VALDEZ
& LONG TAKE MELONES TITLE WITH 11.46 LBS
Saturday, February 10, 2001
Angels Camp, CA
By: Tim Paes
The second Pro-Am event of the
2001 season took place at New Melones under harsh conditions. Wind and rain
welcomed the 87 anglers that showed up to fish the tournament.
Thank goodness Glory Hole Sports owners, Dan & Melanie, had the store
open at 4:30 a.m. for our check-in. This offered a warm dry place to drink a
cup of coffee and hold our partner pairings.
Conditions had changed
dramatically since the lake went off-limits. The weekend before, temperatures
reached nearly 70 degrees, but after a week of cold, wet and windy weather, the
anglers were wondering what it would do to the fishing conditions.
As the anglers came to the
scales, it was apparent that the weather did have an effect on the fish. The
majority of competitors reported tough fishing as only 9 six fish limits were
weighed. The tournament saw147 bass cross the scales with a total weight of 250
lbs.
Pro Angel Valdez, of Livermore,
CA, and partner Ken Long, of Turlock, CA, finished the tournament on top with
their 6 fish limit that tipped the scales at 11.46 lbs. Valdez, who is sponsored
by Innovative Tackle, Kickin Bass, Reaction Lures, Solar Bat and Kistler Rods,
reported that his pre-fish time had been limited due to mechanical problems, but
he had found fish on the south end of the lake. Valdez’s game plan looked
bleak at blast off, as he knew he wouldn’t be able to fish the area he wanted
too in the strong winds. Instead of panicking, Valdez used his head and thought
about areas he could fish that would be protected. Valdez remembered an area in
the river below the 49 bridge that would offer some protection from the wind and
he had caught fish there in the past. The decision proved right, as the pair
caught all their fish there. Valdez went on to say that their fish came off of
vertical walls with cuts and round points. The team caught their fish shakin
6” Keeper and Magic Worms on Maxima Line in 30 to 50 feet of water. For their
great day on a tough day, Valdez took home $1,750 while Long earned $570 for a
team total of $2,320.
Second place went to Pro Larry
Sanders, of Soquel, CA, and his partner Keith Kennedy, of Concord, CA. Sanders
and Kennedy brought a 6 fish limit to the scales that weighed 11.42 lbs.
Sanders, who is sponsored by Keeper Custom Worms, told the crowd that the pair
caught their fish on Keeper jigs and worms along with Yamamoto Spider Jigs on
main lake points with brush in 35 to 50 feet of water. Sanders won $991 while
Kennedy took home $313 for a team total of $1,304.
Pro Frank Lasiter, of Oakdale,
CA, and partner Art Lackey, of Waterford, CA, finished 3rd with their
6 fish limit that totaled 10.82 lbs. Lasiter, who is sponsored by Javelin Boats,
Evinrude Outboards, Boats Unlimited, Super Pork and Duh Hum Baits, reported
their fish came off mid lake points in 40 to 60 feet of water. Lasiter used a ¼
oz. homemade brown jig tipped with green Super Pork tied to Maxima Line on a St
Croix Rod. Lasiter went on to say that the key to catching their fish was to fan
cast the points and shake the jig in the isolated brush. Lasiter took home $644
while Lackey earned $645 for a team total of $1,289.
Rounding out the top 5, in 4th
place was Pro Don Kennedy, of Elk Grove, CA, and his partner Loren Hayes, of
Turlock, CA. Kennedy and Hayes brought in a 6 fish limit weighing 10.14 lbs. The
pair took home $755. Fifth place went to Pro Gary Thomas, of Tracy, CA, and
Eladio Garcia, of Hughson, CA, with a 6 fish limit tipping the scales at 10.02
lbs. Thomas and Garcia earned $375.
Pro Big Fish went to Mike
Bugarin, of Modesto, CA, with his 4.38 lb. bass that earned the pro $430. In the
Amateur Division, Grant Lowther, of Woodland, CA, earned
$400 for his 3.44 lb. bass that took Am Division Big Fish honors.
Our official rod sponsor, St
Croix Rods, award the highest finishing pro and am out of the money with an Avid
and Premier Rod at each of our events in 2001. Pro angler Robin Lowe, of Denair,
CA, took home the Avid while Bryan Cox, of Salida, CA, took home the Premier.
Thank you St Croix for supporting our anglers and contributing to our success.
In the 2001 Angler of the Year
race, Don Kennedy moved into 1st place in the Pro Division with a 4
point lead over Pro Robin Lowe. In the Amateur Division, Art Lackey holds a
14-point lead over 2nd place Am Lester Yamaguichi.
Nor-Cal would like to thank
our trophy sponsor for New Melones, E.
Prouty & Sons Trucking, along with our many product sponsors, Pradco,
Keeper Custom Worms, Fishin Musician Worms, Super Pork, and Predator Worms. Also
a very special thanks to Glory Hole Sports for allowing us to use the store for
check-in in the morning and holding our awards ceremony in the afternoon as well
as donating product and gift certificates for giveaways.
Nor-Cal could not afford to
offer you the payback we offer without the help of our corporate 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 are supporting Nor-Cal and it’s anglers.
When it’s time for your next purchase, please support them!
March
24th marks the 3rd stop on our
Pro-Am Tournament Trail at Don Pedro.
Check-in will be from 3:30 a.m. to 4:30
a.m. at Flemming Meadows. Our 1st
Open Team Tournament of the season takes place March 11th at Don
Pedro. Visit nor-calbass.com or call for full schedule and information on these
events.
Nor-Cal Bass Tournament Trail
sponsors are: Stratos Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Boats Unlimited, General
Motors, Courtesy Automotive, Pradco, Central Valley Propeller, 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, P&E
Distributing, Super Pork, Keeper Custom Worms, V&V Custom Baits, Predator
Worms, Silver Thread, Malibu Boats, Fishin Musician Worms, BANG, Thermo-Oil
Batteries, Hildebrands Auto Repair, McClure Painting & Plastering, Sipe’s
Marine, J&H R.V. Repair, Modesto Welding Products, Mickey Wall Painting,
and Escalon Bait & Tackle.
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