Mark Troy Memorial Musky Tourney Sat. Oct 5 Waneta Lake

[Stephen Glassic]

Mark Troy Memorial Musky Tourney Sat. Oct 5 Waneta Lake

[Stephen Glassic]

This was the 7th annual Mark Troy Tournament. I have entered into every tournament since the beginning and since I had not yet been fortunate enough to enter a fish so far, I was hoping my luck would change this year. One year I caught a 41" fish on the Sunday after the tournament, which if I had caught during the tournament, would have won first place.

Toothy and I arrived mid Friday afternoon and after we unpacked we went out and did some casting and a little trolling for a few hours. I caught a largemouth trolling and just as it was getting dark, I had a blowup on a Topraider. I felt it hit but it didn't hold on and jumped clear out of the water heading away from my bait. It looked to be about 30". That was all the action we had and we went in to meet Bob Saucke, who had just arrived and we fired up the grill for some burgers.

After we ate, Jim and Bob went out for a while for some night fishing and I did some casting from the dock. I thought I would stay at the cottage because we were expecting Andy and Dan Lacko to arrive later. It was a beautiful night and I was perfectly comfortable in a T shirt and shorts at 10:00 PM. I had no luck casting from the dock and  Jim and Bob came back about 11:00 with no luck. Andy and Dan did not show up. We hung around drinking and talking till around 12:30 when Mark Marcus showed up and we soon called it a night.

Saturday looked like a good day for the tournament, with a little morning fog and a few sprinkles and the water temp was about 68 degrees. Mark was my fishing partner. Bob was one of the judge boats and he went to the launch at 6 AM to sign up participants. I brought Jim down to meet up with Ed Cragg on the second judge boat. I found out that Andy and Dan Lacko arrived in the morning to participate. Unfortunately Mark an I did not catch any fish. Over the course of the day we mostly casted and did some trolling. We saw a lot of big marks in deeper water 15 to 20 feet down but they were just not active. I believe virtually all the fish that were caught were casted to in 10 fow or less. Various jerk baits were the best producers. I must have tried over a dozen lures over the course of the day which is a record for me. One of the participants got his finger bit by a musky and Ed went to the rescue with his first aid kit (including super glue for skin).

Here is a link to the tournament results on Ed Cragg's website, Reel Rippin' Charters with the results of the tournament including some photos.

After the tournament, most of the anglers showed up for the awards presentation, cookout, raffle table and 50/50 as well as a group picture and story telling. Mark had to leave right after the tournament for a family gathering in Elmira. Dan and Andy helped me with rippin' tickets for the raffles. As usual it was a great time even though Mark and I did not come up with any fish to enter.

I went out at 6:30pm, after most people had left, for a little casting til dark but no takers. Bob had to leave that night and Andy and Dan stayed. We hung around talking and drinking til about 11:00 and called it a night.

Jim and I went out Sunday about 9AM to try it again. Andy and Dan came out a little later. By noon we came up empty and went in for a bite to eat. In the afternoon I got two fish casting a Chinese Shad Rap imitation in perch. One was 36" and the other I did not measure but it was about 33". They were both in the same neighborhood. Probably less than 100' from each other but about 2 hours apart. The 36er would have snagged 3rd place if I caught it during the tournament. Jim had two hit and misses. I believe that Andy and Dan had one or two encounters but nothing to completion. They took off about 3pm. Jim and I quit about 6pm so we could get the boat loaded before dark.

To this day I have not caught a fish in any tournament with the exception of one or two NMA monthly tournaments. Even so, I still enjoy fishing them.

[John Jarosz]

steve...I'm here on Seneca Lake right now doing some wine-ing, dining & craft beer brew-meisting as I read your nice post.  The weather is beautiful & there was a good looking fog laying low on the lake this morning.  With the sun, it didn't take long for it to get burned out.  Headed to Hammondsport from the Glen this morning & passed between Waneta & Lamoka.  Saw almost a dozen & a half trailers at the launch.  The lakes were absolutely in God's country this week.  What a sight.

Thanks for the report but nicer to actually be in it, I'm sure...jj

[Scott McKee]

Great report Steve!  I wish I could have made the MTMT this year.  It's always a very fun and very well run event.  Congratulations to all the participants, winners and organizers.  Mark was a hell of a guy, and you guys do a remarkable job honoring his memory.