PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Catching limits in the teens every day, Nicholas Veselka put up a 49-pound, 15-ounce total to earn the win on the Strike King co-angler side at Lake Champlain. For his efforts, Veselka will take home his first Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats trophy, as well as a new Phoenix boat package and $1,900 in cash and contingency money.
A longtime co-angler, this is Veselka’s first win with MLF, and it came on a fishery he’s done well at before, having earned a Top 20 in last year’s Toyota Series event.
“We did different things every day,” he said. “I had one largemouth, the rest were all smallmouth. It was a mix, some were spawning, and some were postspawn. Different types of water, we just mixed it up and I fished what was in front of me.”
For his baits, Veselka stuck with a drop-shot with either a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Falt Worm or a Strike King Z-Too. He also mixed in a variety of Megabass swimbaits.
A fan of smallmouth, Veselka had a great week.
“If it wasn’t for my wife taking the kids and watching them, I wouldn’t have a chance to do this,” said Veselka, who is a chemist by trade. “I have one day to travel out to these, fish the tournament and travel back. I want to thank my boaters, without having great boaters, you can’t do stuff like this. It feels awesome, you never want to come into a tournament just thinking you’re gonna win it. You just fish hard, and things play out how they will. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
1. Nicholas Veselka – 49 – 15 (15) – $35,400
2. Randy Nelson – 47 – 7 (15) – $6,625
3. Jacob Swanson – 46 – 13 (15) – $5,300
4. Richard Bleser – 46 – 11 (15) – $4,150
5. Jeremy Vandenbosch – 46 – 5 (15) – $3,650
6. Mitchell Robinson – 45 – 7 (15) – $3,150
7. William Lisenby – 44 – 15 (15) – $2,650
8. Shawn Gokey – 44 – 14 (15) – $2,075
9. Jim Jarvis – 43 – 11 (15) – $1,630
10. Cory Hartfield – 43 – 4 (15) – $1,390