Green Water Wizards invade Waltham

At Woerd Avenue’s boat launch on Saturday, the refrain might as well have been “Me and my Mercury,” as members of the Green Water Wizards fishing club crowded the ramp with sleek, low-slung bass boats.

The anglers arrived in force, double-parked along the launch in high-powered vessels outfitted with Evinrude and Yamaha engines pushing up to 250 horsepower. The boats, built for speed and precision, idled in line as competitors prepared to come off the water.

There was plenty of motion, and plenty of sound. Winches clicked in steady rhythm as trailers backed down the ramp, pulling boats snug against their frames. One angler summed up the day’s conditions in passing: “Plenty of wind.”

“There’s plenty of fish here, but you couldn’t tell by today,” said one Hudson bass fisherman, smiling as he reflected on the outing. Asked about the cost of the sport, he added, “It takes a few pennies to do this. We’re all fishing for the same fish, but we have more headaches.”

By early afternoon, competitors gathered for the weigh-in. At a station set up with a scale and wash basin, the weighmaster recorded each catch, the results flashing in red digital numbers. The best overall haul came in at 12 pounds, with the largest bass weighing 3.5 pounds.

Anglers carried their catches in sloshing bags — roughly four gallons of water and up to 10 pounds of fish — from the boats to the weigh station and back again. After being recorded, the fish were returned to the river, released from the dock to swim another day.

The crowd was as methodical as it was passionate: anglers tending to lures and live wells, comparing notes, and packing up gear. There was just enough time for a round of “Happy Father’s Day” wishes before the group dispersed.

Nearby, the tournament director paused amid the bustle to help an older couple lift a canoe onto their car — a small gesture at the end of a day defined by competition, camaraderie and the steady pull of the water.