RYAN FLORES AND JAMES RODGERS
         WHIP UP THE WINNINNG COMBINATION TO TAKE FIRST PLACE
                                                AT LAKE OROVILLE  

Best Bass Tournaments began sign-ups on Friday afternoon in our room at America’s Best Value Inn & Suites in the town of Oroville the at 4:15 PM. We arrived later than usual because of a few setbacks. We left the house at the same time as usual to arrive on time in the town of Oroville, however on this particular Friday, the odds were against us. We had not one obstacle along the way until arriving in the town of Marysville and that is where it began. Stopped traffic, which we assumed was because of all the construction zones throughout the town, but that was not entirely the case. As we were diverted through town at a top speed of five miles per hour - when we were moving, we found that the problem wasn’t heavy traffic but on the other side of the train bridge there was a crane tipped onto its side, blocking the entire road under the train tracks. It took us 35 minutes to drive seven miles. We felt like we were traveling by “Pony Express”!  

Once on track again, we were up to 55 MPH and things were looking up for us to arrive on time, then we were blindsided once again! On Highway 70, we had to make another detour because of a major traffic accident and that took us out of our way as the clock was still ticking. We managed to get back onto Highway 70 right before the town of Oroville and finally arrive at our destination!  

Several anglers showed up at the convenient check in our room and mentioned they had experienced the same traffic issues on their journey there, as well even some teams who traveled on different routes to get to Oroville, a bad day for traffic tie-ups with anyone trying to make it there.  

Sign-ups began at 4:30 AM at the Spillway. Anglers began lining up to check in while the teams who had already checked in on Friday afternoon had their boats inspected by our staff then launched before the rush. Many anglers enjoyed the treats and coffee while filing out their entry form before they launched then waited for the blast off to begin.  

Weigh-in began at 3 PM at the Spillway. The Small Boat Division and  boat numbers 24 through 35 in the Big Boat Division were making their way through the parking lot for the Drive-by Weigh-in, headed towards the scales right on time. We had the Release Boat there which made it easy for anglers to hand their bags of fish to Jason Bubier then park their tow vehicles and boat trailers in the parking lot to wait for the Awards Ceremony to begin.  

Ryan Flores of Mather and his partner James Rodgers of Willows came to the scales with the winning weight of bass totaling 21.11 pounds for their limit in the main body and the south fork of the lake. James landed the toad of the tournament weighing 11.42 pounds, a beautiful Largemouth bass caught on a swim bait, his third cast in the morning. Soon after that, he lost an eight pounder. This team took home $2,210.00 in winnings and two beautiful First Place Trophies and James took him his First Place Big Fish trophy as well. Congratulations guys on your win!  

Second Place went to the team traveling from Carson, Nevada to fish this event, John and Edward Zinda. They brought a limit to the scales weighing in at 16.99 pounds. Their largest bass weighed 6.78 pounds, giving them Third Place Big Fish, which was caught by John. They told the crowd they bed fished all day using various techniques in the middle fork for their bass. They took home $1,170.00 for their efforts on the lake. Great job guys!  

Third Place was the team of Steve Thurmon from Auburn and John Kort from Roseville who brought in a limit weighing 16.18 pounds anchored by their Second Big Fish of the tournament weighing 7.43 pounds, caught by Steve.  They told everyone they fished A-Rigs, worms and jigs in the main body. For their efforts they took home $900.00 in winnings. Great job guys!  

Fourth Place went to the team of Matthew Ruggiero from Elk Grove and Peter Blake from Orland with a weight of 12.98 pounds for their five bass. Their largest fish weighed 4.17 pounds, a smaller bass but enough weight to give them Fifth Place Big Fish. Not bad for an Oroville bass! They took home $530.00 for their day on the lake.  

Fifth Place was the team of Brian and Gilbert Ehresman both from Woodland. They came to the scales with a limit weighing 12.80 pounds and Gilbert caught their largest bass weighing 4.93 pounds, giving him Fourth Place Big Fish for this event. They took home $305.00 in winnings. Sweet!  
 
