RECORD WEIGHT TOPS NOR-CAL PRO-AM AT DON PEDRO
Champions set new Nor-Cal Bass five-fish limit

Saturday March 5, 2005
Lake Don Pedro, CA

By: Tim Paes

Eighty-two anglers signed up to fish the third stop on the 2005 Nor-Cal Bass Pro-Am Tournament Trail. For the first time this season, the outlook called for fair weather and dry skies during our tournament. Although we saw clouds on and off all day, the forecast stayed true and we enjoyed a near spring like day in central California.

It’s that time of year, the time that the huge Florida Strain bass, that prowl Don Pedro, begin staging for their annual migration to the spawning beds. The bite, reported by many, was about to bust loose.

Many anglers were catching large numbers of fish leading up to the tournament, and several were catching some huge lunkers on swimbaits. But nobody could even imagine what was about to happen on this first Saturday in March.

Although the bite did toughen up some on game day, there were still several fish caught with all but five boats coming in with five-fish limits. There were 14 fish over 3-pounds brought to the scales, not a huge amount, but the one’s that came to the scales were quite impressive. The anglers brought 196 bass to the scales weighing 462-pounds, which was a 2.36-pound per fish average.

When it was all over, nobody was going to come close to the champion’s weight. Waterford pro Bill Allen and his partner, Tom Bossard of Modesto, came to the scales with an unbelievable five-fish limit that tipped the scales at 36.40-pounds. Allen’s 11.38-pound monster anchored the team’s weight.

The anglers keyed on main lake points with Optima and Castaic swimbaits. They found their fish suspended in 35 to 45 feet of water.

For their record setting performance Allen took home $2,270 while Bossard earned $1,025 for a team total of $3,295.

Second place went to Escalon pro Alvin Borba and his partner Steve Black, of Merced. Borba and Black brought in a 22.34-pound five-fish limit. The team’s weight was anchored by Borba’s 9.94-pound lunker that took 2^nd big fish in the pro division.

The pair keyed on creek channels and drop-offs in 10 to 30 feet of water. They fished Woods Creek and main lake points. Their fish were also caught on Optima swimbaits as well as Carolina rigging Sweet Beavers.

Borba thanked his sponsors, Evinrude, Boat Country and Escalon Bait & Tackle as he accepted his $1,700 check. Black took home $610 for a team total of $2,310.

Copperopolis pro Joe Bruce and partner Dave McEwen, of Fresno, brought in a 21.54-pound five-fish limit that gave the pair a 3^rd place finish.

The pair used Osprey swimbaits and dropshotted Keeper worms on island tops with big chunk rock. They fished 3 to 40 feet deep in the main lake and river.

Bruce thanked his sponsor, Bob’s Marine as he accepted his check for $1,120. McEwen took home $510 for a team total of $1,630.

Rounding out the top five in fourth place was Oakdale pro Bruce Harris and his partner Richard Marchini, of La Grand. Harris and Marchini brought a 20.42-pound five-fish limit to the scales. Harris took home $755 while Marchini earned $200 for a team total of $955.

Fifth place went to Oakdale pro Randy Blevins and his partner Dennis Tarap, of Murphy’s. The pair brought five fish to the scales that weighed 16.18-pounds. Blevins took home $480 while Tarap earned $150 for a team total of $630.

Big fish in the Am Division went to Ben Brooks, of Atwater. Brooks brought in a 4.42-pound lunker that netted the angler $240. Second big fish in the Am Division went to Jeff Eddings, of Ceres. Eddings earned $140 with his 4.04-pound toad.

The Pro Division Angler of the Year point’s race saw a shakeup when Copperopolis pro Joe Bruce jumped from 3^rd place to 1^st with 318 points.  Escalon pro Alvin Borba moved from 4^th to 2^nd with 313 points. Waterford pro Jason Remmers slipped from the lead to 3^rd with 310 points.

In the Am Division Oakdale’s Brian Ruthman also jumped from 3^rd place to the lead with 297 points. Fresno’s Dave McEwen made a huge leap from 12^th place to move into 2^nd with 294 points. Madera’s Terry Bennett dropped from 1^st to 3^rd with 293 points.

The Angler of the Year point’s race counts all five of the 2005 events with the top finishers in each division receiving free entries into our 2006 Pro-Am circuit. The top 20 race to the 2005 Pro Championship is based on the best 4 out of 5 events.

The Bob’s Marine Pro Bonus Cash awards $100 and a certificate for a gallon of outboard motor oil to the highest finishing pro angler that is fishing in their first season in the Pro Division. The bonus cash at Don Pedro went to the tournament champion Bill Allen.

The Thompson Chevrolet Pro Rookie Point’s Race tracks the same anglers throughout the five tournament season and awards $250 at the end of the year to the point’s leader. Clovis pro Ed Holson took the lead with 267 points followed by Murphy’s pro Val Garringer with 253 points. Like the Angler of the Year point’s race, the rookie race is also based on five out of five events.

Thompson Chevrolet is also offering special pricing on new vehicle purchases through their dealership in Patterson for all Nor-Cal members. If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, shop around and then come to Thompson and see what Nor-Cal pricing can save you!

Special thanks go to our tournament trail sponsors, Stratos Boats, Mercury Outboards, Minn Kota, Hummingbird and Thermo Oil Batteries. Because of their support, Nor-Cal Bass will be awarding a fully rigged Stratos/Mercury prize package at their Pro Championship tournament. Visit Bob’s Marine to take a look at this great boat and motor combination!

Thanks to our official rod sponsor, St Croix, for supporting our anglers and awarding their quality built rods at the 2005 Pro Championship.

Our next Pro-Am event takes place on the California Delta. Check-in will take place at Tracy Oasis Marina. Mandatory check-in time is from 3:30 to 4:30 am on the morning of the event. Anglers late for morning check-in will be assessed a 2 pound penalty and after 15 minutes will be disqualified.

Nor-Cal Bass Tournament Trail sponsors are: Stratos Boats, Mercury Outboards, Bob’s Marine, St Croix Rods, Thompson Chevrolet, Minn Kota, Hummingbird, Autolife Sporting Goods, Escalon Bait & Tackle, Tom’s Truck Repair, Tracy Oasis Marina, Thermo Oil Batteries, Super Pork, and Keeper Custom Worms.

For more information on our tournament trail, visit our website, www.nor-calbass.com, or call (209) 505-4239.