Larry Sanders Takes Pro Division Title at 1999 Tournament of Champions 

by Tim Paes   

October 9 - Angels Camp, CA .... Unseasonably warm weather blanketed the Motherlode region of Central California as Nor-Cal Bass Federation held its 1999 Tournament of Champions on New Melones Reservoir. Glory Hole Sports was the tournament headquarters. As the 25 Pro and Amateur anglers arrived for the 5:30 a.m. partner pairings, the talk was about how tough the bite had been during pre-fish. The consensus seemed to be if anybody could catch a limit each day, they would have a good shot at the title and the opportunity to take home that beautiful 1999 Stratos Bass Boat valued at $24,000.00.  

After the partner pairings and the announcing of the rules, the anglers made their 10-minute trek down to the Glory Hole launch ramp where they would discuss their game plan, launch the boats and get ready for the blast off. At approximately 6:45 a.m. boat one was called and the anglers made there way to the 5 mph buoys where they blasted off for their assault on New Melones.  

As 3:30 p.m. approached, the anglers were seen making their entrance to Glory Hole Marina where the weigh-in would take place. The looks and the talk proved that the pre-tournament predictions appeared to be right on! Ten of the 25 teams were able to bring in a 5 fish limit and nobody had any luck finding a big fish as a 2.20 lb. bass was the largest of the day.  

After the first day weights were tallied, it was clear that it was still anybody's tournament to win on Sunday. The leaders after day one were Pro Larry Sanders, of Soquel, CA and his partner Chris Humphries, of Ceres, CA. Sanders and Humphries had a 5 fish limit that weighed 7.98 lbs. Second place was Pro Duke Lizotte, of Waterford, CA and his partner Don Delano, of Modesto, CA with a 5 fish limit of 7.58 lbs. Pro Ernie Evans and his partner Ron Wilson, both of Modesto, CA were in 3rd place with their 6.88 lb. 5 fish limit. Fourth place was held by Pro Loren Giroux, of Turlock, CA and his partner Wayne Clouse, of Atwater, CA with their 5 fish limit of 6.66 lbs. Rounding out the top 5 positions was Pro Robin Lowe, of Denair, CA and his partner Eladio Garcia, of Hughson CA with a 6.64 lb. 5 fish limit.  

With less than 2 1/2 lbs. separating the top 10 teams, it was anybody's game to win. Would the leader board stay the same or would somebody charge from the back of the pack? With the weights so close, the anglers knew that if somebody in the top 10 caught a big fish, they would certainly win it.  

Day two paired the 25 Pro's with new amateur partners and at 6:45 a.m. the teams set out to try and solve the mystery of the tough fishing conditions. Anglers were seen running from one end of the lake to the other as they were trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. As 3:30 p.m. approached the teams made their way to the weigh-in. Some had the look of dejection while others anticipated the outcome and what it would hold.  

Pro Larry Sanders led from wire to wire and was crowned the 1999 Pro Division Champion. Sanders added a second round 7.60 lb. 5 fish limit that gave him a 2-day total of 15.58 lbs. Sanders‚ consistency paid off as he was able to out distance the field and take home the $24.000.00 1st place prize. In addition to the boat, Sanders also had the day one Pro Big Fish, a 2.20 lb. bass that netted him $125.00. Sanders, who is sponsored by Keeper Custom Worms, thanked his partners Chris Humphries and Mark Winchester, of Ceres, CA. Sanders reported that the majority of his time was spent on a long underwater point on the main lake, where he had caught topwater fish on a Zara Spook during pre-fish. Sanders went on to say that he felt he could win this tournament with the fish he was catching. However, the top water bite disappeared after about an hour on the 1st day and Sanders switched to Keeper worms and Jigs and began moving out on the point. Sanders found the fish crossing the point at 44’ where he was able to complete his limit and catch his day two limit that finished his run to the title. Sanders received a big round of applause as OMC and Boats Unlimited Prostaffer Norval Pimentel awarded him the keys to his brand new 1999 Stratos 283DC Bass Boat.  

