Ready, Set, Go . . . . . . .The 2013 Central Valley Best Bass Tournament Circuit started off on Saturday, January 12, at Millerton Lake. What a beautiful day for a new year. The weather was cold, the heaters were on and the spirits were high.
28 boats came to the event with the first boat rolling into the parking lot at 4:30a.m. The staff was ready and entry forms and clip boards were laid out. It didn't take long and it seemed that we were in full swing. There were a lot of new faces and familiar faces too. Sign ins were done at the top ramp in the Cabanas. The anglers and boats then proceeded down to the second ramp for boat inspections, launching and blastoff.
The sun started to rise and safe light came around 6:55a.m. Kevin Cheek, the Central Valley Director was taken out onto the water by Jonathan Myers on the 51/Fifty sponsor boat and the blastoff was started. Going over the rules, off-limits were announced and drive-by weigh-in instructions were given. Lucky boat number 18 was drawn by Todd Hater, one of our anglers, as the first boat to blast-off. We had two flights each of fourteen boats. Boat 18 was sent off and the other twenty seven boats followed.
While the anglers were out fishing, preparations were started for the weight-in. A quick move to the second ramp and things started to come together. Pop ups were raised and banners were hung. The weigh scale was charged and the sound system was setup and tested. With the paperwork balanced and the money envelopes filled, we were ready for the anglers to come in.
During the day the 51/Fifty boat with Jonathan Myers and Chelby Cheek in it went out to take pictures of the anglers and their boats. At 2:30 p.m. Jonathan was handed a clip board, the official clock and paperwork to go back out on the lake for boat check-ins.
At 2:55 p.m. our fist boat came in to have their fish weighted. Our weigh master Dave Orange of Who-Be-Do Jigs did the honors along with his brother Brian of weighing-in 26 boats. Kevin weighted in Brian Orange and Mario Ramirez as the last boat. The scales were called closed at 3:40 p.m. by Kevin Cheek. We had a total of 133 fish caught and a combined weight of 184.69 pounds. Great job to the anglers for doing such a good job.
The first place winners of the first 2013 Central Valley Tournament went to the team of Cliffton Woods and Tim Torres. They brought in a bag of five fish weighting-in at 11.73 pounds. Along with that bag was the Big Fish for the day, a spotted bass, weighting-in at 2.73 pounds. They fished the main lake area and used worms. This team was in all of the options so they earned a first place paycheck in the amount of $1195.00 and first place Big Fish in the amount of $250.00 for a total of $1,445.00. Not bad pay for a good day of fishing. Congrats guys and keep up the good work.
The team of Jace De Gough and Collin De Gough from Madera took second place with the weight of 8.96 pounds for five fish. In that bag of five fish the second Big Fish for the day came in at 2.55 pounds. This team also fished the main lake area using a slow dray method with jigs and dart heads. This team was in all the options and took home $740.00 for second place and $140.00 for second place Big Fish with a total of $880.00 for the day. Good job Guys.
Third place went to the team of Michael Pair and Trevor Gray from Clovis. Their bag of five fish came in at 8.78 pounds. This team also fished the main lake and used prop shot and worms. They were handed $505.00 for a job well done. Mike and Trevor would like to thank their sponsor Denali Rods for their support.
Third place Big Fish went to the team of Brian Orange and Mario Ramirez. They weighted-in a 2.34 pound fish that netted them $85.00. This team also took 6th place in the tournament, taking home a paycheck in the amount of $240.00 total.
For the first 2013 Central Valley tournament with a field of 28 boats, we paid back a total of $3,525.00. Imagine what the payback would be if we were to double our field for the next tournament. If you had a good time and we hope by the great comments we heard, you all did, you will go out there and tell a friend about us and invite them to join in on the fun.
Our next tournament for the Central Valley will be held on February 9th at McClure Lake. Hope to see all of you there.
Sponsor Tackle Store Receipts Program – If you purchase tackle valued at $20 OR MORE from our Sponsor Tackle Stores 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. 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. If you happen to win money during a tournament and you leave before receiving it, you will have to meet up with your tournament director as winnings are not sent through the mail.
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. 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.
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, The Fishing Instructor, Yakima Baits, Technology Integrators, Hildebrandt, Poe’s Plugs, Timber Tiger, Ima, Optimum Baits, KLGD Graphics, Hooked on Adventures, Continental Tires, Irwin – Lenox and Helly Hansen, Eye Surrender Sunglasses, Out of Bounds Speed & Marine, 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 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, C & C Marine/ Modesto and Sacramento,
Jim’s Pro Tackle/ Paso Robles, Bait Barn/ Waterford
If your company would like to be a sponsor of the Best Bass Tournaments, please contact Randy Pringle at www.bestbasstournaments.com or call 209-543-6260.
We would like to thank all of our staff Ancilla Cheek(mom), Chelby Cheek, Dave and Brian Orange, Shawn Hilbert, Mario Ramirez, Duane Goudy, Mike Martinez, Rich Hale, Jim Henry, Bill Rowles Jr. and Jeff Short. You all are an asset to the BBT and our tournaments could not run efficiently without each and every one of you!
Thank you for your participation and fishing Best Bass Tournaments. We look forward to seeing you again soon! kevin@bestbasstournaments.com