2008 Maine State Team
September 2007 - Kennebec River Skowhegan
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| Ken Tuttle Sr. 1st Place 20.83 |
Glen Bruce 2nd Place 18.74 |
Jeff Rafuse 3rd Place 17.56 |
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| Dave Barnes Sr. 4th Place 17.52 |
Robert Williamson 5th Place 17.01 |
Rusty Buss 6th Place 16.84 |
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| Will Turner 7th Place 16.67 |
Pete Forbes Jr. 8th Place 15.64 |
John Blais 9th Place 15.52 |
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| Andre Caron 10th Place 15.47 |
Ralph Stevens 11th Place 15.36 |
Eric Kuehne 12th Place |
1. Ken Tuttle Sr. - Southern Maine Anglers
- Hometown: Westbrook, ME
- Position: 1st place
- State Federation Member: 19 years
- State Team Qualifier: 2 time
- Tournament Experience: 19 years
- Occupation: Warehouseman
- Favorite Body of Water: Androscoggin River, Gulf Island Pond , Maine
- Largest Largemouth: 7lbs 2oz / Largest Smallmouth: 5lbs 8oz
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Suspending stickbait / Tube lure
- Boat/Motor: Tracker / Mercury
- Sponsors: Family, they go without so I can go!
- Best Fishing Story: Was hooked on bass fishing early on in my BASS career while prefishing for a tournament on Crescent Lake, in Raymond, Maine. My son and I pulled up on a small rock pile half way down the lake and began throwing tubes. We started catching fish, lots of fish, for over a half hour we caught a fish every other cast. We caught many keepers with our best ten topped by a largemouth over five pounds and the smallest, a smallmouth over two pounds. This memory and my son is the reason I am still fishing today!
2. Glen Bruce - Rebel Bassmasters
- Hometown: Saco, ME
- Position: 2nd place
- State Federation Member: 18 years
- State Team Qualifier: 4 times
- Tournament Experience: 18 years
- Occupation: Building Contractor
- Favorite Body of Water: China Lake, Maine
- Largest Largemouth: 7 lbs 14 oz / Largest Smallmouth: 5 lbs 2 oz
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Jigs
- Boat/Motor: 2006 Z21 Ranger / Evinrude 225 E-Tec
- Sponsors: None
- Best Fishing Story: Not available at this time
3. Jeff Rafuse - Black Bear
- Hometown: Belgrade, ME
- Position: 3rd place
- State Federation Member: 15 years
- State Team Qualifier: 4 times - 1 National qualifier
- Tournament Experience: 14 years
- Occupation: Machine Tender
- Favorite Body of Water: East Pond, Maine
- Largest Largemouth: 8 lbs 4 oz / Largest Smallmouth: 6 lbs 2 oz
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Jig
- Boat/Motor: Skeeter/Yamaha
- Sponsors: My wife and grandchildren
- Best Fishing Story: The year I qualified for the Nationals, I had an interesting second day on Winnipesauke! I didn't want to be late for the weigh-in and was making one last cast with a carolina rig. I was using a heavy weight and wanted to launch a great cast to end the day. As I was building up momentum and getting ready to let 'er go, the line broke and my rod (one my favorites) flew into the water! As I hurriedly reached for it, I tripped and went over the side! I retrieved my rod but had to go to the weigh-in soaking wet! I did end up qualifying and ended up with a memorable trip to the Nationals in Louisiana.
