Oregon
Team Captures Title at Stratos/Javelin Owners Tournament on Clear Lake
by
Tim Paes
09/18/2000
- Lakeport, CA .... What started out as a thank you to the many Stratos/Javelin
boat owners just three years ago has turned into a world-class event presented
by Boats Unlimited, of Riverbank, CA. The 3rd annual tournament
brought together 128 anglers from as far away as Indiana. Many of the teams
traveled great distances for the opportunity to fish this event and qualify for
the Stratos/Javelin World Championship Western Regional. The Western Regional
(Region 6) will take place on these same waters in the spring of 2001.
The
64 teams began arriving Friday evening to register and pick up their tackle
pack‚s that were loaded with product from Stratos, Javelin and Boats Unlimited
along with tackle from Fishin Musician, Super Pork and Keeper Custom Worms. The
talk from many of the anglers that evening was about how tough the bite had been
during pre-fish. However, others commented that it would take 40 lbs. to win the
tournament. Those with the insight to predict 40 lbs would be proven true as the
winning weight fell only 2 lbs shy of that mark. Clear Lake is world renown for
its huge bass and this tournament would be no different as several 5 lb. to 9
lb. bass were brought to the scales. However, those Clear Lake bass were dwarfed
by the tournament's big fish, a massive 12.66 lb. monster bass that brought a
huge ovation from the crowd. The 2-day event saw 293 bass come across the scales
that totaled 873 lbs. that's nearly a 3 lb. average for this awesome fishery!
Saturday
morning the anglers were greeted with hot coffee, orange juice and breakfast
rolls as the staff held the pre-tournament meeting and the drawing of the
starting positions. The teams then launched their boats and discussed their game
plan as they waited for safe light. After the playing of the National Anthem,
the anglers began their assault on Clear Lake.
The
1st day of competition saw many solid limits come across the scales anchored by
several huge fish. As the anglers weighed their fish, they were greeted with
lunch prepared by Arnold’s BBQ along with seminars performed by Stratos and
Javelin Prostaffers. After the weigh-in was completed, anglers were given the
opportunity to test-drive several of the 2000 model Stratos and Javelin bass
boats. Also on display were 2001 model Stratos and Javelin boats.
Day
1 leaders were Ed Holsen and Ed Holmen, of Clovis, CA with a 5 fish limit of
22.96 lbs. Holsen and Holmen would go into day 2 with a 5 lb. lead. Second place
belonged to Det Mason and Dennis Britton, of Albany, OR with 5 fish that tipped
the scales at 17.60 lbs. The team of Pete Pickerton and Dan Hannum, of Lakeport,
CA held 3rd place with a 5 fish limit of 16.28 lbs. George Azevedo and Albert
Azevedo, of Turlock, CA were holding the Big Fish title after day 1 with their
9.06 lb. toad that succumbed to a crawdad colored crankbait fished on the rocks
in less then 10 ft. of water.
Although
the tournament was done for the day, the excitement wasn't over. The teams and
their families would be treated to a dinner and raffle that would take place at
the County Fairgrounds that evening. The guests enjoyed a tri-tip and chicken
dinner once again provided by Arnold's BBQ. Not only did the anglers receive
dinner as part of their entry, also included for free was the raffle that
totaled just under $24,500 in donated products. Every angler present took home a
prize and several of them took home two! Also drawn was the winner of the early
entry, who took home two Thermo-Oil Batteries donated by P&E Distributing.
Special prizes were presented to the oldest and newest boats in the tournament.
The oldest prize went to Wes Remmers, of Modesto, CA for his 1984 model 385
Stratos and there was a tie for the newest, Andy "Cooch" Cuccia, of
Oakley, CA and Anthony Pimentel, of Modesto, CA each picked up their 2000 model
20 SS Extreme's at the same time. The evening ended with Bill and Karen Hartung,
owners of Boats Unlimited, thanking the anglers and sponsors for all their
support and wishing good luck to the anglers for the 2nd day of competition.
Day
2 would also begin with the playing of the National Anthem, as the anglers would
try to figure out what they needed to do to win the event. Would the 5 lb. lead
by Holsen and Holmen hold up or would another team charge from the back of the
pack to take the title? Time would tell as the staff prepared the stage for the
1:00 p.m. weigh-in.
The
scales again saw many solid limits pass through as the crowd waited for the top
3 teams to weigh their fish. The 3rd place team of Pickerton and Hannum again
brought a solid 5 fish limit to the scales that totaled 18.02 lbs and put them
into 1st place. Mason and Britton who sat in 2nd place came to the scales with
the second day's largest 5 fish limit that tipped the scales at 20.42 lbs.,
which catapulted the team into 1st place. Holsen and Holmen would come to the
scales needing just over 15 lbs. to keep the lead and take the title. As the
fish were placed on the scales, the team knew that their weight would fall just
short as the scale flashed 12.44 lbs. for their 3 fish. It was an exciting end
to a great tournament!
