Southwick, Ma. - The Massachusetts Bass Federation’s affiliated club, the North East Bass Anglers, held their 15th annual “ Fish for D.A.R.E.” benefit Bass Tournament on Congamond Lakes in April. The event drew 40 two man teams to the lakes from across the state. Thanks to the cooperation between the North East Bass Anglers and the Congamond Lakes Association, the event was able to raise $2100.00 for the Southwick Police’s D.A.R.E. program. Over the past fifteen years, North East Bass Anglers have given $30,000.00 in donations from this event to the program.
Pete de Moya and Eli Delany won this years event with a 8 fish limit weighing 23.72 lbs. Followed by the team of Lee Purcell and Earl Hanna with a limit of 23.69 lbs. Finishing third with 23.50 lbs were Ken Brodeur and Jeff Crum. Lunker fish was a largemouth bass caught by the team of Bill Penney and Mark Consolini weighing 5.07 lbs.
Pete de Moya , a Team Skeeter member from Plymouth, Ma. Reported that the team had found their fish in the south end during practice using reaction baits and “we were really able to dial in on the bite by watching how the fish were reacting to our baits and then adjusting to how the fish seemed to want the lure.” Elias Delany stated that targeting the fish in the areas where the pair found transition areas for the fish to move around and feed in was easy with the Lowrance depthfinders that Pete has installed on his Skeeter Boat. “We would identify key depths on the depthfinder , and move around to the proper casting angles to catch the fish.” Once they caught fish from an area they would duplicate the effort in a different spot, and often would work a area repeatedly throughout the day.
Pete de Moya is sponsored by Millway Marine, a Skeeter boat dealer in Barnstable Ma. and Lowrance Electronics. Elias Delany has represented Bass Cat Boats and Mercury Engines.
Resources: Westfield Evening News, Bill Penney and Skip Bryant, North East Bass Anglers.

-Pete de Moya for Mass Bass Federation.