RICK
& JEANNIE BELLAR TAKE NOR-CAL
MIX TEAM TITLE
Saturday,
June 16, 2001
Lake Don Pedro, CA
By: Tim Paes 
Just like clock work the first 100-degree weekend of the year
fell on the Nor-Cal Bass Mix Team event at Don Pedro. The warm weather made the
DFG rule requiring 6-hour events after June 15th a welcome relief.
Neither the weather nor the tough fishing conditions would stop forty teams from
fishing the tournament, which included a BBQ and raffle immediately following
the weigh-in.
Fishing was considered tough by many of the competitors, as
only 9 of the 40 teams were able to muster a 6-fish limit. The successful teams
reported catching their fish on plastics and topwater. Ninety-seven fish were
brought to the scales with a total weight of 188 lbs.
The fishing was tough and the weather was hot, but nobody
left after the weigh-in. They stayed for the BBQ and raffle and as an added
bonus for all the teams that fished the tournament; Don Pedro Marina donated a
3-night houseboat rental that would be won by one of the lucky anglers. Paul
Cox, of Modesto, CA was the lucky angler that took home this valuable prize.
Fishing the tournament was the right decision for Rick and
Jeannie Bellar, of Hanford, CA. The Bellar’s brought a 6 fish limit to the
scales that weighed 14.36 lbs. The husband and wife team caught 3 fish early on
topwater and then spent the rest of their day splitshotting island tops and
points in 10 to 20 feet of water to finish out their limit. For their great day
on the lake the Bellar’s took home $1,116 and the 1st place title.
Second place went to Richard and Darlene Martin, of Los
Banos, CA, with their 12.66 lb. 6 fish limit. The team fished 4” worms in 25
to 30 feet of water to catch their fish. The Martin’s earned $790 for their
finish.
Steve Tosh and Kathy Medders, of Modesto, CA, finished 3rd
with their 6 fish limit that tipped the scales at 12.12 lbs. Tosh and Medders
fished senko’s and worms in 5 to 15 feet of water in order to catch their
fish. The team took home $520.
Rounding out the top 5 in 4th place was Norval and
Dee Pimentel, of Modesto, CA with an 11.16 lb. 6 fish limit that earned the team
$250. Fifth place went to Art and Sharon Romero, of Denair, CA with their 6 fish
limit that weighed 11.14 lbs. The Romero’s took home $180.
 Big
Fish for the tournament went to Frank Lasiter and Wendy Petroni, of Oakdale, CA.
Petroni was fishing in her first bass tournament and caught her first bass. That
bass just happened to be the biggest bass of the tournament and weighed 5.92
lbs. Petroni caught the fish on a crankbait and that fish was good for $220.
Nor-Cal Bass would like to give a special thank you to all
our sponsors. We could not do what we do without the support of our sponsors,
please support them. Thanks to Winchester Farms for being our official trophy
sponsor for the tournament. Also, thanks to Don Pedro recreation for hosting our
event, allowing us the use of their grounds for sign-ups and our awards ceremony
and for donating the 3-night houseboat rental.
Next on our schedule is the Boats Unlimited Stratos/Javelin
Owners Tournament, which takes place on September 15 & 16, 2001 at Clear
Lake. Our next and last Pro-Am Tournament takes place on the California Delta on
September 29, 2001. Visit nor-calbass.com to find out more about these upcoming
events.
Nor-Cal Bass Tournament Trail sponsors are: Stratos &
Javelin Boats, Boats Unlimited, General Motors, Courtesy Automotive, St Croix
Rods, E. Prouty & Sons Trucking, Joe Coelho & Sons, Cunha Trucking,
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, Predator Worms, 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, Winchester
Farms and Escalon Bait &
Tackle.
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