LARRY HUTTON AND JIM GRIFFIN ROCK THE DELTA WITH 22.09 POUNDS TO TAKE THE LEAD

Sign-ups began bright and early at 3:45 AM in the Russo's Marina office. We had a few teams show up to sign in 4 AM and a few stragglers until 4:40 AM then the anglers came in large groups to sign up, get their boats inspection completed then launched to await the blast off. The air was cool in the early morning hours that turned to warm and sunny as the first flight of anglers made their way to the weigh-in station at noon. This was the first tournament for the Delta Wine Region this season to be in early, as per the Fish and Wildlife Regulations that began on June 15th and will end on September 15th. These shorter tournament hours have proven to keep more fish alive so all tournament circuits must follow suit during the hot summer months.

Several teams did well while other struggled to get a limit in the boat. This was not the case for Larry Hutton of Brentwood and his partner Jim Griffin from Rio Vista who came to the scales with a limit weighing 22.09 pounds with their largest bass weighing 8.12 pounds that was caught by Jim, not enough to place in the Big Fish money, but a nice one to anchor their weight. This bass is a Lunker Club fish! They told the crowd they fished the south end of the Delta using chatter baits for their bass. They took home two nice First Place trophies to show everyone and $2,510.00 in winnings. Congratulation guys!

Second Place went to the team of Mike Hamontree from Ceres and his partner Bronson Collins from Salida who had 21.77 pounds with their largest bass weighing 7.53 pounds, landed by Jim, also a Lunker Club bass. They told everyone they fished in the middle Delta flippin' worms. They took home $1,405.00 in winnings. Great teamwork guys!

The John and John Team, John Rossi of Brentwood and John Schromm of Concord took Third Place with 20.60 pounds with their largest bass weighing 6.42 pounds. They fished Piper Slough and Franks Track pitching weightless worms. "We found one spot loaded with bait and fish". They took home $370.00 in winnings. Not too bad for a little time spent on the water with a friend on a nice sunny day.

Fourth Place was the team of Jason Jones of Santa Rosa and Jared Biddle of Rohnert Park came to the scales with 19.87 pounds and their largest bass caught by Jason weighed 7.32 pounds. Jason will also be joining the anglers who have made it into the Lunker Club with this bass. They took home $790.00 for paying into all the Options and placing in the top five positions at this tournament.

Rounding out the top five was the team of Peter Kaprielian from Concord and Kevin Ryan from Oakdale who weighed in 18.99 pounds. Kevin caught their largest bass, another Lunker Club bass, that weighed 8.68 pounds, giving them Fifth Big Fish and Fifth Place in this tournament. They took home $640.00 in winnings. Sweet!

TEAM WOOD TAKE FIRST PLACE IN THE SMALL BOAT DIVISION

The father and son team of Chuck and Aaron Wood from Fairfield took First Place with 14.60 pounds that were caught on weightless worms while drop shotting in and around Franks Track. They had to catch a plane so they left before getting the photos with their First Pace trophies so we will catch up with them at the next tournament they fish. Congratulation guys and you can nearly see the light at the end of the tunnel for getting that much closer to becoming Anglers of the Year in the Small Boat Division!

Big Fish winners were scattered throughout the field. Here is how that played out:

First Place Big Fish was caught by Jason Hopper, weighing 10.39 pounds. Jason and his partner William Vernon, both from Valley Springs had a limit weighing 17.08 pounds. Jason walked away with a nice First Place Big Fish trophy and $720.00 in winnings. Nice teamwork guys!

Brian Henry caught the Second Place Big Fish weighing 9.18 pounds and a Lunker Club bass. Brian and Mike Henry both live in Acampo and weighed in 16.44 pounds overall. They took home $345.00 in winnings. Not too shabby!

Bill Talley from Suisun City weighed in an 8.84 pound bass giving him the Third Big Fish of the tournament and also a member to the Lunker Club. His partner Scott A. Smith from Benicia, yes we have two Scott Smith's who fish the BBT! They weighed in 18.30 pounds at this event. They took home $475.00 in winnings.

Kasey Rhyme from Reno, Nevada took the Fourth Place Big Fish and winnings of $245.00 with an 8.80 pound bass, yes another Lunker Club bass! Kasey and his partner Troy Fleming also from Reno, Nevada had a limit of bass weighing 17.14 pounds.

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 nuts were tossed to the crowd and many anglers enjoyed eating them while waiting to hear the tournament results at the Awards Ceremony.

Boat numbers 10, 29, 24, 18, 63, 52, 41, 36 were drawn however these teams had already left the parking lot, then boat number 31 was present so the team of William Vernon and Jason Hopper were happy 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 Peter Kaprielian as his Sponsor Tackle Store receipt was drawn from the BBT bucket and he was 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 2B  ("B" is for the Big Boat Division as we also have small boats that fish the Delta Wine and Northern Regions, which confuses a lot of anglers when they receive a lower number with a "B" next to their number!) Renza Badilla was present to take home this bag of tackle. Several anglers had left prior to the Awards Ceremony and boat numbers 17 and 24 were drawn before 2B so it was given to Renza as she was 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 Delta Wine Region will be at Clearlake, launching out of Red Bud Launch Ramp on July 26th. 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.

Our final tournament for this season in the Delta Wine Region will be held on the Delta, launching out of Russo's Marina on August 16th. We will begin the early morning check-in at 3:30 AM in the Russo's office. We will not check in on Friday night, due to lack of anglers showing up on Friday's when we are on the Delta. We will see everyone on Saturday morning.

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. There is a 3 fish limit for the team and it is also a six hour tournament. The entry fee for this event is $50.00 for the team. If you wish to be a sponsor and have a booth to show off your products, please contact Grant, his information is on www.thebassfest.com website. 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, 2014 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.

I would like to thank Chuck Russo and his staff for all their help in the early morning and during the weigh-in. The anglers and the BBT appreciate everything you do for all of us.

I would like to thank my BBT Assistants for making this tournament run smoothly. You did a great job checking boats, helping anglers who needed your assistance, during the weigh-in and making sure everything was properly secured in the BBT trailer after the Awards Ceremony came to a close: Peter Kaprielian, Kevin Ryan, Brian Stringer, Kenny and Kody Cramer. JD was in New York on his vacation and was missed at this tournament.

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