PATTON & HINTON TOP FIELD AT NEW MELONES

Saturday, March 08, 2003
New Melones Reservoir, CA

By: Tim Paes 

Third stop on the Nor-Cal Bass 2003 Pro-Am Tournament Trail took place at New Melones. After a week of spring conditions with highs reaching the 70’s, angler anticipation was high going into Saturday’s competition. Sixty-eight anglers were on hand to take part in the event that would award nearly $9,000 in prize money. Anglers would also be accumulating points in the 2003 points race. The top twenty anglers in points will qualify for the 2003 Nor-Cal Bass/100% Bass Pro-Am Championship that will award a Stratos/Evinrude prize package to the highest finishing Pro Division angler. 

The anglers began arriving at Glory Hole Sports at 4:00 am for check-in. Dan and Melanie Lewis, owners of Glory Hole, had the store open, offering anglers a warm place to sign-up and discuss fishing as they browsed the isles. Glory Hole offers a wide variety of tackle for the fishing enthusiasts and many were stopping at the cash register before they made it out the door. 

Although the weather during the day was warm and comfortable, the nights were still crisp and cold. The fish were beginning their staging pattern for the spawn, but anglers had not found any consistency to what the fish were doing. Although the anglers were reporting a few good fish being caught during pre-fish, they weren’t being caught with any regularity and the fishing for many had been tough. 

The draw was conducted and the paired anglers made their way from the store to the Glory Hole launch ramp were they would make their assault on New Melones. The blastoff went smoothly under ideal conditions, the air was cool and crisp, the sky was clear and the lake was flat and calm. 

The day turned incredible warm and spring like, with temperatures reaching the 70’s. However the fishing never did turn spring like. The lake remained inconsistent for many even though twenty-five of the thirty-four boats brought in five fish limits. The big fish that inhabit Melones never did make their presence as very few fish over 2 ½ lbs were weighed in. One hundred and fifty-four bass were brought to the scales that weighed 263 lbs. 

Oakdale Pro, Tracy Patton and his partner Marc Hinton, of Fremont rose to the top with their 5 fish limit that tipped the scales at 11.60 lbs. The pair used Luckycraft ripbaits and tubebaits that were splitshot and dropshotted on 6 lb P-Line with Shimano reels and Loomis rods to catch their fish. They keyed on creek channels and islands on the main lake, and caught their fish from the bank to sixty-five feet deep.  Each thanked their family for all their support as Patton accepted his earnings of $1,920 and Hinton accepted his of $589. Their combined total was $2,509. 

Second place went to Modesto Pro Dave Doubledee and his partner, Ron Billings of Hughson. Doubledee and Billings brought in an 11.20 lb 5 fish limit. Doubledee reported that one of their fish was caught by dropshotting a 4” Aaron’s Magic Roboworm and the rest were caught on his custom made jigs tied to 12 lb McCoy Mean Green line, Shimano reels and JR’s Custom rods. The pair started in Angels then finished their day fishing the main lake. They keyed on rock and wood from the bank to 30 feet deep. Doubledee thanked his sponsors, McCoy line, Fishingkids.com, California Custom Worms, Edge Products and JR Custom rods, as well as his family as he accepted his winnings of $1,845. Billings took home $403 for a team total of $2,248. 

Third place went to Copperopolis Pro, Joe Bruce, and his partner Bill Scharton, of Oakdale. Bruce and Scharton brought 5 fish to the scales; weighing 10.78 lbs. Bruce also took big fish for the tournament with his 4.50 lb lunker that fell victim to a Senko. Bruce earned $1,273 while Scharton took home $589 for a team total of $1,862. 

Rounding out the top 5, in 4^th place was Copperopolis Pro Ira Eads and his partner Don Delano, of Modesto with their 5 fish limit that weighed 10.58 lbs. Eads took home $642 while Delano earned $366 for a team total of $1,008. Fifth place went to Livermore Pro Ray Clark and partner Dave McEwen, of Fresno with their 9.90 lb 5 fish limit. Clark won $240 while McEwen took home $254 for a team total of $494.

The Pro Division Angler of the Year point’s race saw Copperopolis Pro, Joe Bruce, increase his 1^st place lead to 14 points with a total of 320 points followed by Riverbank Pro Jeff Frey with 306. In the Am Division, Ron Wilson, of Modesto took over 1^st place with 310 points followed by Marc Hinton, of Fremont with 305 points.

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 also 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 also thanks our event sponsor at Camanche, Del Taco Manteca/Oakdale. Also thanks to Dan & Melanie Lewis at Glory Hole Sports for opening up the store at 4:00 am and hosting our awards ceremony after the tournament. 

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 stop on our 2003 Pro-Am Tournament Trail takes place at Lake McClure on April 6, 2003. This is a Sunday event. Mandatory check in for this event will take place from 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. on the morning of the tournament. Lake headquarters for check-in will be Barretts Cove. Visit our website, www.nor-calbass.com, or call (209) 505-4239 for more information.