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Tracking Fish
USA
National Spearfishing Championships
Location:
Greers Ferry Arkansas
Depth: 35ft
After 6 yrs of waiting, I finally got my wish. Competing in the
USA
nationals with the infamous McGuire brothers, Glen and Mike. Mike and I are on
the Churchill trophy already, from our win in 2007, but I never thought I would
get the chance to have Glen onboard again.
Turns out, we caught him in a weak moment, and he agreed to come along, and give
it a run for a national title one more time! The Midwest Dive Council had won
the bid to host the 2010 national championships, and the beautiful reservoir
Greers Ferry was the site.
WE spent a total of 10 days in the water, trying to figure out what the fish
were doing, and where we might find them on tournament day. Conditions ran the
gamut, from 108deg air temp, 91deg water temp at surface, to 65deg water temp at
40ft! Diving into and thru the second thermocline felt like slipping into an ice
plunge, and surfacing from that zone was the reverse effect, with the hot
surface water making your skin tingle.
BUT, that’s where we were finding the bigger fish, the buffalo, so that’s where
we went!
We learned to discern between muddy conditions in the thermocline, and fish that
were working the mud in search of food. THAT’S where the tracking part comes in. You soon learned to separate out that
a fish was working somewhere in front of you, and attempt to ease thru, over, or
around the cloud, hoping not to spook it. I became fairly adept at this, and
adapted my style from the traditional carp hunting format, to this new lie and
wait, move and observe, lie and wait technique.
I found that using what senses I could at depth, enabled me to seek out fish
that I would normally wait for them to approach.
The drum made a distinct croak, and you could pick up direction by moving
silently along the bottom, and discern if they were getting closer or leaving.
You could also hear them crunching clams, and knew if they were in the area.
After coming off 2 weeks in Baja at the world cup, this was a huge shift, but it
paid off in the end.
Visibility ranged from 0 to 15ft, but pretty much if you were in the big fish
depth, the vis was 3-4ft. The buffalo would materialize out of nowhere, sliding
along silently like a piscatorial submarine, eyeing you with a huge black eye,
and getting on target for these fish was almost guaranteed success.
So, in the end, our hard work and skill paid off once again in a championship
title. We took 1st individual, 1st team, and shot the two
biggest fish of the meet!
Our Imersion gear worked perfect! Hunting in these conditions was accomplished
with Triaxx guns, Seriole suits, and carbon fins. The ease of moving these guns
in dirty vis was unreal, and having enough punch to penetrate and hold these
large rough fish was perfect.
I want to thank our sponsor, Imersion from France for they’re continued
support over the years, and its an honor to bring another national title to
they’re list.
I also want to thank Phil Lamm for his hard work and commitment at organizing
and running the meet, I know its a lot of work. Thanks Phil!
Thanks to Glen and Mike McGuire for joining forces with me one more time to
achieve this win! Thanks guys! Its an honor to be aligned with two champs like
you!
Next years nationals are scheduled for the Keys in Florida, and I know the locals will be
out for blood!
Dennis Haussler
Team Imersion
2010 U.S.
Nationals Results
Men’s Skin
Results
1st Place – Team Imersion - Cen-Cal
|
|
Big Fish
|
# Fish
|
Total
Lbs.
|
Individual Points
|
Team
Points
259.55
|
|
Dennis
Haussler
|
26.95
|
21
|
120.65
|
130.7
|
|
Glen
McGuire
|
3.15
|
7
|
15.90
|
22.9
|
|
Mike
McGuire
|
28.50
|
16
|
98.45
|
105.95
|
|
Totals
|
44
|
235.0
|
259.55
|
2nd Place –HIFC –(Hawaii)
|
|
Big Fish
|
# Fish
|
Total
Lbs.
|
Individual Points
|
Team
Points
216.9
|
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Hanalei
Adric
|
18.95
|
17
|
102.45
|
119.45
|
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Braxton
Fernandes
|
3.80
|
6
|
18.55
|
24.55
|
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Calvin
Lai Jr.
|
13.85
|
15
|
57.90
|
72.90
|
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Totals
|
38
|
178.90
|
216.90
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3rd Place - RMSA
|
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Big Fish
|
# Fish
|
Total
Lbs.
|
Individual Points
|
Team
Points
197.9
|
|
Christian Baker
|
12.55
|
11
|
63.0
|
74.0
|
|
Danny
Raff
|
21.0
|
7
|
62.50
|
67.95
|
|
Les Sage
|
24.50
|
7
|
53.45
|
55.95
|
|
Totals
|
25
|
178.95
|
197.90
|
Men’s
Largest Fish
|
1. Mike McGuire
|
28.50
lbs.
|
Cen-Cal
|
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2. Dennis Haussler
|
26.95
lbs.
|
Cen-Cal
|
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3. Andrew Geist
|
26.65
lbs.
|
Palm Beach U/W
Hockey
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4. Christian Cornett
|
25.60
lbs.
|
RMSA
|
|
5. Harolf Dean
|
24.95
lbs
|
Miami
Freedivers
|
Men’s
High Aggregate
|
1.
