Just what made this particular area better than the rest? “Several factors must be present when targeting Trophy Musky, and they rotate with seasonal patterns. However, most importantly the common factor within each season is the presence of baitfish,” informs “West Point Salutes American Veterans”
By
Billy "Hawkeye" Decoteau
Popolopen Lake, (Highland Falls, New York):
West Point Military Academy’s Popolopen Lake was the site of the first “Salute to American Veterans” New York Region Paralyzed Veterans and Active Military Team Bass Tournament. The September 21st event was organized with the cooperation of the West Point Bass Club and the Orange County Bassmasters.
Gathering around the Popolopen Lake dock, twelve randomly paired teams removed their caps, bowed their heads, and listened to Vietnam Paralyzed Air Force Veteran and American Indian Ray Clary, pray in his native tongue as the event was dedicated to John Walls a deceased paralyzed Navy Veteran and former member of the West Point Bass Club.
As the National Anthem ended, teams idled passed the dock receiving packages of Mega Strike and Bear Paw Baits from West Point Cadets. Paralyzed Marine Corp Veteran Jimmie Loupe of New York acknowledged a salute to his team and then called out, “Semper Fi!”
“I can’t believe we are finally having our paralyzed veterans bass tournament in New York,” replied PVA member Ray Clary, as he shook hands with his volunteer Boat Captain Mike Berkley. “It’s like a dream come true!” According to Clary, he and fellow PVA member Jimmie Loupe have been trying effortlessly for several years to have a bass tournament within their home state of New York!
When Air Force National Guard SMSgt Ken Anderson caught wind of Clary and Loupe’s efforts, he immediately contacted retired Army Sgt Patrick Wimmer President of the West Point Bass Club. “There was no hesitation from Sgt Wimmer. He contacted the proper authorities at West Point for approval, drew a permit and together we then formatted a list of retired and active military personal volunteer boat captains.”
“Once we started working with Jimmie Loupe and Ray Clary on assembling the event, it became very apparent we knew little about the necessaries required to handle Paralyzed Anglers! So, following their advice we contacted Don Gauvin of Angler Productions as well as The Bass Bureau for their involvement,” said Sgt Wimmer.
Teams scattered themselves throughout the mile long Popolopen Lake, as Angler Productions cameras scanned the lake hoping to film teams battling bass! Boat Captain Rich Schute and his partner Marine Corp Disabled Veteran George Kartis managed to be the first team to land a largemouth bass for the cameras. Giving credit to Mega Strike’s Mega Stick soft plastic bait in a green pumpkin color, the elated team gave each other high-fives, placed their bass into their livewells and continued making cast to an outside weedline located in nine feet of water.
On a day when laughter and conversations echoed throughout the mountains of Highland Falls, it was quite obvious the majority of teams found themselves landing more friendships framed with fond memories than they did largemouth bass.
Calling boat numbers and teams to the dock for unloading the paralyzed anglers, West Point Cadets, along with members of the West Point and Orange County Bass Clubs worked together carefully meeting each paralyzed anglers individuals needs for comfort in transferring them from the bass boats to their wheelchairs.
However, when retired Marine Boat Captain Greg Miele and his partner Paralyzed Veteran Marine Jimmie Loupe was called to the docks everyone gathered around their boat! It seemed that the morning transfer of PVA member Jimmie Loupe required an enormous amount of precautionary methods due to Loupe’s injuries as well as his size. Suffering the lost of both his legs, just inches below his buttocks, Loupe’s football player torso weighed in at 230-pounds.
A voice from a group of retired Marines and Active Army personal called out, “back up everyone we have a surprise for Sgt Loupe!!!” With that a six-man team of retired Marines and Active Army members gently turned Paralyzed Veteran Sgt Loupe slightly side-to-side placing a canvas beneath him. The team then raised each side of the canvas with its attached ropes. Suddenly, Sgt Loupe found himself totally supported and secured within the canvas transfer bag! “I’m ready when you are,” replied Loupe. In one synchronized movement the team quickly, and safely lifted Sgt Loupe from his position in Miele’s Ranger Bass Boat to a comfortable position on the dock. Adding with a chuckle in his voice and a tear in his eye, “I see it took several Marines and the Army Corp of Engineers to come up with this awesome canvas transfer bag……..….I can’t thank you enough and I am forever grateful to all of you!”
When the scales were officially closed, all the anglers gathered together to enjoy pizza courtesy of Leo’s Pizzeria, topped with some good-ole fashion military heckling. Ken Andersen and Pat Wimmer tallied the weights, assembled the trophies and prizes , while members from the West Point Bass Club and the Orange County Bassmasters prepared for the awards ceremony.
The top-four teams received prizes and trophies, while every team received additional lure packs courtesy of New Jersey based, Mega Strike Baits. (www.MegaStrikefishingProducts.com) Fourth place went to Boat Captain Dan Seteducati and Paralyzed Angler Joe Slattery with 4.18 lbs for two bass. Using topwater poppers Boat Captain ‘Coach’ George Bowles Jr. and Army Paralyzed Veteran John Natoli’s two largemouth bass tipped the scales at 4.33 lbs landing the Army Team a third place finish.
“I bet we caught the first bass and the last bass of the day laughed Boat Captain Rich Schute as he helped push his PVA partner George Kartis’s wheelchair to the stage. Schute and Kartis managed to land three bass for a total weigh of 4.59 lbs, giving the team a second place finish.
The West Point Popolopen Lake Championship went to the only team that managed to carry a limit of bass to the scales. Under an umbrella of applauds Army Boat Captain Bob Fairweather and Vietnam Army Paralyzed Veteran Frank Vogeli accepted their first place trophies as well as the tournaments Lunker Largemouth Bass trophies! Their limit of bass weighed 10.93 lbs and was anchored with a 3.53 lb Lunker Largemouth.
When asked what he had learned on the water with their winning weight, PVA Angler Frank Vogeli replied, “Patience, and more Patience! Bob, told me to just keep throwing my Mega Strike watermelon Mega Stick and sooner or later a bass would eat it!” Asked if there was anything else he wanted to add, Vogeli said, “Yes,…………’GO ARMY’!!!”God Bless and Best Bass’n
All of the The Bass Bureau’s, Salute to American Veterans 3-Man and 2-Man Bass tournaments are totally FREE for all participants, while prizes and refreshments are made via the generous donations from proud to be American Companies! A very special thank you to Mega Strike Baits Bear Paw Baits and Leo’s Pizzeria for their generous donations. To assemble a 6-bass limit, for 3-Man teams each angler must catch 2-bass and can only cull their own bass. In the case of a 2-Man Team, each angler must catch 3-bass and can only cull their own bass. For information on the “Salute to American Veterans” 3-Man or 2-Man bass tournaments contact Bill Decoteau of TheBassBureau @ 1.413.56.3961 or email @ Bassinwdec@aol.com