As
the results were checked for accuracy, the anglers were once again treated to
lunch, provided by Arnold's, as well as seminars and more raffle prizes donated
by the many sponsors of the tournament. Also on hand, offering their support for
the tournament was Corbett Jones, Strategic Marketing Manager for
Stratos/Javelin and George Henderson, Regional Sales Manager for
Stratos/Javelin. Corbett was here from the factory in Murfreesboro, TN and
George made the trip from Clovis to offer their support and thank the anglers
for choosing Stratos/Javelin.
The
results were finalized and the team of Det Mason and Dennis Britton were
officially crowned champions of the 3rd Annual Stratos/Javelin Owners
Tournament. The team had a 2-day total of 38.02 lbs. for 10 fish. Mason and
Britton told the crowd that they spent their whole weekend within site of the
launch ramp and burned maybe 3 gallons of gas. The team fished frogs on Long
Tule Point, keying on sparse mats in shallow water. The team reported that the
bite was very slow and that they had hooked approximately 40 fish in the 2 days
and got 16 of them into the boat, which isn’t a bad average for frog fishing.
Mason and Britton went on to thank Boats Unlimited and the entire staff
responsible for putting on the tournament. For their outstanding weekend of
fishing the team took home $2,175 and two beautiful burl plaques.
Second
place went to Ed Holsen and Ed Holmen, who brought 8 fish to the scales for a
weekend total of 35.40 lbs. Holsen and Holmen found their fish on tule's and
rock piles during pre-fish. The team reported that the bigger fish were on the
rock piles in 20 feet of water and that they had caught a 9 lb. bass during
pre-fish. Holsen and Holmen started on the tule's early Saturday and put 3 fish
in the boat before they moved to the rock piles to improve their limit. The team
made the decision to live or die on the rock piles Sunday and their effort just
fell slightly short. They still had a tremendous tournament and were rewarded
with $1,399. Holsen thanked Boats Unlimited and Stratos Boats for the
opportunity to fish and advance in a major team tournament like the
Stratos/Javelin World Championship. Holsen also wished to thank his wife, Mary,
for all her support.
Pete
Pickerton and Dan Hannum started the day in 3rd place and remained there at the
conclusion of the event. Pickerton and Hannum had a 2-day total of 34.30 lbs.
for 10 fish. The team reported that all their fish came on buzzbaits on tule
points and the bite was over by 8:30 a.m. For their great fishing, Pickerton and
Hannum took home $1,066.
Big
fish for the tournament went to Andy Lucas, of Ceres, CA. Lucas and his partner,
Jeff Frey, hooked the monster 12.66 lb. bass on a Fishin Musician Swim Bait in
25 feet of water. Lucas reported that the fish came off of a rocky point on the
main lake. Lucas went on to say that he had cast the swim bait out and let it go
to the bottom were he then ripped it off the bottom and let it fall again. On
the third rip the bait just stopped and then the battle was on! Lucas won the
battle and the team was rewarded with a check for $310.
Rounding
out the top 10, in 4th place was Bryan Michnevich and Mitch Michnevich with
31.28 lbs. and $500. Fifth place went to Richard Pounds and Frank Alban with
30.98 lbs., winning $400. Brad Mikkelson and Bryan Cox took 6th place with 28.22
lbs., earning the team $300. Gary and Peggy Thomas took 7th place and earned
$230 with their 27.88 lb. limit. Eighth place went to Tony Matuska and Bart
Corrie with 27.18 lbs., earning the team $210. Dick Harrison and Jim Milburn
earned $190 for their 27.12 lb. 9th place finish. Tenth place went to Ken Hyde
and Mark Mendez with their 26.12 lb limit that earned the team $170.
This
tournament was also a qualifier for the Stratos/Javelin Regional, which will
take place on May 11, 12, & 13, 2001 at Clear Lake. As this story is going
to press, I have been informed of some changes that will take place at the
Regional. Stratos/Javelin has announced that there will be 40 qualifiers to the
World Championship instead of 20 and they will payback 250 places at the World
Championship instead of 120. Just two more reasons to fish this fabulous event
if you get the opportunity. I was present at the last World Championship on
Kentucky Lake and I can guarantee you won’t want to miss this event if at all
possible. You can't make it unless you fish the Regional and qualify, so plan on
being there and filling one of the forty available slots. You won't be sorry you
did!
This
tournament could not take place if it wasn't for the many sponsors that
supported the event. Bill and Karen and the whole Boats Unlimited Team wish to
thank their major sponsors: Cabela's, Transamerica Distribution Finance, West
Mar Insurance, Stratos/Javelin Boats and Outboard Marine Corporation along with
Nor-Cal Bass and Bass'n Gals. Also thanks to P&E Thermo Batteries, Central
Valley Propeller, Forever Resorts, Pradco, Predator, Eagle Claw, Keeper Worms,
Fishin Musician Worms, Mister Twister, Mega Baits, Sure Life, Lowrance, Aurora
Canvas, Charging Systems International, Diversified Products, Coast
Distribution, Frank Rodriques Custom Rods, Super Pork, Limit Out Tackle, Solar
Bat, Hamby's Protector, Frogg Toggs, New Deal Market, B&W Distributing, Save
Mart, Persuader Baits and Teleflex Marine.
Boats
Unlimited also thanks all the anglers that fished the tournament and invites all
that didn't to plan on attending next year. From my perspective I know you'll
enjoy the quality of this world-class event!
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