Marquez & Brooks Top Nor-Cal Night Event With 20.78 lbs. 

by Tim Paes   

Sunday, June 6, 1999 - Lake Don Pedro, CA ....  Nor-Cal Bass Federation's 1999 night open team event drew 128 anglers from all over the state competing for over $6,500.00 in prize money. After a week of windy unstable conditions, the weather took a turn for the better as the temperatures rose the day of the event and the winds settled. The conditions were near perfect when the 64 boats blasted off at 7:00 p.m. Spirits were high as the anglers headed in different directions to play out their strategies for the 12 hours that lay ahead of them. Once 7:00 a.m. rolled around there wasn't quite the same enthusiasm as the night before. However, many of the anglers brought solid limits  to the scales. Forty-two boats weighed in fish with 39 of them having 6 fish limits. Anglers brought 246 bass to the scales for a total weight of 546 lbs. Most teams used rip baits and crankbaits during daylight hours with worms and jigs the predominant baits at night.  

First place went to the team of John Marquez and Dana Brooks, both from Fresno, CA, with a 6 fish limit that tipped the scales at 20.78 lbs. Marquez and Brooks had a 8.96 lb. kicker that anchored their weight. The team used Bassectomy Worms and Pro Worms in order to bring their solid limit to the scales. Marquez and Brooks took home $2,170.00 plus two beautiful plaques for their effort.  

The Team of Angelo and Patty Koundarakis, of Tracy, CA, took 2nd place with a 6 fish limit of 20.62 lbs. The Koundarakis’ also had big fish for the event with a monster bass that weighed in at 10.74 lbs. The team spent the night in the Wood's Creek area were they fished 10” Power Worms. For their great finish the Koundarakis’ took home $1,642.00.  

Third place went to Stan McGee and Carl Nunes, both of Modesto, CA, with a 6 fish limit that totaled 17.76 lbs. McGee and Nunes also had a kicker fish that tipped the scales at 7.92 lbs. The teams’ night on the lake brought them winnings of $998.00.  

Rounding out the money winners were 4th place finishers David Homen and Scott Summers, both from Hughson, CA, with a 16.90 lb. limit and earnings of $435.00. Fifth place went to George Grissom and Darl Grissom, from Modesto, CA, with a 16.08 lb. limit that won them $300.00. Finishing 6th was the team of Jeff Mathews and Travis Mathews, of Clovis, CA with 15.20 lbs. winning $205.00. Don Longton of Atwater, CA and Steve Mitchell of Merced, CA took home $170.00 for their 14.74 lb. 7th place finish. Eighth place went to Bryan Holmes of Denair, CA, and Jared Wolfley of Modesto, CA, with their 14.62 lb. limit that earned them $160.00. Robert Mansor and Roy Wilbers, of Modesto, CA, took 9th place with their 14.54 lb. limit that earned them $140.00. Tenth place was taken by Kevin Prickett, of Denair, CA, and Stan Prickett, of Modesto, CA, with 14.42 lbs and winnings of $130.00. The 11th spot was taken by Jim Junette, of Sonora, CA and Jim V. Junette, of Newark, CA, with 14.40 lbs and earnings of $110.00. The 12th and final money spot was taken by Dennis Andrews and Jake Jensen of Fresno, CA with a 14.40 lb. limit that earned them $100.00.  

This event, as well as all our team events, was a qualifier for the Stratos/Javelin World Championship Regional that will take place in November. Nor-Cal is proud to have qualified 5 more teams for the Regional. The 5 qualifiers were 1. George Azevedo and Brad Beaune of Turlock, CA, 2. Jamey Hamacek and Jay Hamacek of Buena Park, CA, 3. Norval Pimentel and Bill Hartung of Modesto, CA, 4. Robert Sims and Robbie Topie of Ceres, CA, 5. Ed Gomes of Hilmar, CA and Ron Wilson of Modesto, CA. Congratulations to the anglers that have qualified. First place at the Regional will win $15,000.00. The top 33 teams from the Regional will qualify for the World Championships in the spring of 2000 at a location to be named. First place at the World Championships will be $100,000.00. Our Mix Team event that will take place June 19, 1999 will also qualify 5 more teams to the Regional.  

We would like to thank our event sponsors , Stratos Boats, Johnson Outboards and Boats Unlimited along with our trophy sponsor Boat Country. Also thank you to all our tournament trail sponsors: Stratos Boats, Johnson Outboards, Boats Unlimited, Central Valley Propeller, Central Valley Electric, Smooth as Glass, Bob‚s Marine, Tracy Boat Sales, Auto Life Auto Parts & Sporting Goods, Boat Country, C&C Marine, Ex-Cel Lures, Fishermen's Warehouse, Lane's Campers, P&E Distributors, Super Pork, Keeper Custom Worms, V&V Custom Baits, Predator Worms, Outwest Marketing Group, Pinnacle, Silver Thread, Pradco, Malibu Boats, Universal Telescopic, Fishin Musician Worms, BANG, Thermo-Oil Batteries, Hildebrands Auto Repair, McClure Painting & Plastering, Sipe's Marine, Totems Sport Shop, J&H R.V. Repair, Modesto Welding Products, King View, Kinko's Copy Center and Pacific Tire & Wheel.  

The next event for Nor-Cal Bass will be our Mix Team (guy & gal), which will take place on June 19, 1999 at Lake Don Pedro. Our 6th and last stop on our Pro-Am Tournament Trail will take place September 25, 1999 on the California Delta. For more information, contact Diana Wilson (209) 577-0696, Don Mutchler (209) 523-0454 or visit our web site at fishingworld.com.