CONNEAUT LAKE — The weather conditions may not have been ideal for fishing, but that did not hold back 25-year-old pro fisherman Ben Lipec of Erie and amateur Brock Henderson of Saegertown from taking first-place honors in the eighth annual United Way Bass Classic.

Besides some big bass, the tourney pulled in $20,000 to help local United Way programs.

“This is a great feeling,” Lipec said about being the youngest winner of the event. “I might be one of the younger guys, but I have been around for awhile. I have been fishing since I was 2 years old, and fishing in tournaments since I was 13.”

It seemed like 13 was the number being thrown around Friday afternoon at the Iroquis Boating and Fishing Club.

While the fishermen were gathering their fish for the weigh-in, four-time Bass Classic champion Paul Hirosky informed the crowd that in the first seven years of the tournament, whoever was rewarded the No. 13 boat has won the event twice, including last year’s win by Steve Hughes and Lon Wilson, and placed in the top five four times.

“After talking to Paul (Hirosky) before the event, I was hoping Brock and I would receive the No. 13 boat,” Lipec said.

Although numbers never lie, there are times they can be ignored. The three boats that entered the waters last, ended up being three of the top four place winners.

The team of Lipec and Henderson won the event in the No. 30 boat, followed by Ernie Pate and Kevin Beachy in boat No. 31. Danny Jones and Phil Ness finished in fourth place in boat No. 33

Lipec and Henderson’s total weight of 15.82 pounds, which included eight large mouth, was not one of the more eye-opening totals the Classic has seen, but it was good enough for the win. They were able to squeak past Pate and Beachy — who also brought in eight large mouth — by .9 pound.

With the dismal weather throughout the morning, it was hard for each group to find a consistent strategy to stick to. “We made sure we really worked the weed beds,” Henderson said. “We did a good job working together and were fortunate to come out on top.”

One boat that the spectators’ eyes were glued to was No. 22. Two-time defending Bass Classic champions Hughes and Wilson were trying for a three-peat but came up short, placing fifth. “We had to finesse a little more today,” Hughes said about the change in weather. “There is a lot of luck involved and unfortunately we were not able to pull it out today.”

Hughes and Wilson were initially tied in fifth place with Rob Genter and Chuck Papinchak, forcing the first tiebreaker in Classic history. With both teams bringing in a total weight of 14.28, the tiebreaker came down to which group had the bigger lunker. Hughes and Wilson prevailed with a lunker of 3.58 pounds compared to Genter and Papinchak’s 2.42.

Another talked-about participant was four-time Super Bowl-winner from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jon Kolb. “I had a blast,” Kolb said. “I just love being outdoors and helping out the community.” Kolb and his professional partner Scott Welker finished in eighth place with a combined weight of 13.5 pounds. Kolb and Welker were one of 21 teams that reached their limit of eight fish within the first two hours. They also were one of 14 teams that brought in all large mouths.

Hirosky took a break from competing in the Classic and served as emcee this year. “I had a lot more fun being the emcee than competing,” he said. “It was a lot less stressful. When I was competing, I would keep myself up for days before the event worrying about what I would do.”

Hirosky and partner Jon DeArment won the event the first four years, and they still stand two wins above Hughes and Wilson for all-time wins in the Classic.

Overall, United Way of Western Crawford County Executive Director Amy Murphy Woods was very pleased about the turnout. United Way, a community-aid organization, helps with the funding of 17 agencies in the Crawford County area.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better year,” Woods said. “We had more boats than ever compete in this year’s event — and the $20,000 raised is considerably more than we ever raised.”