KENNY MARTHEY AND JUSTIN GARNER TAKE FIRST PLACE AT LAKE OROVILLE IN THE NORTHERN REGION

Sign-ups began in our room at America's Best Value Inn & Suites promptly at 4 PM. Anglers came in to sign up and receive their boat number for the tournament the following day, launching at the Spillway, which allowed them more time in the morning to arrive at the ramp and get their boat inspected by our event assistants and launched before the rest of the field what would have to sign-up early that morning.

When we arrived at the Spillway weigh-in location, the air temperature was in the low 60's so jackets were not needed in the early morning hours. Several anglers showed up wearing shorts and flip flips at 4 AM! The water level was extremely low so the anglers made their way down through several parking areas, that were underwater not that long ago. Anglers were told not to bag their fish until they were on the last turn before approaching the weigh-in station as the distance was too far for the bass to travel in weigh bags and everyone did a great job at following this rule to keep their bass alive.

Before the weigh-in was to commence, a fire started in the valley below the dam so we watched all the CAL FIRE fire fighters leave the spillway to go fight the blaze. They were present for the Cast for Kids tournament that had been taking place on the lake. Aircraft came into the area and dropped fire retardant while a helicopter was flying by with buckets of water to retain the fire. Smoke and ashes were present during the weigh-in and Awards Ceremony.

Kenny Marthey from Olivehurst and Justin Garner came to the scales with the largest limit of the tournament weighing 11.51 pounds. They did not have a big fish as all their bass were nearly the same size. They told the crowd they caught their bass on swim baits and spinner bait in the south fork of the lake. They took home First Place trophies and $650.00 in winnings. Congratulations guys!

Second Place went to the father and son team of Shawn and Blake Milligan from Wheatland. They only had four fish however their largest bass weighed 4.56 pounds and was the Big Fish of the tournament, caught by Shawn. Their bass weighed 10.71 pounds. They took home $770.00 in winnings. Nice teamwork guys!

Third Place was the team of Jason Wigginton from Yuba City and Ryan Choplin from Olivehurst. Their limit weighed 9.94 pounds anchored by their largest bass weighing 3.10, which was the Third Big Fish of the tournament, caught by Jason. They fished the main lake on top water and spinner baits. They took home $1,400.00 for paying into all the Options.

Mike Osborn and Aaron Goff, both from Oroville came in with a limit weighing 9.60 pounds. Their largest bass weighed 2.23 pounds, not enough to get any big fish money but added to their weight, gave them $795.00 in winnings for Fourth Place in this event. Sweet!

Robert Nelson from Sacramento and his partner Jim Otterness from Carmichael had a nice limit weighing 9.33 pounds. Their largest bass weighed 2.21 pounds, added to their weight, they took home $525.00 in winnings for Fifth Place in the Big Boat Division.

GLENN AND SHELLEY SARGENT ROCK OROVILLE IN THE SMALL BOAT DIVISION

Glenn and Shelley Sargent from Janesville not only came to the scales with a limit of bass weighing 9.41 pounds, they took First Place in the Small boat Division and Fifth Place overall. They also weighed in the Second Big Fish of this tournament, a 3.26 pound bass that Shelley caught for the team! They told the crowd they fished all over the lake drop shotting worms and fishing buzz baits for their limit. They took home $410.00 in winnings and First Place Small Boat trophies. They are going to be a team to reckon with for Anglers of the Year in their division!

The Fourth Big Fish was caught by Mark Peters from Sacramento weighing 2.83 pounds. Mark and his partner Steven Alvarado, also from Sacramento had a limit weighing 8.05 pounds. They took home $85.00 in Big Fish winnings.

The Fifth Place Big Fish was caught by the team of Gary Wilson from Winnemucca, Nevada and Joe Leone from Susanville that weighed 2.36 pounds. They weighed in 9.15 pounds for Eight Place and took home $295.00 in winnings. Nice!

We would like to thank the anglers who made cash donations to the Todd Iwamoto Memorial Fund. The money collected in the tackle boxes throughout the 2014 BBT season will be given to Michelle, Todd's wife and their two children, their 9 year old son and 5 year old daughter after the TOC.

