the river as one of the state's best fisheries. That mission was largely
aided with the help of sponsorship dollars and in-kind services from Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats, The National
Guard, Wells Fargo Insurance, The Dominion Post, The Sign Factory, and Wild, Wonderful MountainFest along with
the TBF and the Morgantown CVB.
"It's important to realize the importance of our natural resources in West Virginia and what they offer to
all of us." Said Mayor Ron Justice who was extremely pleased with the event. "We'll make it bigger and
better next year."
Burdette, Matuga, and Jay Redmond with the Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau went to work to make the tournament
a reality. The top forty teams in the WVBF Buddy Trail earned the right to compete in the event, which came with
the rare trait of no entry fee for anglers.
Despite the dog day heat and strong thunderstorms in the upper pools of the Mon, teams didn't disappoint city officials
bringing bass to the scales on day one in droves. Nearly every team brought fish to the scales on one of the two
days.
Saturday's big bass honors went to Rick Lilly and Joe Justice for a 4.72 pound largemouth. Steve Richards and Gabe
Walker collected the lunker pot on day two for a 3.30 pound smallmouth.
"I caught that thing at the Hildebrand lock waiting to lock through." Richards told the weigh-in crowd
at Hazel Ruby McQuain Park.
The better fishing of the weekend, however, proved to be down stream. While a large major of the field locked upstream
into the Hildebrand and Opekiska pools in search of what are perceived to be bigger fish, the top three winning
teams opted to go downstream.
"We locked through to Point Marion and had some fish in Dunkard Creek yesterday." Burdette told the crowd
at the day two weigh-in. "Today it didn't quite hold up for us because the water dropped so far, but we had
some smallmouth located and we caught those."
It was enough to secure the top spot and a 4,000 dollar check for him and Matuga.
"Now you know why Jim and I worked so hard to get this tournament put together!" Burdette joked after
accepting the first place plaque.
It wasn't a runaway victory for Burdette and Matuga, nipping at their heals were the second and third place teams.
Frank Haught and Kevin McClain traveled to the Fort Martin area to cast for their chance to win and veteran anglers
Butch Jackson and Henry Chisholm followed Burdette and Matuga through the Point Marion locks for the promise of
located fish in the Keystone waters.
"We had fish located, we just couldn't get them to the boat." Jackson told the crowd. "Today we
did a little better."
But Jackson and Chisolm were plagued by a couple of pieces of bad luck. A dead fish shaved eight ounces off their
weight for the second day and they were only able to catch five keepers. Both occurrences could potentially be
blamed for costing them second place as Haught and McClain finished with 13.04 pounds to Jackson and Chisolm's
11.65 pounds.
The tournament presented several logistical challenges. The aging boat ramp at the park turned out to be less of
a problem than was feared and distant parking of trailers and tow vehicles was covered by the efforts of University
Motors shuttle service too and from the ramp. Morgantown police are also credited with giving fisherman high priority
in the thick Mountainfest traffic.
"This is great." Said Redmond, who's already excited about next year's event. "Now that we have
one under our belt, we're going to try and make it bigger and better next year." |
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