                                 GLENN AND SHELLEY SARGENT TAKE THE WIN
                                  IN THE SMALL BOAT DIVISION AT OROVILLE  

The husband and wife team of Glenn and Shelley Sargent from Janesville came up to the scales with an 8.03 pound limit. The bass they caught were all nearly the same size and they told everyone they used crankbaits for their fish. They took home two nice First Place Small Boat trophies for their efforts. Congratulations and we will see you both soon!  

As the Awards Ceremony began, Emerald Premium Nuts were tossed to the anglers who were waiting to hear who won this tournament.  

Boat numbers was drawn for Sponsor Gift Bags containing Yakima Baits Timber Tiger, Poe's Ace in the Hole, Berkley Havoc and Berkley Power Baits however no one was present to win them so they will be awarded at the Tournament of Champions in October.  

Boat number 17 was drawn for the Wear It California Life Jacket Campaign. Don Frailey and Ron Rodgers walked away with the life jacket as they were present to win it as another number had been drawn previously however that team had left after they weighed in their bass.  

We would like to thank everyone who fished the BBT at Lake Oroville.        

Everyone did a great job at launching their boat, getting staged correctly for Blast Off, and following directions for the drive-by weigh-in.  

Sponsor Tackle Store Receipts Program – If you purchase tackle valued at $20 OR MORE from our Sponsor Tackle Stores, listed below or go Online to make purchases through the Optimum Baits and ima websites, you will receive a discount for being a member of the BBT. Keep your receipt and write your name and phone number on the back of it then place it in the bucket, which is at every tournament check-in. You will have opportunities to win prizes during the Awards Ceremony after each weigh-in. Remember you MUST be present to win. At the close of the Awards Ceremony, all receipts drawn are placed back into the bucket for more chances to have them drawn at future events in addition at the TOC. If you are not present and your name is called, you forfeit your prize and it is donated to the TOC. Remember to support the sponsors who are supporting you in bass fishing whenever you can. A list of our sponsors is below and is also located on the Sponsors page of the Best Bass Tournaments website www.bestbasstournaments.com   

Thank you for coming out and supporting the Best Bass Tournaments. It was great to see familiar faces and meet new anglers who will be fishing the BBT this season! We appreciate each one of you. If every angler would ask one friend to join and fish the BBT, you will have additional anglers to compete against and have more opportunities to win larger paybacks. Let your friends know that they will also be eligible to win prizes in addition to saving money on fishing tackle when making purchases through our Sponsor Tackle Stores.

I would like to thank our BBT Staff for making this event run as smooth as glass, helping the anglers who needed assistance, getting the boats inspected in record time and with the weigh-in: JD Mc Millian, Pat Mateo, Zane Wiley, Kevin Ryan and Clint Winger. I would also like to thank Jason Bubier for having the Release Boat at our tournament and releasing all the bass alive back into the lake.

Best Bass Tournaments would like to personally thank the sponsors who are supporting us and the anglers alike: Emerald Premium Snacks, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Lowrance, Republic Electric, The Fishing Instructor, Yakima Baits, Technology Integrators, Hildebrandt, Poe’s Plugs, Timber Tiger, Ima, Optimum Baits,  Continental Tires, Out of Bounds Speed & Marine, Wear It California, AGS Apparel, Port of Subs, Oroville’s  Best Value Inn & Suites, Clearlake Cottages, Applebee’s – Oroville, Central Valley Sportsmen’s Boat & RV Show.

Best Bass Tournaments sponsor tackle stores: Mel Cotton’s Sporting Goods/ San Jose, Walton's Pond/ San Leandro, Guns, Fishing & Other Stuff/ Dixon, Coyote Bait & Tackle/ Coyote, CA, Clearlake Bait & Tackle/ Clearlake, Clearlake Outdoors/ Lakeport, Tracy Oasis Marina/ Tracy  

We look forward to seeing you at our next tournament at Clearlake. We will be checking in at Clearlake Bait & Tackle on Friday afternoon from 4 PM to 6PM if you are up there and want to sign-up before Saturday morning. We will also be back at the same location on Saturday morning, starting at 4:00 AM. Reminder, get your Quagga Mussel Inspection done before launching your boat.

Randy and Sheri Pringle