Dennis Haussler
|
21 Fish
– 120.65 lbs.
|
105.95 points
|
Cen-Cal
|
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2. Yury
Bylina
|
12 Fish
– 115.75 lbs
|
123.70 points
|
Palm
Beach
Freedivers
|
|
3.
Hanalei Adric
|
17 Fish
– 102.45 lbs.
|
119.45
points
|
HIFC -
Hawaii
|
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4.
Harolf Dean
|
17 Fisah
– 104.45 lbs.
|
116.50 points
|
Miami
Freedivers
|
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5.
ChrisCornett
|
13 Fish
– 102.40 lbs.
|
108.20 points
|
RMSA
|
Men’s
All American Skin Team = Members
of the first place team plus next two highest scoring individuals
|
1.
Dennis Haussler
|
130.70
points
|
Cen-Cal
- 1st Place
Team
|
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2. Glen
McGuire
|
22.90
points
|
Cen-Cal
– 1st PlaceTeam
|
|
3. Mike
McGuire
|
105.95
points
|
Cen-Cal
– 1st Place
Team
|
|
4. Yury
Bylina
|
123.70
points
|
Palm
Beach
Freedivers
|
|
5.
Hanalei Adric
|
119.45
points
|
HIFC –
Hawaii
|
Men’s
Novice
|
Yury
Bylina
|
Palm Beach
Freedivers
|
12 Fish – 115.75 lbs. – 123.70 points
|
Men’s
Individual Results
|
Name
|
Council/Club
|
Largest
Fish / (Place)
|
# of
Fish
|
Total
Weight
|
Points
|
Final
Placement
|
|
Haussler, Dennis
|
Cen-Cal
|
26.95
lbs. (2)
|
21
|
120.65
lbs.
|
130.70
|
1
|
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Bylina,
Yury
|
Palm
BeachFredivers
|
23.85
lbs. (8)
|
12
|
115.75
bs.
|
123.90
|
2
|
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Adric,
Hanalei
|
HIFC -
Hawaii
|
18.95lbs. (13)
|
17
|
102.45
lbs.
|
119.45
|
3
|
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Dean,
Harolf
|
Miami
Freedivers
|
24.95
lbs. (5)
|
17
|
104.45
|
116.50
|
4
|
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Cornett,
Chris
|
RMSA
|
25.65
lbs. (4)
|
13
|
102.40
|
108.20
|
5
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McGuire,
Mike
|
Cen-Cal
|
28.50
lbs. (1)
|
16
|
98.45
|
105.95
|
6
|
|
Pender,
Mike
|
Cen -
Cal
|
13.30
lbs. (22)
|
11
|
67.30
|
78.30
|
7
|
|
Baker,
Christian
|
RMSA
|
12.55
lbs. (23)
|
11
|
63.0
|
74.00
|
8
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|
Ban,
Mike
|
RMSA
|
8.90
lbs. (31)
|
18
|
55.80
|
73.80
|
9
|
|
Lai Jr.,
Calvin
|
HIFC -
Hawaii
|
13.85
lbs. (20)
|
15
|
57.90
|
72.90
|
10
|
|
Raff,
Danny
|
RMSA
|
21.00
lbs (12)
|
13
|
62.50
|
67.95
|
11
|
|
Cabrera,
Julio
|
Long
Fins
|
17.70
lbs. (15)
|
15
|
52.50
|
67.50
|
12
|
|
Manier,
Jeremy
|
Champaign U/W Hockey
|
24.05
lbs. (7)
|
13
|
55.95
|
64.90
|
13
|
|
Cruz,
Servino
|
Miami
Freedivers
|
4.65
lbs. (38)
|
16
|
47.75
|
63.75
|
14
|
|
MacKereth, Scott
|
MDC
|
3.50
lbs. (47)
|
20
|
42.05
|
62.05
|
15
|
|
Page,
Patrick
|
Palm Beach
Freedivers
|
18.15
lbs. (14)
|
9
|
51.45
|
60.45
|
16
|
|
Sage,
Les
|
RMSA
|
24.50
lbs. (6)
|
7
|
53.45
|
55.95
|
17
|
|
Geist,
Andrew
|
Palm Beach U/W
Hockey
|
26.65
lbs. (3)
|
8
|
56.75
|
55.65
|
18
|
|
Bristol,
Alex
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Long
Fins
|
22.95
lbs. (9)
|
7
|
51.10
|
55.15
|
19
|
|
Stalnaker, Mark
|
Long
Fins
|
15.40
