Tiwater & Collins Top Field at Nor-Cal Delta Event 

by Tim Paes   

Saturday, September 25, 1999 - Stockton, CA .... The 6th and final Pro-Am qualifying event of the 1999 season took place this weekend on the California Delta. Sixty-four pro and amateur anglers fished the event that would qualify them for the 1999 Tournament of Champions. The weather conditions on the Delta were outstanding, however this made for tougher than normal fishing conditions, with competitors bringing 126 bass to the scales for a total weight of 232 lbs. It was clear that the per fish average would not quite meet the standard weights that the California Delta is capable of kicking out.  

Pro Tom Tiwater, of Ceres, CA, and his partner Andy Collins, of Merced, CA, solved the Delta puzzle and were rewarded with the title. Tiwater and Collins brought 6 fish to the scales with a total weight of 16.74 lbs. The teams‚ weight was anchored by Tiwater’s 7.60 lb. Delta toad that earned him big fish honors in the Pro Division. Tiwater, who is sponsored by Thermo-Oil Batteries, Super Pork and Fishin Musician Worms, reported that the team started in Franks Tract were they caught a quick limit on spinnerbaits and then moved to Fourteen Mile Slough looking for big fish. The move paid off when Tiwater flipped a Fishin Musician zipper worm into the grass and set the hook on his big fish. For their outstanding day, Tiwater took home $1,215.00 while Collins earned  $800.00 for a team total of $2,015.00.  

Second place went to Pro John Myers, of Atwater, CA, and his partner Marvin Vaughn, of Delhi, CA, with a 6 fish limit that tipped the scales at 13.22 lbs. Myers, who is sponsored by Predator Worms and his wife "The Best Half", reported that the team caught their fish from the surface to 4’ deep using buzzbaits, crankbaits, frogs and flipping Predator witches tit ringworms. Myers went on to say that they keyed on the grass in Franks Tract, Mildred Island and several areas of the main channel in order to score their limit. Myers took home $880.00 while Vaughn earned $460.00 for a team total of $1,340.00.  

Pro Norval Pimentel, of Modesto, CA, and his partner Mark Handcock, of Ceres, CA brought a 6 fish limit to the scales that weighed 12.84 lbs. Pimentel, who is sponsored by Stratos Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Boats Unlimited, Pradco, Silver Thread, Pinnacle Rods & Reels, Outwest Marketing Group, Central Valley Propeller, Keeper Custom Worms, Ex-Cel Lures, Mustad Hooks, BANG, Super Pork and Top Brass Tackle, reported that the team caught their fish flipping Brushogs in water 3‚ to 4‚ deep. Pimentel indicated they keyed on water with 9’ to 10’ breaks that were close to the tules. Pimentel took home $544.00 while Handcock earned $155.00 for a team total of $699.00.  

Rounding out the money winners in 4th place was the team of Pro Larry Sanders, of Soquel, CA, and his partner Tom Sawicki, of Modesto, CA. Sanders and Sawicki had a 6 fish limit of 11.90 lbs. that earned them $423.00. Fifth place went to Pro Dan Perkins, of Arnold, CA and his partner Jeff Hartung, of Modesto, CA with a 6 fish limit of 11.10 lbs. Perkins and Hartung took home $240.00. The final money position went to Pro Ron Schultz and his partner Mike Bugarin, both of Modesto, CA for their 6 fish limit that tipped the scales at 10.76 lbs. Schultz and Bugarin took home $150.00. Big Fish in the Amateur Division went to Lester Yamaguichi with his 3.44 lb. Delta bass that earned him $150.00.  

The $75.00 cash award from B.A.I.T. Insurance went to the first Pro out of the money with a B.A.I.T. sticker on his boat. The winning pro was Duke Lizotte of Waterford, CA. The prize was awarded by B.A.I.T. Prostaffer Vince Costanza.  

This event was also the last qualifying event for the 1999 TOC. The top twenty five pro and amateur qualifiers will fish the two day tournament on New Melones Reservoir October 9th and 10th, 1999. We would like to congratulate our 1999 Pro and Amateur Anglers of the Year. In the Pro Division Dan Perkins of Arnold, CA made it back to back with his decisive victory while in the amateur division Mike Bugarin of Modesto, CA, came from 4th place to take the title in a very tight race.  

We would like to thank our trophy sponsor for the Delta, Bob's Marine along with our product sponsors, V&V Custom Baits, Fishin Musician Worms and Fisherman's Warehouse. Also a very special thank you to Stratos Boats, Johnson Outboards and Boats Unlimited for making it possible for our Pro Division anglers to compete for a fully rigged 1999 Stratos 283 bass boat at this years TOC.