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Mother Lode Region - Don Pedro - Mar 16, 2013


Tournament Director
Scott Lops
2947 W Buena Vista Ave
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 378-2807
scottlops@gmail.com
Watch Director's Video
I just can't believe it.  No, that can't be right.  Half of the Mother Lode Tournament circuit is over.  Has It really been three months and three tournaments already?  I guess what they say , time flies when you're having fun, is right.  Three down and three to go. The third tournament for the Mother Lode Region of The Best Bass Tournament Circuit was held at Don Pedro Lake on March 16, 2013.  We arrived at the Lake around 3:00 p.m.   It was a little breeze but we were able to setup one of the pop-ups  for any of the anglers that might want to pre-sign.  This also gives  us a chance to setup early for the next days' activities.  Kevin is very adamant  about being ready for the anglers, and rightfully so for that is his job.  I was lucky to have worked for a government agency for almost thirty years and I have to tell you I have had more fun working with you anglers this past few years than all the years with the government.  The only problem is that I can't get Kevin or Randy to give me a retirement plan. We really enjoy being at the Lake the night before the tournament because we are having fun talking to the anglers that are pre-fishing for the event.  We have anglers swing by just to say HI or to ask questions about the event.  We even have campers and friends stopping by to see what we are doing.  When we go into the camper it is time for a good movies and then lights out, because 3:00 a.m. comes early. 3:15 a.m. Kevin's alarm goes off, snooze, 3:20 a.m. Kevin's alarm goes off again, snooze, 3:25 a.m. Chelby's alarm goes off,  there is movement and we are up and going.  Good thing for electrical timers or else the coffee wouldn't be ready. Mornings are always busy.  Turn the lights on, finish putting-up the pop-ups, put out the tables and put out the paperwork, clip boards and pins.  Next, load the truck up with lights and everything needed for the boat checks and set all that up.  Finally if we are having a Marina weigh-in we need to load the staff boats up with equipment to be taken to the Marina.  We are ready by 4:00 a.m. for the anglers to arrive.  As the anglers arrive the coffee is ready and the goodies are set out. The anglers start to come in one at a time and the excitement and enthusiasm is always running high.  We have been with some of these anglers for four years now and it is always fun to watch and hear them tease Chelby.  It is wonderful to see a teenager be able to dish out everything that is dished out to her.  She has grown up with many of you anglers and she thinks the world of you all. Registration forms are filled out by the anglers and boat numbers are handed out.  To make things easier for the established anglers' we ask them to fill out their names and membership numbers only on the registration forms and to sign the bottom.  If they are a new member then we need all of the information asked for on the form.  Yes we need your social security number also because we know that you will be winning money.  Boats go through boat checks and then put into the water.  As safe light approaches a poker chip is drawn, this time by Matthew Clark.   Thank you, Matthew for drawing boat number 51 as the first to blast off.  Kevin heads down to the dock with the bullhorn and official clock in hand.  A quick review of the Lake rules, off limits and BBT rules, then the boat flights are announced.  With 58 boats it was decided to do four flights.  The first flight was boats 51 thru 5 to weigh in at 3:00 p.m., followed by the second flight boat 6 thru 20 at 3:15 p.m., next the third flight boat 21 thru 35 at 3:30 p.m. and finally the fourth flight boat 36 thru 50 at 3:45 p.m.  The weight in was to be at the Marina in the afternoon. Good luck anglers and their off. Kevin then returns to the parking lot and starts to get ready for the afternoon awards.  Paperwork is balanced, envelopes are filled with winnings and weigh-in slips are written up.  With the paperwork done we move to the sponsor banners and trophies.  It just happens that we have three tournaments in a roll at Don Pedro so pictures were taken of the displayed banners so we can setup the same way for the next two tournaments.  A bite of lunch and maybe a short nap are in short order.  Then down to the Marina for the weigh-in. Once down at the Marina, the weigh table and tubs are setup along with the scale.  The bump tank is filled with water and wrapped with the BBT Sponsor Banner and the microphone and speakers are set up.  We're ready and waiting for the boats and anglers to come with their fish.  Not all anglers have a good poker face, some come in with a Hugh smile and others come in with a sad and tired face.  When you see an angler coming to the scales with two bags you know that he/she had a good day.  If you have a fish over five pounds you have to put it into a bag by itself.  All the fish are weighted and the scales were called closed by Kevin at 3:55p.m. The staff unassemblies the weigh station, empties the bump tank and loads it all on their boats.  Kevin, Mom and Dave head back to the parking lot for the awards.  It takes about another fifteen minutes to finish the standings and then we are ready for the awards.  As we are getting the awards in order the anglers are given Diamond Nut giveaways and the left over goodies from the morning are set out. Now the real fun begins. The first place spot went to the team of Matt Frazier of Denair and Sam Sawyer of Turlock.  These two anglers brought up two bags of fish weighing-in at 27.55 pounds.  In those bags was the first place big fish for the tournament.  It topped the scales at 8.82 pounds.  What a beauty she was.  Matt and Sam were in all of the options and took home a check in the amount of $2,760.00.  Matt and Sam fished the lower part of the Lake, used bed fishing and spinner bait methods and used S-Waver and River Z Sea spinner baits for lures.  They would like to thank the Bait Barn, Berserk Baits, River Z Sea, St Croix, Black Dogg Baits and Tactical 5.11 for being their sponsors.  Congratulations for a job well done. Ronnie O'Hagan of Cathy's Valley and Nicolas Rios of Planada were the second place winners.  They used weightless worms and Jigs for lures, fished the Moccassin Area of the Lake and used the weightless worm method of fishing.  Ronnie and Nicolas weighted in five fish at 21.99 pounds.  These two were also in all of the options and took home a beautiful paycheck of $1,265.00. That is over $155.00 dollars an hour for eight hours of fishing.  Keep up the good work. Hughson is the home town for our third place winners, David Homer and Scott Summers.  They used weightless worms for lures.    Now only did these two anglers take third place but they also had the second place big fish weighing-in at 8.07 pounds.  There total five fish weight was 19.83 pounds.  David and Scott were also in all of the options and took home $1100.00.  I think these two anglers are keeping secrets because they didn't tell me anything else about their great day.  I know they are waiting for next month for a repeat performance and to tell all.  Good job guys. For this tournament at Don Pedro we had 58 boats.  You anglers weighted-in 268 fish with a total weight of 574.02 pounds.  There was a mixture of spotted, black and small mouth bass caught during this tournament. Remember guys your next tournament for the Mother Lode Region will also be at Don Pedro Lake on April 13, 2013. Thank you again for all your support and we'll see you there next month. 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    
Results:

