Skip holding a 4.3 pound smallmouth

Bass Fishing
with the
Bass Hunter

Skip driving his boat
Ben's Brook Cove

Catch 'em Lures

Daiwa
Catch fish like this with
Daiwa Rods and Reels
Captain Eric Matland
I have been fishing all my life. I started saltwater fishing for flounder and striped bass on Cape Cod with my grandparents, then freshwater fishing for trout. In my late twenties, I started fishing bass tournaments. I have been lucky to run into some of the top professionals that have helped me get to where I am today. I have won and lost many tournaments. I have fallen short of winning the large championship tournaments, with two of my best finishes being third place and lunker at Squam Lake, NH and third place at Thousand Island, NY. After many years of learning from top anglers in the northeast, such as Bill Penney, Al Golfieri, Harold Cote, Charlie Jutras, Jim Cane, and Mike Bycenski, I was able to place in the top ten, 67 times in local and national competitions. I have won 27 tournaments and won lunker 23 times at various places such as: Champlain, NY; Winnie, NH; Memphremagog, Canada; Otis, Congamond, Highland, Quabog, Barton's Cove, Oxbow, and the Connecticut River in Enfield, Springfield and Hartford. My largest fish were two 10 lb largemouth bass. My largest during a tournament was a 7 lb largemouth caught in the Otis Resevoir. My largest smallmouth was 5 1/2 lbs caught in the Connecticut River. I have also caught two 8 1/2 and three 8 lb largemouth bass, along with many six, five and four pound bass.

I have been a member of the North East Bass Anglers since 1986 where I am currently the president. I have been, and still am, a major contributor in organizing the D.A.R.E. tournament, now in its eighteenth year which raises money to benefit the children through the D.A.R.E. program. I am the MC for the D.A.R.E. Tournament and have MC'd other tournaments in the past.

I was blessed with an ability to win and help others enjoy the sport of fishing. I have written fishing articles for magazines such as "Upland Fishing", and currently write articles for local newspapers. I have been in informercials and on news shows. I conduct programs for teens and adults on how to bass fish, how to maintain the environment, and how to launch and maintain your boat. I am in process of putting together a video on bass fishing and boat launching and maintenance. I also do seminars for sportsmen shows and many other local organizations. I will be conducting seminars and helping with the "Reel Kids" fishing contest this coming February 21-24, 2008 during the Springfield Sportsmen's Show at the Big E in West Springfield, MA.

I am sponsored by Ben's Brookcove, Memo's Coffee Shop, Six Flags New England, Nicki's Pizza, Catch'em Lures, Hogsticker Spinnerbaits, Stor's It, Daiwa Rods and Reels, and Denny's Diamond Hook and Knife Sharpener.
Six Flags New England

Stor's It

Denny's Diamond Hook and Knife Sharpener