lbs. (16)
|
8
|
43.9
|
51.90
|
20
|
|
Burneo,
Austin
|
Long
Fins
|
7.65
lbs. (32)
|
10
|
39.10
|
49.10
|
21
|
|
Turgeon,
Scott
|
Palm Beach U/W
Hockey
|
11.90
lbs. (25)
|
7
|
41.55
|
48.55
|
22
|
|
Fazzi,
Eric
|
South Florida
Diving Council
|
11.85
lbs. (27)
|
7
|
40.90
|
47.90
|
|
|
Schmidt,
Aaron
|
Tampa
Bay
Spearfishing
|
10.50
lbs. (30)
|
8
|
38.80
|
46.80
|
24
|
|
Maugh,
Gary
|
MDC
|
3.00
lbs. (50)
|
16
|
29.20
|
45.20
|
25
|
|
Marrero, Roberto
|
South Florida
Diving Council
|
10.95
lbs. (29 )
|
11
|
31.15
|
44.15
|
26
|
|
Guinovart, Miguel
|
Miami
Freedivers
|
21.95
lbs. (10 )
|
6
|
38.40
|
42.45
|
27
|
|
Sotolongo, Adelito
|
Long
Fins
|
13.75
lbs. (21 )
|
5
|
34.15
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39.15
|
28
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|
Fernandez, Pepin
|
Long
Fins
|
15.00
lbs. (17 )
|
3
|
32.85
|
35.85
|
29
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|
Benson,
Bob
|
MDC
|
12.15
lbs. ( 24)
|
7
|
27.90
|
34.90
|
30
|
|
Salado,
Erick
|
Miami Free
Divers
|
4.20
lbs. (40)
|
6
|
28.85
|
34.85
|
31
|
|
Fallon,
Tim
|
Champaign U/W Hockey
|
14.35
lbs. (19)
|
5
|
26.10
|
31.10
|
32
|
|
Deichsel, Matthew
|
RMSA
|
4.35
lbs. (39)
|
8
|
19.85
|
27.85
|
33
|
|
Nunez,
Larzaro
|
Long
Fins
|
4.80
lbs. (36)
|
7
|
19.60
|
26.60
|
34
|
|
Van
Haele, Mike
|
MDC
|
14.45
lbs. (18)
|
4
|
20.70
|
24.70
|
35
|
|
Fernandes, Braxton
|
HIFC -
Hawaii
|
3.80
lbs. (45)
|
6
|
18.55
|
24.55
|
36
|
|
Graber,
Joe
|
Champaign U/W Hockey
|
3.30
lbs. (48 )
|
7
|
17.50
|
24.50
|
37
|
|
Cardin,
Whitney
|
RMSA
|
5.45
lbs. (34)
|
6
|
17.10
|
23.10
|
38
|
|
McGuire,
Glen
|
Cen-Cal
|
3.15
lbs. (49)
|
7
|
15.90
|
22.90
|
39
|
|
Santeiro, Jose
|
Miami
Freedivers
|
4.70
lbs. (37)
|
6
|
16.50
|
22.50
|
40
|
|
Heskett,
Don
|
MDC
|
4.10
lbs. (42)
|
7
|
15.15
|
22.15
|
41
|
|
Perera,
Luis
|
South Florida
Diving Council
|
11.90
lbs.(26)
|
3
|
18.65
|
21.65
|
42
|
|
Wagner,
Nick
|
Cen -
Cal
|
21.60
lbs. (11)
|
1
|
21.60
|
21.00
|
43
|
|
Ripley,
Ernie
|
Cen -
Cal
|
11.60
lbs. (28)
|
3
|
17.45
|
20.45
|
44
|
|
Fyfe,
James
|
Palm Beach U/W
Hockey
|
4.05
lbs.(43)
|
6
|
13.95
|
19.95
|
45
|
|
Lopez,
Sergey
|
Miami
Freedivers
|
3.95
lbs. (44)
|
5
|
11.95
|
16.95
|
46
|
|
Love,
Keith
|
RMSA
|
2.40
lbs. (52)
|
5
|
11.40
|
16.40
|
47
|
|
Gonzalez, Chris
|
Long
Fins
|
6.80
lbs. (33)
|
4
|
12.0
|
16.00
|
48
|
|
Bradley,
Chris
|
MDC
|
5.20
lbs. (35)
|
5
|
10.75
|
15.75
|
49
|
|
McCarthy, Pat
|
MDC
|
3.00
lbs. (51)
|
3
|
6.95
|
9.95
|
50
|
|
Mosier,
Dan
|
MDC
|
3.60
lbs. (46)
|
3
|
6.0
|
9.60
|
51
|
|
Spackman, Duke
|
RMSA
|
2.15
lbs. (53)
|
3
|
4.40
|
7.40
|
52
|
|
Martinez, T.A.
|
Tampa
Bay
Spearfishing
|
4.15
lbs. (41)
|
1
|
4.15
|
5.15
|
53
|
|
Reyna,
Juan
|
Palm Beach
Freedivers
|
2.05
lbs. (54)
|
1
|
2.05
|
3.05
|
54
|
|
Van
Deman, Bill
|
Tampa
Bay
Spearfishing
|
1.65
lbs. (55)
|
1
|
1.65
|
2.65
|
55
|
|
Rosenberger, Don
|
MDC
|
1.20
lbs. (56)
|
1
|
1.20
|
2.20
|
56
|
Final Tallies – 461 fish harvested = 2,119 lbs. of fish.
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