Angler-of-the-Year #7

Dooley and Jones Take Benson Matinee

A Hollywood writer could not have scripted it any better. The team of Brian Dooley and co-angler Connor Jones made all the right calls (and culls) Thursday evening to take the Champlain Valley B.A.S.S. Club’s seventh Angler-of-the-Year tour stop in convincing fashion. Hoisting 13.64-pounds to the scale, the duo made the best of a difficult four hours – and in the process gave others something to think about as the season moves past the halfway point. Dooley’s 4.7-pound largemouth lunker proved to be the fish that put the pair firmly over the top.

Brian Dooley with his 4.7-pound lunker largemouth.

“We thought we were doing ok when we pulled in and Connor popped a couple of fish right off,” Dooley said chuckling. “We had this little area that was holding fish even with the water being so low so we stuck it out and picked up a third one shortly thereafter. We watched as Olivia (Baroffio) started to ease in, but after she saw us she pulled off leaving the spot for us. Best decision she ever made, because it gave us the time to work things over more thoroughly.”

If that wasn’t enough, Erik Rasmussen with his sister Lisa Blettner sitting in as a guest co-angler really turned the field on its head posting a limit of fish that weighed in at 10.73-pounds to take second place.

Sibling rivalry, at its best.

In past years an “off limits” area at Chipman’s Point has limited anglers fishing the Benson tournament to waters south, producing a much smaller playing field for the four-hour dip. But, due to the low water levels this year tournament director Olivia Baroffio chose to eschew past practice and not implement the usual off-limits. This lead many anglers to head north to find deeper water over a larger area.

“It really fished tough tonight,” Lowell said. “Just look at the guys who didn’t do well – those guys usually dominate down here. I mean, Brian (Austin) and Jason (Roberts) are big sticks down here. The fact that neither of them did well just shows you how tough things are right now. I don’t know if it’s the low water level or what. They know what they’re doing as well as anyone. I was lucky to hook the fish that I did and keep them buttoned up.”

John Lowell was aided by Fisher McNaughton. At just seven years old, there's a bright future ahead for Fisher…as well as John.

Lowell still managed a third–place finish with 8.59-pounds, but it was a far cry from the double-digit totals he has been putting up so far this year.

As luck would have it, it was the teams who stayed south and toughed things out that ended up ahead of Lowell at the podium.

“I like the Mill Bay Bridge area and everyone who knows me, knows it,” Rasmussen said. “I have no problem with fishing ‘history’, especially down here and getting to spend some time with my sister was special as well. She came up for a visit and wanted to learn why I enjoy bass fishing as much as I do. Benson was the perfect place to get her on some fish. Her best one was 2.2-pounds. We got a couple decent fish off of Rocky Point as well, so the book was right about where fish should be for once. I knew that the best chance for a decent finish tonight was going to be keeping a line in the water as much as possible - I doubt that I burned over a half-gallon of gas all evening.”

Erik and Lisa, creating memories through tournament bass fishing.

With the way John (Lowell) has been fishing this year it’s nice to remind him to look in the rearview mirror once in a while. Nobody is going to let him run away. He’s going to have to earn his success against this crew. You can’t really count anyone out, there’s still plenty of fishing to be done.”

Five-time Angler-of-the-Year Jim White may not have been victorious, but he did manage to pick up an extra point with his 2.63-pound smallmouth. It should serve to remind everyone that his usual late-season heroics are on deck for an appearance that could muddy the water at the top as the season progresses.

This fish was caught while pre-fishing earlier in the week. Jim does not stalk - he waits.

The next Champlain Valley B.A.S.S. Club Angler-of-the-Year tournament will be September 6, 2025 out of Hathaway Point, St. Albans Bay on Lake Champlain from 7:00AM-3:00PM.

Hope to see you all make the trip. The fishing should be exceptional.

Totals for Champlain Valley B.A.S.S. Series AOY #7

Thursday, August 21, 2025 @Benson Landing, Lake Champlain 3:00PM-7:00PM

First – Brian Dooley/Connor Jones 13.64

Second – Erik Rasmussen/Lisa Blettner (guest) 10.73

Third – John Lowell/Zachary McNaughton 8.59

4 – Jim White/Jake Michaud 6.15

5 – Casey Baroffio 2.67

6 – Jason Roberts/John Laramie 1.43

7 - Olivia Baroffio/Preston Pixley (guest) DNW

7 – Brian Austin DNW

Total Fish – 20

Dead Fish – 0

Lunkers

Smallmouth Lunker – Jim White 2.63

Largemouth Lunker – Brian Dooley 4.7

Total Smallmouth caught – 8

Total Largemouth caught – 12

Familiar to many.