Pimentel
& Kennedy Take Kickoff Event of
Nor-Cal 2000 Season
By
Tim Paes
Saturday,
January 8, 2000 - Lake McClure, California .... Nor-Cal Bass kicked off its 2000
season with a bang as 116 Pro and Amateur anglers entered the 1st event of the
year in order to compete for the nearly $10,000.00 in prize money to be awarded
at the end of the day. The lake had been dropping steadily due to the near
drought conditions that have blanketed California for the past 3 months. The
receding of the lake appeared to have little effect on the quality and quantity
of fish that were caught during pre-fish. Many anglers reported the fishing had
been fantastic during the past few weeks with everybody catching large numbers
of fish. Lake McClure, which is predominately known for its concentration of
spotted bass, has not had a reputation of holding quality bass for several
years. However, that has seemed to change as the effects of the slot limit that
was imposed by Department of Fish & Game several years earlier is finally
having an influence on the average size fish caught. Many of the anglers
reported catching several 2 lb. to 3 lb. spots during pre-fish. If the pre
tournament predictions held, it would take
a 16 lb. to 18 lb. limit to win.
As
the weights were tallied it became clear that the numbers of fish were still
there. But, the size had slipped slightly. Still, several anglers brought in
solid limits that tipped the scales in the 10 lb. to 12 lb. range. Anglers began
reporting that the pattern had changed since the lake had gone off limits.
During pre-fish many of the competitors were catching their fish in very shallow
water on worms, jigs and spinnerbaits, but as the tournament day progressed the
successful teams found themselves moving out into water as deep as 50 to 60 ft.
Many of the teams reported catching and culling fish all day. This was apparent
as 48 of the 58 boats in the event brought in a 6 fish limit. By the end of the
weigh-in, 318 bass were brought to the scales with a total weight of 539 lbs.
With
so many deep caught fish, Nor-Cal officials knew they needed to address the
possibility of floating fish. Officials decided to setup a release boat outside
the 5 mph buoys where anglers were required to take their fish. Officials used a
weighted basket to put fish into, and slowly lowered the basket to a depth of 75
ft. where the fish would regain neutral buoyancy and are able to swim off. The
system was a huge success as not one fish came floating back to the top!
After
the weights were tallied and sorted, Pro Norval Pimentel, of Modesto, CA and his
partner Clayton Kennedy, of Bakersfield,
CA were declared champions. Pimentel and Kennedy brought 6 fish to the scales
that weighed 13.68 lbs. Pimentel, who is sponsored by Stratos Boats, Evinrude
Outboards, Boats Unlimited, Pradco, Silver Thread, Outwest Marketing Group,
Central Valley Propeller, Keeper Custom Worms, ExCel Lures, Mustad Hooks, BANG,
Super Pork and Top Brass Tackle, reported that all of their fish came shaking
Keeper Custom Worms on a Shimano spinning rod and reel in 50 ft. of water in
main lake areas from Piney Creek to Temperance. Pimentel went on to say that he
keyed on areas void of rock knowing that the other anglers would be pounding the
rock. Pimentel took home a beautiful 1st place burl plus a check for $2,050.00
while Kennedy also received a 1st place burl plus $1,285.00 for a team total of
$3,335.00.
Second
place went to Pro Bruce Harris, of Oakdale, CA and his partner Andy Collins, of
Merced, CA. Harris and Collins weighed 6 fish for 12.60 lbs. Harris told the
crowd he and his partner spent the day in the Cottonwood area of the lake
dragging worms, jigs and gitzits in 20 to 35 ft. of water, keying on rock to
catch their fish. Both anglers took home 2nd place plaques plus checks of
$1,172.00 for Harris and $741.00 for Collins, which equaled a team total of
$1,913.00.
Pro
Steve Mitchell, of Merced, CA and his partner Jeff Hartung, of Riverbank, CA
took 3rd place with their 12.14 lb. 6 fish limit. Mitchell reported using worms
and jigs, also in deep water to catch their fish. Mitchell took home $800.00
while Hartung earned $504.00 for a team total of $1,304.00.
Big
fish in the Pro Division went to Toby Guenthart, of Cathy‚s Valley, CA.
Guenthart weighed in a 3.16 lb. bass that earned him $560.00. In the Amateur
Division, Marvin Vaughn, of Delhi, CA. weighed in a 3.18 lb. bass that netted
him $530.00. Vaughn also took home a plaque for big fish of the event.
Rounding
out the money winners, in 4th place was Frank Contreras Sr. and Chris Rains with
a 6 fish limit of 12.00 lbs. that earned them $600.00. Fifth place went to Larry
Sanders and Ed Dickey with an 11.80 lb. 6 fish limit that netted them $435.00.
Toby Guenthart and Lewis Long took 6th place with 11.64 lbs and earnings of
$285.00. Seventh place and $240.00 went to Gary Thomas and Tom Powell with 11.38
lbs. Bobby Barrack and Anthony Pimentel took 8th place also with 11.38 lbs and
earnings of $210.00. Another 11.38 lb. limit took 9th placed and
earned the team of Van Blades and Ken Duran $195.00. Tenth place went to Jason
Horton and Ron Wilson with 11.36 lbs. and earnings of $180.00. The final money
spot went to the 11th place team of Albert Azevedo and Tom Sawicki with 11.32
lbs. and winnings of $150.00.
We
would like to thank our trophy sponsor at Lake McClure, Thermo-Oil Batteries,
along with our many product sponsors, Ex-Cel Lures, P&E Distributors, Super
Pork, Keeper Custom Worms, Fishin Musician Worms, Predator Worms, V&V Custom
Baits, Malibu Boats, Outwest Marketing and Universal Telescopic. Thank you also
to Lake McClure Marina for hosting our event. Also a very special thank you to
Stratos Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Boats Unlimited, Chevrolet and Courtesy
Chevrolet for making this organization a huge success.
February
12, 2000 marks the 2nd stop on our Tournament Trail when we will be at New
Melones. Check in will be from 4:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. at Glory Hole Sports in
Angels Camp, CA. Visit our web site at fishingworld.com for full schedule and
information.
Our
2000 team events will once again be qualifiers for the Stratos/Javelin World
Championship Regional, which will take place in the spring of 2001. Nor-Cal Bass
qualified 9 teams to the 1999 Regional on the California Delta in which $58,000
cash was paid back and the top 33 teams qualified to go to Kentucky Lake in
Tennessee. Those anglers will be competing for a 1st place prize of $100,000.00!
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