4. Dave Barnes Sr. - Classic Bassmasters
- Hometown: Weeks Mills, ME
- Position: 4th place
- State Federation Member: 31 years
- State Team Qualifier: 22 times
- Tournament Experience: 25 years
- Occupation: Master Maine Guide
- Favorite Body of Water: Cobbossee Lake, Maine
- Largest Largemouth: 9lbs 15oz / Largest Smallmouth: 6lbs 15oz
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Deep diving crankbaits on ledges, Jigs in grass and rocks
- Boat/Motor: Triton Boats / Mercury Motors
- Sponsors: Mercury Outboards, Triton Boats, Clark Marine, Mobile Graphics, my Family
- Best Fishing Story: Best Fishing Story: I can remember when I was 3 years old and my grandfather Frank Harrison would take me fishing. We would get up at 3 am and my grandmother would fix us breakfast and boiled egg sandwiches for lunch. We would head for Shell Point in Florida and go fishing for Red fish, Speckled Sea Trout and grouper. I can still see my grandfather fishing from the back of his boat talking to the fish and casting his favorite lure, a Webber Mr Champ with a yellow or white bucktail treble hook. When I would get tired I always would take a nap under the front deck. It is to my grandfather that I give all the credit for my love of fishing. Later on I was able to return the favor and was able to take my grandfather fishing for bass in Florida. It was the last time that we ever fished together. THANK YOU GRANDADDY FOR TEACHING ME TO FISH !!!! I LOVE YOU !!! Grandson #1.
5. Robert Williamson - Mainely Bass
- Hometown: Gorham, ME
- Position: 5th place
- State Federation Member: 2 years
- State Team Qualifier: 1 time
- Tournament Experience: 3 years
- Occupation: Civil/Environmental Engineer
- Favorite Body of Water: Thompson, Panther, Winni, Santee Cooper
- Largest Largemouth: 10+ (Florida) Largest Smallmouth: 5+ (Umbagog & Winni)
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Pitching jigs into the thickest, nastiest cover known to man and throwing the ball & chain.
- Boat/Motor: 2005 Ranger VS185; Yamaha F150
- Sponsors: Family, Hunter Creek Bait, Quantum, Blackhawk Custom Outfitters
- Best Fishing Story: Anytime I’m out fishing with Dad is a special time; from backwoods streams, rivers and wilderness fly-ins. It doesn’t matter just that I’m spending time with him. And now I have the opportunity to pass that along to my son and daughter. Last year for the first time, my son joined me on several bigger opens. He was with me for the 22 lb, 5 fish bag at Panther and seeing the expression on his face upon receiving his first check – priceless! I am grateful and truly blessed for the opportunity to participate and represent Maine on this years State Team. I owe all of the credit to my Lord and Savior Jesus as well as the support of my family. Without them, none of this would be possible.
6. Rusty Buss - Lip Rippers
- Hometown: Manchester, ME
- Position: 6th place
- State Federation Member: 9 years
- State Team Qualifier: 1 time
- Tournament Experience: 30 years
- Occupation: Retired
- Favorite Body of Water: Great Pond
- Largest Largemouth: 12 lbs, Florida Largest Smallmouth: 5lbs
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Top Water
- Boat/Motor: Bullet/Mercury
- Sponsors: Wife
- Best Fishing Story: Talk about a bad day fishing. I was on a small lake in Florida just having a lazy day as you might say. I was using a top water plug when all of a sudden a fish exploded, I was not paying too much attention at the time, so I was caught off guard and when I realized the fish was there I set the hook but good. To my utter surprise I missed the fish, but managed to get both my legs caught one in each calf. OUCH! I was alone in the boat, and had to find a way to get to my pliers to remove the hooks, I couldn't walk very well. I did manage to get free and that was the end of fishing for that day.
7. Will Turner - Knox County
- Hometown: Rockland, ME
- Position: 7th place
- State Federation Member: 5 years
- State Team Qualifier: 1 time
- Tournament Experience: 5 years
- Occupation: Concrete Worker
- Favorite Body of Water: Damariscotta Lake, Maine
- Largest Largemouth: 8 lbs 6 oz / Largest Smallmouth: 5 lbs 0 oz
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Finesse
- Boat/Motor: Nitro / Mercury
- Sponsors: Maine-ly Concrete, Family
- Best Fishing Story: Not available at this time
8. Peter Forbes - Rebel Bassmasters
- Hometown: Saco, ME
- Position: 8th place
- State Federation Member: 17 plus years
- State Team Qualifier: 6 times
- Tournament Experience: 17 years
- Occupation: Supervisor Wood Structures Saco, ME
- Favorite Body of Water: China Lake, Maine
- Largest Largemouth: 7 lbs 8 oz / Largest Smallmouth: 4 lbs 8 oz
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Jig & Pig
- Boat/Motor: Ranger/Johnson
- Sponsors: Spouse
- Best Fishing Story: Not available at this time
9. John Blais - Kennebec Valley Bassmasters
- Hometown: Waterville, ME
- Position: 9th place
- State Federation Member: 7 years
- State Team Qualifier: 1 time
- Tournament Experience: 9 years
- Occupation: Project Director, Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District, Fishing Guide
- Favorite Body of Water: Maine's Amistad
- Largest Largemouth: 8lbs Largest Smallmouth: 5.5lbs
- Favorite Lure/Technique: What ever works based on conditions.
