Central Region - Pine Flat - Mar 1, 2014
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Tournament Director
Scott Lops
2947 W Buena Vista Ave
Visalia, CA 93291
(559) 378-2807
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scottlops@gmail.com
Watch Director's Video
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The second tournament for the Central Valley Region of the
Best Bass Tournament Circuit was held at Pine Flat Lake on Saturday, March 1,
2014. This tournament was originally
scheduled to blast off from Lombardo's but because of the rain and unsafe
conditions the blast off was rescheduled for Deer Creek. We had one small boat and 33 large boats turn
out for the event. It took a total of
16.94 pounds to win the event and we had a big fish come in at 9.07 pounds.
To hold an event just 40 miles from Fresno is a little
refreshing, We are used to leaving on
Friday, driving about 100 miles and arriving at the Lake Friday afternoon for
the Saturday event. It was nice to be
able to sleep in our own beds. We still got up early, but we were able to
arrive at the Lake within an hour. Now I
know what it must feel like for you anglers to get up in the morning and drive
to the Lake. One thing for sure you had
better check to see that everything you need is packed and in the boat or in
our case the trailer the night before.
Because of the chance of rain, Kevin decided to hold
registration out of the back of the trailer.
Finding a more or less level spot for the trailer in the parking lot was
the biggest challenge for the day. A ten
by fifteen pop up attached to the back of the trailer made for a nice dry environment
to keep the paperwork, anglers and workers dry.
The coffee was made at home and transported to the Lake, Chelby had the
hot seat next to the coffee pot. There
is no electricity at the Lake so everything we do has to be done with a
generator. Registration and boat checks
were done next to each other because of needing the generator for both. After running the generator for three hours
straight we were left in the dark. The
generator started to smoke and Kevin was afraid that the generator after three
years was dying.
Blast off was scheduled for 6:05 a.m. at safe light and the
anglers were in the water and ready to go.
Kevin went over the rules and informed the anglers of the off limit
areas. Next Kevin reminded the anglers
to check in with the check in boat before they come in to weigh-in. Not checking in with the check in boat is
grounds for being DG'd. He scheduled two
flights, with the first one to return at 3:00 p.m. and the second at 3:15
p.m. Boat number 27 was the lucky draw
for the day. Small boat was sent off
first, and then boat number 27 was the first of the large boats to be
released. One by one the anglers were
sent off for a full day of fishing. Boat
numbers 27 thru 10 were in the first flight and boats number 11 thru 26 made up
the second flight.
After the blast off Kevin came back up to the parking lot
and we packed up everything to move down to the Lake for the afternoon weight
in. After setting up the ten by fifteen
pop up the wind started to blow. It
seems that the wind blows worst next to the water. Kevin decided to look at the generator to see
if it was able to be fixed. If not he
was going to have to go to Fresno to buy a new generator. With no electricity at the Lake we need the
generator to run the scales for the weight in.
Kevin was able to clean out the spark arrester and exhaust pipe and the
generator was back to running normal. The
weigh station was then set up and we were ready for the anglers. We would be working out of the back of the
trailer again because of the rain and wind.
A quick bite to eat and a short rest and we were ready for
the anglers to return. As the anglers
came in they were reminded that they would have to boat back out to the five
mile an hour buoy to release their fish into the release net next to the
buoy. Our check in boat would have the
decompression chamber for any fish that might be floaters. It is safer for the fish when we use the
decompression chamber instead of needling them.
The decompression chamber has a forty foot rope attached to it and any
floaters are then taken down deep and the air in their body is released and
they are able to swim away unharmed.
Boats came in , boats went out and the weigh-in was soon
over. The scales were called closed by
Kevin at 3:30 p.m. Now we had to tear
down and move back up to the parking lot for the awards. While the other staff were tearing down, I
was busy getting the payoff envelopes ready for the anglers. Back up the ramp we go. Left over goodies and cookies along with
Diamond walnuts and almonds were set out for the anglers as we finished up the
paperwork. Once we were ready the
anglers were out of the water and ready also.
First place was taken by the team of Justin Barton and Jeff
Short both of Clovis. They brought in
five fish weighing in at a whopping 16.94 pounds. First place gave them $510.00, while they
were in all of the options they received an addition $870.00. Not only that they brought in the first place
big fish and I do mean BIG fish, topping the scales at 9.07 pounds for
$305.00. This gave them a $1,685.00
paycheck for a great day of fishing.
Where else but at a tournament can you have fun fishing all day and
still take home a paycheck. Justin and
Jeff fish all over the Lake using spinner baits. They would like to thank their wives Jackie
and Hanna for all their support.
The team of Jason Higginbotham of Fresno and Nathan Harbison
of Madera took second place with their five fish weighing in at 11.44
pounds. Jason and Nathan took $320.00
for second place and they were in all the options for an additional
$430.00. The second place big fish was
also found in their five fish bag . She
weighed in at 4.01 pounds and gave them $170.00. These two anglers took home $920.00 for a
good day of fishing. Jason and Nathan
fished all over the Lake and used weightless worms, jigs and wake baits. These anglers would like to thank their
sponsors, Bulldog Pest, Brays Serious Baits, HCBF and most of all their
families for all their support and help.
Steve Bradford and Gary Coker both of Ivanhoe took third
place with a five fish bag weighing in at 11.19 pound which netted them
$225.00. This team was in all the
options also for an additional $265.00.
