Pimentel & Sims Earn Victory at Nor-Cal New Melones Event 

by Tim Paes   

Saturday, May 15, 1999 - Angels Camp, CA .... The 5th stop on the 1999 Nor-Cal Bass Tournament Trail landed at New Melones. Sixty anglers showed up to fish the event under clear and breezy conditions. The competitors were fishing for a total purse of $4,750.00. Many of the competitors reported that the fishing had been outstanding leading up to the cutoff date before the lake went off-limits and that there were many 3 lb. to 4 lb. fish caught during pre-fish. The talk preceding the event was that it would take 20 lbs. to win. However, this was before a week of daily winds and cooler temperatures forced the larger fish out of the shallow water and gave them a good case of lockjaw. The tournament brought in the numbers of fish predicted, but the quality was not the same. Twenty-seven of the thirty teams brought in a 6-fish limit with many of those teams reporting that they culled fish all day long. The event brought 172 black bass to the scales for a total weight of 288 lbs. big fish for the event went to Steve Marino of Salida, CA with a 4.30 lb. black bass.  

Pro Norval Pimentel of Modesto, CA and his partner Lew Sims of Ceres, CA were able to weed through the smaller fish and bring a solid 6-fish limit to the scales that weighed 14.92 lbs. The teams‚ weight was anchored by a 3.90 lb. bass caught by Pimentel. That fish earned Pimentel Big Fish honors in the Pro Division. 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, ExCel Lures, Mustad Hooks, BANG, Super Pork and Top Brass Tackle, reported that he shook Keeper worms while Sims used a Carolina Rig and that all of their fish came from the lower end of the lake.  Pimentel and Sims earned a total of $1,890.00.  

Second place went to Pro Larry Sanders of Soquel, CA and his partner Steve Marino of Salida, CA. Sanders and Marino weighed in a 6-fish limit that tipped the scales at 12.44 lbs. The weight was anchored by Marino's 4.30 lb. bass that earned him Big Fish in the Amateur Division and for the event. Sanders reported that the team had a limit early on topwater and then fished worms and jigs the rest of the day in order to cull up to their 2^nd place weight. Marino used a Keeper zipper worm to catch the event's big fish. Sanders went on to thank Nor-Cal and all the fishermen that fished the event and urged more anglers to fish Nor-Cal. Sanders and Marino won a total of $1,322.00.  

Pro Brian Rabith of Merced, CA and his partner Tom Powell of Valley Springs, CA finished 3rd by bringing in a 6-fish limit that totaled 11.98 lbs. The weight was anchored by Powell's 4.00 lb. bass that he caught on a Zoom Baby Brushog. Rabith, who is sponsored by Predator Worms, his wife and daughter, reported that all of their fish, other than Powell's 4 lb. bass, were caught by burning a spinnerbait as fast as you could turn the handle. Rabith and Powell took home $633.00.  

Rounding out the money winners in 4th place was Pro Robin Lowe of Denair, CA and Wayne Clouse of Atwater, CA with a 6-fish limit of 11.04 lbs and earnings of $481.00. Fifth place went to Pro Don Longton of Atwater, CA and Mark Handcock of Ceres, CA with a 6-fish limit of 10.90 lbs and winnings of $186.00. The last money spot went to Pro Dan Sexton of Hughson, CA and Mark Winchester of Ceres, CA with their 6-fish limit that weighed 10.64 lbs. The team took home $238.00 for their 6th place finish.  

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 Micky Wall of Turlock, CA. The prize was awarded by B.A.I.T. Insurance Prostaffer Vince Costanza.  

We would like to thank our trophy sponsor for New Melones, ExCel Lures, along with our product sponsors: Fishin Musician Worms, Keeper Custom Worms, Predator Worms, Super Pork, V&V Custom Baits, ExCel Lures, BANG, Universal Telescopic, Malibu Boats and Delta Bait & Tackle (Fishermen's Warehouse) who donated a rod & reel combo that was won by Tim Paes of Turlock, CA. Thanks also to Glory Hole Sports for opening up the store at 3:30 a.m. for our check-in. Also a very special thank you to Stratos Boats, Johnson Outboards and Boats Unlimited. Because of their support the Pro Division will be fishing for a fully rigged bass boat at the 1999 T.O.C.  

The sixth and final qualifying event for the 1999 T.O.C. will take place on the California Delta out of Stockton, CA on September 25, 1999. The official check-in location will be Ladd’s Marina from 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m.  

The top 25 Pro and Amateurs from the 6 tournament Pro-Am season will qualify for the 1999 T.O.C. The Pro Division qualifiers at the T.O.C. will be fishing for a 1999 fully rigged Stratos Bass Boat. For more info on Nor-Cal, contact Tournament Director: Don Mutchler at (209) 523-0454 or Diana Wilson at (209) 577-0696.