Pentney/Vandersteen win MBI: Tables turned this year as top two teams trade spots

By Ken Johnston
Editor

If ever there has been a rivalry in bass fishing tournaments it likely was never as good as the one at the Morson Bass International.
Last year Doug Vandersteen and Mark Pentney were on top of the world after they had a stellar first day. They thought they might win the tournament for the first time ever, having placed near the top several times (including when the tournament was held at Buena Vista for more than a decade). But they were dethroned last year by Terry Gill and Chad Hanson who had a better second day than them.
But this year it was turnabout time. Hanson and Gill were standing on the stage waiting to be crowned champs for a second year in a row with three boats to go. Vandersteen and Pentney were third after day 1 with 15.24 lbs. On day 2 they brought in 17.29 lbs., the second largest basket of the weekend and the largest on day 2. That vaulted them ahead of Hanson and Gill with two boats to weigh in.
On day 1 Kirk Wood and Peter Tiboni held the top spot for most of the weigh-ins with 16.31 lbs. only to be bumped to second by David Byrnes and Andrea Turgeon who weighed the largest basket of the weekend, 17.52 lbs.
Both these teams had the opportunity to bump Pentney and Vandersteen off the podium but both came up short on day 2. While they each had five fish, Wood/Tiboni weighed in only 8.07 lbs. and Byrnes/Turgeon weighed in 13.24 lbs.
For Pentney/Vandersteen it was like a huge burden had been lifted off their shoulders. “We finished 2nd here, 2nd over there (at Buena Vista), 3rd here and 3rd over there. This is our first 1st in 12 or 14 years of fishing (the Morson tournaments),” said a very happy Vandersteen.
The pair ended the tournament with 32.53 lbs. and took home the top prize of $5,250 plus another $500 for finishing 1st on day two plus another $250 for the largest small mouth bass (4.47 lbs.) on day 2.
Leaving the Government Dock at 7:30 a.m. on day 2, the pair said it did not take long for them get some action. “We had our live well full by 8 a.m.” said Pentney. “We then worked at culling up an ounce at a time,” said Vandersteen.
Pentney said they hit about 8-10 spots on Sunday, three of which were really good to them. “Our timing just seemed to be perfect.”
They used both casting and jigging. Pentney said red worked well with crank baits and just about all natural bait fish colours worked well.
Doug said that despite the change to an east wind on Sunday the fishing was better for them. “We lost a lot of fish on Saturday. They were just more aggressive on Sunday.”
“We hooked about 80% of the fish Sunday and only about 70% on Saturday,” said Mark.
The top seven teams earned prize money. They were as follows:
1st-Mark Pentney/Doug Vandersteen - 32.53 lbs. - $5,250
2nd-Terry Gill/Chad Hanson - 31.58 lbs. - $3,000
3rd-Andrea Turgeon/David Byrnes - 30.76 lbs. - $2,000
4th-Jon O’Connor/Brooke Armstrong - 27.93 lbs. - $1,500
5th-Bill Godin/Bryce Godin - 27.45 lbs. - $1,000
6th-Al Wolanicki/Doug Jorgenson - 27.09 lbs. - $750
7th - Bill Luney/Jason Gibbins- 26.82 lb.s - $500
Other prizes
Day 1
1st-Andrea Turgeon/David Byrnes - 17.52 lbs. - $500
2nd-Kirk Wood/Peter Tiboni - 16.31 lbs. - $300
3rd-Doug Vandersteen/Mark Pentney - 15.24 lbs. -$200
Largest Small Mouth Bass-Bill Godin/Bryce Godin - 4.46 lbs. - $250
Largest Large Mouth Bass-Oliver Gibbins/Allan Gibbins - 2.79 lbs. - $250
Day 2
1st-Vandersteen/Pentney - 17.29 lbs. - $500
2nd-Reuben Gibbins/Brian Paulson - 16.92 lbs. - $300
3rd-Gill/Hanson - 16.36 lbs. - $200
Largest Small Mouth Bass-Vandersteen/Pentney - 4.47 lbs. - $250
Largest Large Mouth Bass-Mike Graham/Kyle Turgeon - 3.41 lbs. $250
Angler boat draw-Ralph Galusha - 14’ Lund Boat
Early Bird Team draw-Yvonne Gill/Wanda Lundgren - Minnkota Trolling Motor
Team Award- Gill/Hanson- Two floater jackets.
Kids Tournament
There were 26 entered in the third annual MBI Kids Tournament. Winning a trophy, a fishing rod and a Lund hat for top spot was Patrick Vogan who caught four fish. Tied for 2nd was Abby Tolen and Nicholas Vogan who each received a Lund hat for catching two fish each.
In total there were eight perch, five walleye and three saugers caught by the kids on Sunday. Every participant received a goodie bag and a participant ribbon.
Monster Bingo
Shandel Jack won the $1,000 Monster Bingo on Saturday. There were about 60 people participating.