2000 Season Ends on the California Delta for
Nor-Cal Anglers

By Tim Paes   

10/12/2000 - B&W Resort, Rio Vista, CA .... With the 6 qualifying events finished for the year, the moment that the top 20 pro and amateur anglers had been waiting for had finally arrived. The 2000 Tournament of Champions was about to take place. As the anglers began arriving for the partner pairings, their thoughts were about the weather conditions and how it would affect their game plans. Strong winds had blanketed the Delta region and many of the pros were concerned how it would affect their fish and if they could even get to the areas they wanted to fish.  

As safe light approached, the anglers began making their way to the 5 mph buoys where they would make their assault on the California Delta. The 2000 season Pro Angler of the Year, Gary Thomas was the 1st boat called as he launched his boat onto the white caps that were rolling down the channel. One by one the anglers blasted off for their tournament day, as we would wait and see who would be leading at days end.  

As the 3:30 p.m. weigh-in approached, the 1st boat to the scales would set the mark for the day. Pro Joe Hernandez, of Stockton, CA and partner Bill Caldera, of Sonora, CA brought a 6 fish limit to the scales that weighed 22.30 lbs. The pair‚s weight was anchored by two 6 lb. bass caught by Caldera, the largest, which weighed 6.46 lbs, took Am big fish honors on day 1. Second place belonged to Pro Ben Galloway, of Tracy, CA and Greg Olson, also from Tracy. Galloway and Olson brought in 6 fish that weighed 16.16 lbs. Pro Steve D'Orsey, of Pinecrest, CA and John Bates, of Riverbank, CA held the 3rd place position with their 13.34 lb. 6 fish limit.  

The stage was set for day 2. With a 6 lb. lead going into the second day of competition, Hernandez and Caldera would be the anglers to catch.  

Sunday morning would bring a pleasant surprise for the anglers as the wind had subsided and the waters were calm. The anglers were paired with new partners and reversed their blast off order for the 2nd day of competition. Once again the 20 pro and amateur anglers made their way onto the waters of the Delta for their chance to take the title.  

The 6 lb. lead by Joe Hernandez would prove to be enough as he took the title in the Pro Division. Hernandez, who fished with Greg Olson on day 2, brought in a 6 fish limit that weighed 12.06 lbs and gave the pro a 2 day total of 34.36 lbs. Hernandez told the crowd that he keyed on shallow grass beds that broke into deeper water. His bait of choice was a Zoom Brushog that he swam through the grass. Hernandez also gave credit to his Day 1 partner, Bill Caldera for catching the two 6 lb. bass that gave them the lead and eventual title. Along with the title, Hernandez took home $2,620.  

Second place in the Pro Division went to Steve D'Orsey. D'Orsey, who fished with Chris Humphres, of Ceres, CA on the 2nd day of competition brought in another 6 fish limit that tipped the scales at 15.74 lbs. D'Orsey reported that he used topwater baits, crankbaits and jigs to catch his fish. D'Orsey fished the main channel in 8 to 10 ft of water and said that current was the key to catching fish. D'Orsey thanked his girlfriend, Laurie for all her support as he accepted his 2nd place prize of $1,884.  

Tom Tiwater, of Ceres, CA took 3rd place in the Pro Division with a 2-day total of 27.50 lbs. Tiwater, who fished with Ron Wilson, of Modesto, CA on the 1st competition day brought in an 11.30 lb. limit that put the pair in 9th place. Tiwater was paired with Aram Carney, of San Mateo, CA on day 2 and the pair brought in a 6 fish limit that tipped the scales at 16.20 lbs. Tiwater capped his 2-day total by catching the biggest fish of the TOC, a 7.68 lb. toad that succumbed to a Ben Galloway Spinnerbait. Tiwater, who is sponsored by Autolife, Super Pork, Fishin Musician and Thermo-Oil, thanked his partners for the weekend and his wife, Shirley for all her support. Tiwater reported catching fish on spinnerbaits and flipping baits on the shallow grass line. Tiwater also gave credit to Ben Galloway and Van Blades. The trio has been working together during prefish and sharing information that has improved all their recent finishes. Tiwater took home $1,249 for his weekend of fishing.  

Rounding out the money winners in the Pro Division was John Myers, of Atwater CA with a two day total of 26.28 lbs. Myers took home $520. The day 1 Big Fish honors went to Brian Rabith, of Merced, CA with his 4.56 lb. bass that netted the pro $100.  

Like Pro champion Hernandez, Amateur Division champion Bill Caldera took the lead on day 1 and never relinquished it. Caldera had a 2-day total of 32.42 lbs. Caldera was paired with Wesley Jones, of Escalon, CA for day 2. The pair brought in a 10.12 lb limit that carried Caldera to the title. Caldera attributed his success to 1st day partner Hernandez for putting him on the water that allowed him to catch the two 6 lb bass that gave them the lead. Caldera reported catching the 1st big fish on a Senko and the 2nd one on a Better Bait black and blue jig. Caldera thanked his Pro partners for helping him take home $1,680.  

Second place in the Am Division went to Greg Olson. Olson, who fished with Ben Galloway on day 1 and Joe Hernandez on the 2nd day of competition brought in a 2-day total of 28.22 lbs. Olson, who used reaper worms, traps and blades thanked his Pro partners for contributing to his $942 payday.  

Chris Humphres finished in 3rd place with a 2-day total of 28.12 lbs. Humphres, who fished with Angler of the Year Gary Thomas, of Tracy, CA on day 1 brought in a 12.38 lb limit that put the pair in 5th place. Humphres fished with Steve D'Orsey on day 2 and upped his total with a 15.74 lb limit that sealed his 3rd place finish. Humphres fished with Senko's, topwater baits and tube baits on the way to his finish that earned him $790.  

Rounding out the Am Division money winners was 4th place finisher Chris Rains, of Soledad, CA with a 2-day total of 25.34 lbs. Rains took home $368 for his weekend on the water. Jeff Hartung, of Riverbank, CA took Am Division Big Fish honors on Sunday with his 7.30 lb monster that earned him $100.  

The tournament saw 196 bass cross the scales for a total weight of 398 lbs. The average weight per fish was 2.03 lbs. Nor-Cal Bass would like to thank the Black Bass Action Committee (BBAC) for the use of the live release boat. Thanks to Ted Wong, who captained the release boat, the tournament lost only 1 bass during the 2 days of competition.  

We would also like to thank Autolife Auto Parts & Sporting Goods, our trophy sponsor for the TOC and B&W Resort for hosting our 2000 Tournament of Champions. Nor-Cal Bass is able to pay back 100% of your entry fees each and every year due to our many great sponsors. We would like to offer a very special thank you to Stratos Boats, Evinrude Outboards and Boats Unlimited along with General Motors and Courtesy Automotive. These fine businesses, along with all our Tournament Trail sponsors, are supporting Nor-Cal and it‚s anglers. Please remember to support them!