PIMENTEL & HENRY EDGE OUT COMPETITION AT McCLURE
COPPEROPOLIS PRO, JOE BRUCE LENGTHENS ANGLER OF THE YEAR LEAD

Sunday April 6, 2003
Lake McClure, CA 

By: Tim Paes 

Sunday marked the fourth stop for the Nor-Cal Bass Pro-Am Tournament Trail. The tournament took place at Lake McClure, where fifty anglers fished the event that accumulates points for the 2003 Pro-Am Championship. 

Just a week ago anglers where fishing in short sleeves and shorts and reporting huge black bass bed fish being caught on this predominantly spotted bass fishery. That would change during the week as a cold front moved through the west bringing rain and snow with it. Anglers were once again pulling out their cold weather suits to fight off the biting cold that now blanketed the Motherlode region. 

Although it was cold, the contestants blasted off under clear skies that would turn bright and sunny in short order. The anglers headed to their starting spots wondering how much would the cold snap effect their fish. By the time the weigh-in arrived the sun was shining bright, but conditions still remained cool. 

Fishing conditions remained cool also as it was nearly impossible for the competitors to find any quality fish. As the anglers made their way through the weigh-in, it became quite apparent that the weights were down considerable from previous weeks. Catching fish wasn’t the problem, but finding the better ones proved nearly impossible. Nineteen out of a possible twenty-five 5 fish limits crossed the scales. Anglers brought 109 bass to the scales weighing 160 pounds. 

Modesto Pro, Anthony Pimentel and his partner, Ron Henry, of Ceres claimed the title with their 5 fish limit that weighed 9.44 pounds. The pair slow rolled ½ ounce white/chartreuse spinnerbaits from the bank to 15 feet to catch their fish. Pimentel, who is sponsored by Stratos Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Bobs Marine, Keeper Custom Worms and Thermo Oil Batteries, used 20 lb Cuda line on Diawa reels and St Croix rods. “ The key was to slow roll the spinnerbait in cuts with timber, both standing and lay downs.”  Said Pimentel. He went on to say, “I fished the cuts in the south, any of them with wood”. For their finish Pimentel took home $1,883, while Henry earned $725 for a team total of $2,608. 

Second place tie went to Copperopolis Pro, Joe Bruce and his partner Roy Champ of Prather, along with Tracy Pro Gary Thomas and his partner Milton Reynolds, of San Carlos. Both teams brought in 5 fish limits weighing 8.48 pounds. 

“ I fished areas around Temperance,” said Bruce. He went on to say, “I was pitching Senko’s to wood structure with 15 lb Sugoi line on Shimano reels with Fenwick rods”. All of their fish came out of less the 6 feet of water. Bruce also took big fish honors for the tournament with his 3.10 lb lunker. For their performance, Bruce took home $1,164 while Champ secured $417 for a team total of $1,581. 

Thomas also keyed on the same pattern, using Yamamoto Senko’s. “I flipped Senko’s to brush and lay downs in 2 to 10 feet of water with Lamiglass rods, Curado reels and 14 pound Berkley Vanish line.” Reported Thomas. He went on to say, “I started in the river, then worked though Piney Creek and then moved to Cottonwood.” Thomas thanked his sponsor, Outdoor Sportsmen as well as his wife Peggy as he accepted his $934 in winnings. Reynolds took home $417 for a team total of $1,351. 

Rounding out the top five in 4^th place was Murphy’s pro Butch Bray, and his partner Mark Villines of Escalon. The anglers weighed in an 8.04 lb 5 fish limit that netted Bray $357 and Villines $110 for a team total of $467. Fifth place went to San Jose pro David McKenzie and his partner Ken Long of Turlock. The competitors brought 5 fish to the scales weighing 7.98 lbs. McKenzie took home $150 while Long earned $75 for a team total of $225. Big fish honors in the Am Division went to Hughson’s Ron Billings with his 2.92 lb chunk that netted him $230. 

The Pro Division Angler of the Year point’s race saw Copperopolis Pro, Joe Bruce, increase his 1^st place lead to a whopping 25 points with a total of 429 points followed by David McKenzie with 404. In the Am Division, Ron Wilson, of Modesto holds down 1^st place with 411 points followed by Ron Billings, just 3 points back with 408.

Special thanks goes to our tournament trail sponsors, Stratos Boats and Evinrude Outboards. Because of their support, Nor-Cal & 100% Bass will be awarding a fully rigged Stratos/Evinrude prize package at their pro-am championship tournament. Don’t miss your opportunity to feel the ride and power of this boat and motor combination! 

Thanks to our official rod sponsor, St Croix, for supporting our anglers and awarding their quality built rods to our top finishers at the championship. 

Nor-Cal thanks our event sponsor at Lake McClure, Stratos Boats. Also thanks to Lake McClure Recreation for hosting our event. 

Nor-Cal Bass Tournament Trail sponsors are: Stratos Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Bob’s Marine, St Croix Rods, Pradco Brand Baits, PMZ Realty, Autolife Sporting Goods, Escalon Bait & Tackle, Tom’s Truck Repair, Tracy Oasis Marina, Del Taco Manteca/Oakdale, Thermo Oil Batteries, Super Pork, Fishin Musician Worms, Keeper Custom Worms, Predator Worms, McClure Painting & Plastering and Hildebrand’s Auto Repair. 

The next event for Nor-Cal Bass is our open team night tournament, which takes place on May 31 & June 1, 2003 at Lake Don Pedro. Check-in starts at 5:00 pm at Flemming Meadows. Visit our website, www.nor-calbass.com, or call (209) 505-4239 for more information.