TURNER – Despite gusty winds that buffeted their bass boat and knocked the life out of its trolling battery, Tom Toth and Bill Centra rode out a blustery day and reeled in the winning catch to pocket $2,500 in prize money at the ninth annual Androscoggin River Bronzeback Open.

The winning pair bagged the maximum eight fish for a total weight of 19.72 pounds after two-man crews in 51 boats set out from Gulf Island Pond on a brisk Sunday morning. Toth and Centra headed nine miles north up the Androscoggin where they found the right fishing spot.

“Oh my God, we did win; I don’t believe it,” said Toth of Lewiston after seeing his name penciled in at first place on the leaderboard. “We had a bad day with the boat and look what we did.

“We had four fish right off the bat. All this hard work paid off. We thought we had a good weight, but we didn’t think we had the winning weight.”

“It held up,” said Centra of Greene. “We found the right pattern. Everybody was fishing in the wind. She was gusting.”

The annoying gusts, which made it difficult for fishermen to position their boats on the choppy river, forced some competitors to call it quits early while others found it impossible to bag the maximum eight fish in the catch-and-release tournament.

“It drained batteries,” said Madrid Roddy of Auburn. “We got a decent batch – about 18 pounds.”

“A lot of doughnuts out there,” said George Vooris of Naples. “It gets nerve-wracking to tell you the truth.”

Larry Hogue and his brother, Scott, who finished in second place with a catch weighing 19.06, refused to use the wind as an excuse for being the runners-up.

“It was a good day,” said Larry Hogue. “I am never happy coming in second place.”

Fishing for fun

For 70-year-old Roger Jalbert of Lewiston, bass fishing on the Androscoggin is a great way to spend the day.

“Everybody’s got a hobby. This is my enjoyment,” he said. “I fish this twice a week. Two years ago, we won it.”

When George Curtis of Lewiston saw the Bronzeback Maineiacs were hosting a tournament, he mentioned it to his son, Mike, who lives in Pelham, N.H.

“He said, There’s a tournament. Let’s go fishing,” said Mike Curtis with a smile.

“To me, catching the fish is secondary. You meet the nicest people,” said Rusty Buss, who manned the lead boat at the start of tournament.”

Richard Stone, who along with fishing partner, Mark Swett, finished in 10th place, is the owner of Stone’s Bait and Tackle in Lewiston, was busy mixing business with pleasure.

“I am here for fun and business,” he added. “Everybody is after that $2,500.”

Topsham patrolman Troy Garrison is simply motivated by the love of fishing. “This (tournament) is the best part of it,” he added.

“We are going to do good today,” said Frank Curtis of Winthrop before he hopped in his boat and headed out along the Androscoggin.

Nine years in making

The Bronzeback Maineiacs, a bass fishing club out of Lewiston-Auburn, has been hosting tournaments for nearly a decade.

This year, the club honored one its members by dedicating the annual tournament to Denis R. Grondin, who was a respected accountant and club member. He recently passed away.

For the past two years, a portion of the proceeds from the $125 entry fee has been donated to the March of Dimes.

According to Bronzeback President Doug LePage, another member, who nearly lost his wife and child, suggested proceeds from the annual tournaments be donated to the March of Dimes, which lent him a helping hand.

“He wanted to do this and we all simply jumped on board,” said LePage. “Last year, we were able to raise a little over $2,300.”

This year, the Bronzeback Maineiacs raised $1,451 in donations on Sunday.

“It’s wonderful because most of these people are fathers, and babies affect their lives,” said Judy Soucier, director of the March of Dimes for central Maine. “These men are real gentlemen. It’s fun working with them. It’s a real nice partnership we share with them.”

Gov. John Baldacci and his wife, Karen, made an appearance at the tournament to praise the tournament organizers for their work with the March of Dimes.

“My wife is the honorary chairwoman,” said Baldacci. “We really take it close to heart.”