Emerald Premium Snacks - bags of Sea Salt & Pepper Cashews and Breakfast on the Go packages were tossed to the crowd and many anglers enjoyed them while having their beverage of choice during the Awards Ceremony.

Boat number 23 was drawn however this team left before the Awards Ceremony so boat number 10 was the next number chosen and the team of Kevin Robinson and Dan Wilder were present to receive the life jacket donated by the Wear It California Life Jacket Campaign.

The first Sponsor Gift Bag containing Yakima Baits, Timber Tiger, Poe's Ace in the Hole, Berkley Havoc and Berkley Power Baits was given to Glenn and Shelley Sargent as their Sponsor Tackle Store receipt was drawn from the BBT bucket and they were present to win this great tackle prize.

The second Sponsor Gift Bag containing Yakima Baits, Timber Tiger, Poe's Ace in the Hole, Berkley Havoc and Berkley Power Baits was given to boat number 20  as the team of Paul Dunlap and Troy Casey were present to win.

If you win money at the tournament and leave before the Awards Ceremony, you will receive you winnings at the next tournament you fish or you can meet up with your director to receive you money. Winnings will not be mailed to you.

Sponsor Tackle Store Receipts Program - If you purchase tackle valued at $20.00 OR MORE from our Sponsor Tackle Stores, listed below or go Online to make purchases through the Optimum Baits or ima websites, you will receive a discount from being a member of the BBT. Keep your receipt and write your name and phone number on the back of it then place it into 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 changes 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 on the Sponsors page of the Best Bass Tournaments website www.bestbasstournaments.com

Thank you for coming out and supporting Best Bass Tournaments. As always, 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.

Our next tournament in the Northern Region will be at Clearlake, launching out of Red Bud Launch Ramp on July 19th. Check in will take place Friday from 4 PM to 6 PM inside Clearlake Bait & Tackle and again on Saturday morning at the same location starting at 3:30 AM. Remember to get your boat inspected for the Quagga Mussel prior to launching before this tournament. Clearlake Bait & Tackle will be open for our anglers and will do this inspection for you.

Our final tournament for this season in the Northern Region will be held on August 9th at Lake Oroville again, launching out of  Bidwell Canyon as the Spillway will be closed prior to our tournament because of the low water level. We will be near the bathrooms on the upper ramp. Friday afternoon we will be doing sign-ups in our room at America's Best Value Inn & Suite in Oroville from 4 PM to 6 PM so look for the BBT orange cone by our door. Early morning check-in will begin at 3:30 AM in the BBT Trailer at Bidwell Canyon.

The Bass Fest will be held on August 24th and 25th at Russo's Marina. Sponsors will be there on Saturday to show off their products and talk to the anglers. Sunday they will also be there to talk to after the tournament is over. The entry fee is $50.00 and it is a 3 fish limit for the team. This tournament is also a six hour event as it still falls under the Fish & Wildlife Regulations that are in effect from June 15th through September 15th. Look for more details to follow on the website www.bestbasstournaments.com and also on The Bass Fest website, www.thebassfest.com  Early entries will be taken up to August 1st for special prizes only for that group of anglers who sign up early.

The Tournament of Champions will be launching out of Russo's Marina. More details will follow once the BBT season is over. If you want to fish the Delta prior to the TOC, the Delta Wine Region has their last tournament in the 2014 season on August 16th, also launching out of Russo's Marina on Bethel Island. If you have never been to the Delta and have questions or need directions, please call us at 209-5436260 or email us at randy@bestbasstournaments.com

I would like to thank my BBT Assistants: Patrick Mateo, Zane Wiley, Kevin Ryan, Clint Winger and JD Mc Millian.

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.

Best Bass Tournaments would like to personally thank the sponsors who are supporting us and the anglers alike: Emerald Premium Snacks, Berkley, Cal West Concrete Cutting, 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, America's Best Value Inn & Suites - Oroville, 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, CA

If you or your company would like to be a sponsor of Best Bass Tournaments, please contact Randy Pringle at www.bestbasstournaments.com or call 209-543-6260.

Thank you for fishing Best Bass Tournaments,

Randy and Sheri Pringle