- Boat/Motor: Stratos 185/Johnson 150
- Sponsors: My Family, Pure Fishing, Humminbird, Orvis, Belgrade Bassin'
- Best Fishing Story: Getting up in the morning and knowing its going to be beautiful day bass fishing...Then, being late for wherever I have to be because I have to take just one more cast because it's on!...Sorry, Honey!
10. Andre Caron - Southern Maine Anglers
- Hometown: Saco, ME
- Position: 10th place
- State Federation Member: 13 years
- State Team Qualifier: 2 times
- Tournament Experience: 13 years
- Occupation: Foreman – Steve Morse Carpentry, Inc.
- Favorite Body of Water: Pleasant Pond
- Largest Largemouth: 6lb 10oz / Largest Smallmouth: 5lb 4oz
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Tube, worm & senko: all Texas rigged
- Boat/Motor: 19ft Nitro / 175 Johnson
- Sponsors: Family, Form Tech Tool & Mold, Steve Morse Carpentry, Inc.
- Best Fishing Story: Our first club tournament in April 2007 on Panther Pond. My second cast led to a 3-½ lb smallmouth for lunker of the tournament. About one hour later, in the same area I caught my largest largemouth, 6lb 10oz (not lunker). I ended the day in first place with 19lbs 141/2 oz, which was about 4lbs better than second place and 1/2lb better than my last win there 4 years ago.
11. Ralph Stevens - Vacationland Basscasters
- Hometown: Arundel, ME
- Position: 11th place
- State Federation Member: 15 years
- State Team Qualifier: 1 time
- Tournament Experience: 12 years
- Occupation: Manufacturing Engineer
- Favorite Body of Water: Damarriscotta Lake
- Largest largemouth: 6 - 9 Largest Smallmouth: 4 - 4
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Rat-L-Trap
- Boat/Motor: Nitro LXS800 - Mercury 150
- Sponsors: Vacationland Basscasters, Correct Building Products, LLC, "The Grampa"
- Best Fish Story: Catching a five fish limit of largemouth weighing 21.5 # in 30 minutes on Highland lake in 48 degree water.
12. Eric Kuehne - Maine Country Bassmaster & Mainely Bass
- Hometown: Lyman, ME
- Position: 12th place (First Alternate) (lucky 13)
- State Federation Member: 17 years
- State Team Qualifier: 1 time
- Tournament Experience: 17 years
- Occupation: Drafting Manager - Pratt & Whitney, North Berwick
- Favorite Body of Water: Lake Champlain
- Largest Largemouth: 8lb 13 oz Largest Smallmouth: 4+ lb
- Favorite Lure/Technique: Texas rigged plastic or whatever they are biting
- Boat/Motor: Xpress x19 / Yamaha
- Sponsors: None
- Best Fishing Story: While competing the final day of a Florida state team qualifier on the Kissimmee Chain, I caught a 8 lb 13oz bass on topwater in the scattered hydrilla. It was not big enough to win lunker, but it was my personal best, so I went back to the Kissimmee chain the next weekend. I returned to the same area on Friday evening and caught another bass over 8lbs. The next morning, I started in that spot and caught another bass over 8lbs. Three bass over 8lbs in one week and all on topwater, definitely a week I will long remember.