Their total for the day came to $490.00.
Steve and Gary fished the River and used Jigs.
While doing the paperwork for this tournament, I realized
that we had all 34 boats in Big Fish and at the end of the day all 34 boats had
weighted in. During the over three years
that I have been working with my son Kevin on these tournaments this is the
first one were we had all of the boats weight in. This is a job well done and it also shows
that the Central Valley has several good fisherman fishing our circuit. The total number of fish weighed in was 149
fish with a combined weight of 266.97 pounds.
Big Fish for the day was a large mouth Bass topping the scales at 9.07
pounds. My hat off to all of you anglers
for a great job done and a great tournament.
The third tournament for the Central Valley Region will be
held at Pine Flat Lake. Again we will be
going out of Deer Creek. Not knowing
what the weather will be like, it just makes good sense to be safe and not
sorry. We look forward to seeing each
and every one of you anglers at this event.
Let's see if we can get more than just one nine pound big fish.
I
would like to thank our staff for a job well done. Without the staff it would be impossible to
put on a tournament of this size. Shawn
Hubert, Christopher Orange for all their help with tearing down and
reassembly. Chelby Cheek for keeping
the trailer clean and in working order along with help Mon with registration
and paperwork. Dave Orange is the Weigh
Master and Mario Ramirez and Brian Orange is the Staff Boat. Thank you again to each and every one for
helping to make this event enjoyable and safe for all the anglers.
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.
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 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 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.
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Results:
Big Boat
| 1 | Jeff Short | Justin Barton | 5 | 9.07 | 16.94 | $1,685.00 |
| 2 | Jason Higginbotham | Nathan Harbison | 5 | 4.01 | 11.44 | $920.00 |
| 3 | Steve D Bradford | Gary Coker | 5 | 2.38 | 11.19 | $490.00 |
| 4 | Gary Wasson | David Coy | 5 | 2.45 | 10.81 | $370.00 |
| 5 | Joe Alanis | Rick White | 5 | 2.65 | 10.55 | $215.00 |
| 6 | Adam Belmont | Stephen Magill | 5 | 2.15 | 10.54 | $155.00 |
| 7 | Tom Mize | Michael Beasley | 5 | 2.50 | 10.52 | $140.00 |
| 8 | John R Scott | Roger D Lockhart | 5 | 2.89 | 10.33 | $70.00 |
| 9 | Denny Bowlin | Duane Bowlin | 5 | 2.32 | 9.47 | $0.00 |
| 10 | Chris A Lienau | Leann Lienau | 5 | 2.12 | 9.00 | $0.00 |
| 11 | Rod Burns | Scott Burns | 5 | 2.44 | 8.84 | $0.00 |
| 12 | Dave Nishimoto | Jeremy G Gray | 5 | 1.97 | 8.80 | $0.00 |
| 13 | Daniel Hernandez | Dennis Bingham | 5 | 2.44 | 8.64 | $0.00 |
| 14 | James Beasley | Newt Price | 5 | 2.25 | 8.33 | $0.00 |
| 15 | Joshua Sanchez | Mike Chavarria | 5 | 0.00 | 7.87 | $0.00 |
| 16 | Don Hendrix | Walt Austin | 5 | 0.00 | 7.81 | $0.00 |
| 17 | Dan Cranston | Scott Lops | 5 | 1.90 | 7.69 | $0.00 |
| 18 | Jim Littlejohn | Rick Littlejohn | 5 | 0.00 | 7.55 | $0.00 |
| 19 | Ed Armbrister | Jimmy Smith | 5 | 1.92 | 7.43 | $0.00 |
| 20 | Jason Sanchez | John M Sanchez | 5 | 1.37 | 7.24 | $0.00 |
| 21 | James Miller | Lee Miller | 5 | 1.67 | 7.23 | $0.00 |
| 22 | John Shaw | Mike J Pierce | 5 | 1.51 | 7.02 | $0.00 |
| 23 | Don Bays | Donald Bays Jr | 5 | 1.69 | 6.97 | $0.00 |
| 24 | Vincent P Melella | Steven E Lane | 5 | 0.00 | 6.30 | $0.00 |
| 25 | Mario Ramirez | Brian Orange | 5 | 0.00 | 6.03 | $0.00 |
| 26 | Ignacio Carranza | Collin Degough | 4 | 2.18 | 5.87 | $0.00 |
| 27 | Steve D Miller Sr | Dennis K Hamman | 4 | 1.53 | 5.38 | $0.00 |
| 28 | Timothy Wells | Travis Mathews | 3 | 0.00 | 4.49 | $0.00 |
| 29 | Jeff Graham | Ricky Wallace | 2 | 2.33 | 4.10 | $0.00 |
| 30 | Jim Miller | Roger Cummings | 2 | 2.24 | 3.53 | $0.00 |
| 31 | Juan C Cruz | Robert C Sanders | 2 | 2.02 | 3.15 | $0.00 |
| 32 | Jaydee Watson | Ryan M Watson | 2 | 1.75 | 2.85 | $0.00 |
Small Boat
| 1 | Randy S Whited | Michael D Gaston | 5 | 2.93 | 10.34 | $100.00 |
| 2 | Lee Ochoa | Noe Sanchez | 5 | 2.14 | 8.58 | $0.00 |
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