Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn takes a seat behind the wheel of a Tournament Bass Fishing Boat

By William Tauro

The 2012 Cabela's B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Eastern Divisional on the Mystic /Charles River took place this past week in Medford MA. Dozens of Bass fisherman and women arrived from three different nations all over the globe to fish the friendly and clean waters of Medford's Mystic Lakes as well as the Charles River.

Medford's Mystic Wellington Yacht Club and it's Commode Joe DiGirolamo hosted the world wide fishing event. The river was full and alive with dozens of professional Bass fishermen and their hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of corporate sponsored boats.

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn was on attendance to meet, greet and congratulate all the dozens of die-hard fisherman that flocked into Medford to catch the biggest Bass. He was also available to give the media a tour of the Mystics while filming a local documentary video.

Mayor McGlynn interviewing Tournament Fishermen on the 2012 Cabela's B.A.S.S. Federation National stage

Launching ramp at on the Mystic Lakes at Mystic Wellington Yacht Club with dozens of Bassmaster Fishermen

Pro fishermen arriving back to Mystic Wellington Yacht Club for weigh-in

Mystic Wellington Yacht Club/ Bassmaster weigh-in line

Mayor McGlynn with local celebrity Chuck Roche of CB Scoops Ice Cream of Medford saluting to the singing our National Anthem

CLICK BELOW FOR MORE MEDFORD BASS FISHING PHOTOS

Head of the class

Consistent weights put teacher on top for final day

Tyler Reed

First-grade teacher Jonathan Carter, of Brewer, Maine, has
been hanging close and maximizing fishing time on the Mystic.

Sep 13, 2012

MEDFORD, Mass. — Today was another tough day on the Mystic and Charles rivers
for competitors in the 2012 Cabela’s Bassmaster Federation Nation Eastern
Divisional.

In fact, it was even a little tougher than yesterday.

Only two limits were brought in today, compared to four yesterday, and the
quantity and quality were down overall as well.

But for Jonathan Carter, today beat yesterday, at least a little.

Carter, a competitor on the Maine B.A.S.S. Federation Nation team, brought in
four fish today weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces, taking the lead in the overall
competition, up from second place yesterday.

“It was a real struggle,” said Carter, a first-grade teacher. “I experimented
with moving around a little bit, but I basically fished the same area as
yesterday.” He’s only making a 10-minute run, maximizing his fishing time and
staying in the Mystic River.

Carter, who’s a member of the Full Throttle Bassmasters, was an alternate in
the divisional in 2009, so this is the first one where he gets to compete. “This
is a dream come true,” he said. “It’s another step toward fishing
professionally.”

He’s planning on sticking with his game plan tomorrow. “It’s going to be
really tough to do it again tomorrow, but I’m going to try!”

Yesterday’s leader, Mickey Soler of Connecticut, came in fishless today,
dropping him down to 13th place. He was among more than a dozen anglers who
didn’t put any in the boat today.

A few anglers mentioned they had figured something out on the Mystic and
Charles. Sean Alvarez, who represented the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation at the
2011 Bassmaster Classic, brought in a 3-pound, 13-ounce bass as part of an 8-13
bag. “I’m onto a little something,” said the Vermont team member. “They say,
‘dance with the girl that brought you there,’ so I’m going right back to the
same spot tomorrow.”

Joe Matt of the New York team caught the Cabela’s Big Bass of the day, a
4-11. It’s currently in the lead for the Cabela’s Big Bass of the tournament.
Yesterday’s biggest bass was 4-5.

In the team competition, Connecticut maintained its lead today with a weight
of 68 pounds, 13 ounces. New York is currently in second with 68-2, and Vermont
is just behind with 67-13.

The top angler on each state team advances to the 2012 Cabela’s Bassmaster
Federation Nation Championship, Oct. 25-27, on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake. Current
leaders are Frank Zabski, Connecticut; Jonathan Carter, Maine; John Shpack,
Massachusetts; Robert Williamson, New Hampshire; Sean Wilkes, New York; Mark
Cavanaugh, Ontario; Kevin Clark, Rhode Island; Javier Guillen Cordoba, Spain;
and Sean Alvarez, Vermont.

Competition resumes tomorrow. Launch is at 6:15 a.m. ET at the Mystic
Wellington Yacht Club, the site of the weigh-in at 2:15 p.m. ET. Junior
Bassmaster anglers will take to the water tomorrow as well in their own
competition for spots in the 2012 Bassmaster Junior World
Championship.

Photos by William Tauro

Mystic Wellington Yacht Club's "Grumpy"

Somerville's Winter Hill Yacht Club Commodore Bill Rogers and the club's Ambassador Chris McGovern were both in attendance at the event as special guest.