Second place in the Pro Division went to Pro John Myers, of Atwater, CA. Myers, who was 6th after the first day with 6.44 lbs added the heaviest stringer of day two, a 8.40 lb. 5 fish limit, that gave him a two day total of 14.84 lbs. Myers, who is sponsored by Predator Worms and his wife "the best half" thanked his partners, Steve Black, of Merced, CA and Chris Humphries for their contribution. Myers reported that he had no pattern on day one as he caught fish on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits, brushhogs and spoons and covered water from the surface to 35 ft. Myers spent most of day one in the river where he keyed on steep shaded banks with rocks and wood. Day two was a different day for Myers as all of his fish came on spoons. Myers reported graphing a willow tree in 65’ of water with fish stacked on top of it. Myers went on to say that he dropped his spoon and jigged it a few times with no luck, he then began reeling in and at 40 ft caught a fish. Myers again dropped his spoon and stopped it at 40 ft and began jigging and caught another fish. This was how his limit was completed on the second round of competition and was all he needed to wrap up his 2nd place finish. Myers took home $600.00 and a plaque for his finish.  

Pro Robin Lowe took 3rd place in the Pro Division with a second round weight of 7.10 lbs that gave him a two day total of 13.74 lbs. Lowe, who is the owner of Super Pork, thanked his partners Eladio Garcia and Lew Sims, of Ceres, CA. Lowe went on to report that he had over 3 limits of fish on day one that all came on worms in 20ft - 40 ft of water. On day two Lowe reported catching an early limit on worms then switched to a jig tipped with Sr. Super Pork that enabled him to cull up to his finishing weight. Lowe keyed on breaks with scattered brush to work his baits. Lowe's 3rd place finish earned him $450.00.  

Rounding out the Pro Division money winners, in 4th place was Pro Ernie Evans, who fished with Ron Wilson and Wayne Clouse. Evans came to the scales with a two-day total of 13.50 lbs. Evans also had day two Big Fish in the Pro Division, a 4.48 lb. toad that netted him $125.00. With his finish, Evans took home a total of $425.00. Pro Loren Giroux took 5th place with his two-day total of 12.94 lbs. Giroux, who fished with Wayne Clouse and Eladio Garcia, earned $150.00 for his finish.  

In the Amateur Division Chris Humphries also led from wire to wire. Humphries, who fished with Pro's Larry Sanders and John Myers, never looked back as he combined back-to-back stringers that totaled 16.38 lbs. Humphries also took day 2 Big Fish honors in the amateur division with his 2.12 lb. bass. For his outstanding finish, Humphries took home a total of  $1,324.00.  

Second place in the Amateur Division went to Don Delano. Delano who fished with Pros Duke Lizotte and Don Longton, of Atwater, CA, came to the scales with a two-day total of 13.34 lbs. Delano's finish earned him $878.00. Wayne Clouse took the 3rd spot in the Amateur Division with a two day total of 13.28 lbs. Clouse, who fished with Pros Loren Giroux and Ernie Evans, took home $652.00 for his finish. Fourth place Amateur was Eladio Garcia who tallied a 12.92 lb. two day weight. Garcia, who fished with Pros Robin Lowe and Loren Giroux earned 366.00. Mark Winchester took the 5th spot with his two day total 12.58 lbs. Winchester, who fished with Pros Dennis Winchester, of Ceres, CA and Larry Sanders took home $260.00 for his finish. Rounding out the money winners in the Amateur Division was Mike Jones, of Clovis CA. Jones, who fished with Pro Dan Perkins, of Arnold, CA had the day one Big Fish in the amateur division. Jones‚ fish weighed 2.04 lbs. and netted him $120.00.  

We would like to thank our trophy sponsor at the T.O.C., Auto Life Auto Parts & Sporting Goods, along with our tournament host, Glory Hole Sports, for making our check-in and awards ceremony an enjoyable event.  

We must also give a very special thank you to Stratos Boats, Johnson Outboards and Boats Unlimited. They are the reason we were able to give away a brand new 1999 Stratos and Johnson package to our T.O.C. Champion Larry Sanders. When you are ready for your next boat, or first boat, visit Boats Unlimited and see for yourself why Nor-Cal chooses Stratos to be it's official boat sponsor into the 21st century!