Big Boat
PlaceAnglerAnglerTotal FishBig FishTotal WeightWinnings
1Matt Frazier Sam Sawyer 58.8227.55$2,760.00
2Ronnie O Hahan Nicolas Rios 53.6521.99$1,265.00
3David Homen Scott Summers 58.0719.83$1,100.00
4Mike Goncalves Robert Mansor 57.7919.12$740.00
5Terry Odom Brandon Silvey 53.3714.76$380.00
6Art Romero Brandon Diamond 53.7913.05$310.00
7Nevada Bretz Ruben Gomez 53.4512.76$165.00
8Harry Markarian Joey A Verna Jr53.1312.48$155.00
9Brandon Gaither Kyle Gentry 53.1712.30$140.00
10Bruce Able Mike Callahan 52.9811.81$130.00
11Jeff Hobbs Keith McGraw 52.8211.56$120.00
12John Donnelly Billy Dehart 53.6811.50$170.00
13Will Cook Kenneth Doran 52.9011.49$0.00
14Bill K Goodman Mike P Goodman 50.0011.48$0.00
15Allen S Schneider Bruce W Robertson Jr53.5511.13$0.00
16Andrew Maack Jake Arbuckle 52.9211.11$0.00
17Scott Parsons Doug Naruo 52.5910.98$0.00
18William J Hartlett Jack Nowaya 50.0010.81$0.00
19Kevin Bloom Brandon A Kamplain 53.3610.71$0.00
20Stanley Penrod David Bigger 53.1110.59$0.00
21Derrick S Guzman Michael L Armas 53.3010.34$0.00
22Tom Gomez Brian Rabith 53.0310.25$0.00
23Lou Alexander Larry Whitt 50.009.96$0.00
24Jonathan Myers Moses Mix 42.959.93$0.00
25Jared Perkins Bob Perkins 50.009.83$0.00
26Gerry Johnson Bryan Hamby 52.039.75$0.00
27Lance Lemings Kip Kingsland 50.009.74$0.00
28Scott Skinner Don Varney 50.009.69$0.00
29Jon J Ramos  53.399.67$0.00
30Nick D Beck Jay W Graham 52.379.55$0.00
31Kyle Dekleva Daniel Sexton 50.009.50$0.00
32Tom Fishburn Mark Fishburn 52.519.46$0.00
33Scott Burke Garrett Maddex 50.009.45$0.00
34Rich Ingram Ron Ingram 50.009.41$0.00
35Rich A Hale Jim P Henry 53.139.30$0.00
36Robbie Stanford Danny Wainwright 52.199.16$0.00
37Mario Ramirez Brian Orange 52.568.90$0.00
38Adam C French Robert Wiggins 50.008.77$0.00
39Tony M Hein Daniel H Vella 50.008.41$0.00
40Michael Silva Doug King 52.558.31$0.00
41Justin K Smith Brian T Kirby 50.008.13$0.00
42Raul V Barajas Shaun W Clayton 50.008.11$0.00
43John R Scott Roger D Lockhart 50.007.97$0.00
44Catalino Alfonso Shane M Dangler 50.007.83$0.00
45Brian Sasaki Dennis E Papike 50.007.80$0.00
45Mike Martinez Duane C Goudy 52.097.80$0.00
47Van Blades Matthew Soule 50.007.79$0.00
48Scott Bern Craig Norman 42.267.67$0.00
49Johnny Matthews Robert Ryans 51.997.44$0.00
50Joey A Decosta Shawn Pauly 30.006.88$0.00
51Dennis J Murphy JrKurt A Wiley 50.006.67$0.00
52Blaine Duran James Duran 51.586.42$0.00
53Albert L Anderson JrKelly A Anderson 50.006.23$0.00
54Terry Flowers John Sherak 30.005.50$0.00
55Dave Perez Rick Perez 30.003.47$0.00
56Brian S Burton David L Frates 11.921.92$0.00
57Johnny A Beasley JrMatthew S Clark 00.000.00$0.00
57Jason F James Jimmy R Merver 00.000.00$0.00
57Albert Azevedo Zac Azevedo 00.000.00$0.00


Small Boat
PlaceAnglerAnglerTotal FishBig FishTotal WeightWinnings

RESULTS COMING VERY SOON, CHECK BACK OFTEN!