California Bass Contenders

Early on a cold Saturday morning, the CBC members got together at Pyramid Lake for the start of our 2022/23 season.  It has been a while since we travelled North or even on a single digit highway (5) for a competition, and the travel North did not disappoint.

The morning started with a surprise, as we arrived to find “50” boats all ready in line for a Pro tournament.  Pyramid fishes small, so “50” boats was going to make for a crowded day of fishing.  Though it was only about 27 boats, it sure looked like “50” boats.  LOL

The normal Pyramid winds hadn’t picked up much and the morning’s crystal clear water got us off to a great start.  By noon the winds had picked up and the crystal clear water was muddied by the recreational boaters and the other “50 boats’.  Neither posed an obstacle for us and we kept on fishing .

At 3 o’clock, we met up again at the “yellow bar” for the weigh in.

After a few boats weighed in, you could tell this tournament had the makings of a nail-biter!  Mark P shortly sat on top of the leader board with 5/13.02, but he was quickly knocked off by club president, Derrick Y with 5/13.04.  That didn’t last long, as Frank S, who was fishing as a boater for the first time on his beautiful Ranger boat, bumped him with 5/13.12. 

Are you beginning to see a pattern here?

Frank, biting his nails, had to wait for 3 more of the club’s heavy hitters to weigh their fish.  David M comes in with 5/13.09, PHEW, a close one.  The Conrad Jr. comes in with 5/12.05.  The only one left, was Frank’s very own “compa”, Alfred V.

“Compa #2” knocks “compa  #3” from the top spot and the win with 5/13.14.  You talk about a close one!  So much fun at the weigh in.

 

 

 

Let’s not forget to mention Tom C’s big fish of 6.02.  A big one!  He proceeded to give both Steve M and myself advice and pointers the whole day after that catch.  Thanks for the schooling professor.  Good times!

Conrad Jr and Chris G took home Big Boat.

See you all next month at El Cap.

place/angler/fish/weight

1. Alfred V 5/13.14
2. Frank S 5/13.12
3. David M 5/13.0
4. Derrick Y 5/13.04
5. Mark P 5/13.02
6. Conrad Jr 5/12.05
7. Big Ed 3/8.11
8. Tom C 2/8.10
9. Chris G 4/7.13
10. Ron R 5/6.13

Big Fish: Tom C 6.02

Big Boat: Conrad Jr and Chris G

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you fished 2 or 5 days, our teams experienced and overcame some obstacles that helped shape the season finale into one of the funnest ones we’ve had yet.  The fishing was tough but the team comradery was off the scales with both planned and unplanned lunches on the water at Kokomos and the new casino, dinner both bought and homemade, and even a boat rescue.

Tournament Day 1

Day 1 saw a drop of nearly 20 degrees in weather with 15-18mph winds and a few drops of rain.  Multiple teams reported big waves and plenty of wet co-anglers.

 

Right after blast off the team of Raul V and Miguel L ran into some boat issues and limped back to the launch ramp.  Johnny A and his co-angler Ron G headed back to help them safely get the boat back onto the trailer.  Steve M and Chris G were fishing without co-anglers, so they headed back to the docks to keep all of our members on the water.  Thanks guys for stepping up in one our brother’s time of need. 

Despite the early morning obstacles, some teams still managed to bring double digit bags to the scales, though not all of them.  The team of Big Ed/Mark C landed on top of the Day 1 leader board with a whopping bag of 5/16.31 that included a Day 1 Big Fish for Big Ed at 4.92.

Team Alfred V/Frank S were close behind with the only other Day 1 limit at 5/12.0.

Team David M/Kevin D didn’t get 5, but still managed a double digit bag with 4/11.04

Team Chris G/Miguel managed a 3 fish bag at 3/9.53

Team Johnny A was fishing with a new fisherman and first time guest “I have 2 rods and know 1 knot” Ron Gutierrez and rounded out the top 5 with 3/9.44

By the way, Ron Gutierrez was a last minute addition to the tournament and had very little “pro style’ fishing experience, but he made the trip anyway because he had heard so much about us.  He really has 2 rods and knew one knot before Johnny showed him the ropes.  We hope to see you next season.  He caught fish too.

Team Albert V/Angel S went 3/6.65

Team Conrad Jr/Sr went 3/5.68

Team Gary C/Sergio S went 2/4.28

Team Steve M/Raul V went 2/4.55

Team Derrick Y/Robert T went 1/2.49

We got together  later that evening for our team dinner being held at the Team Steve house and it didn’t disappoint.  We had people inside, outside, by the fire pit, in the kitchen, and watching YouTube videos in the front room with the hopes of picking up a pointer or two.  We even got a surprise visit from long time member Ron Jenke.  With everyone helping out in some fashion, Robert T was on guard duty because his famous salsa was quickly running low.

“The Salsa is supposed to be for dinner!”

 

Tournament Day 2

In fishing no lead is safe and you have to be able to reproduce what you did or didn’t do on Day 1 to be successful.  With Day 2 being 2 hours shorter, the pressure was on.

Again only 2 teams weighed 5 fish limits, but it wasn’t the teams atop of the Day 1 leader board.

Team Gary C/Sergio went 5/11.92 that included Day 2’s big fish for Sergio S at 3.95.

Team Derrick Y/Robert T got 5/10.86, but that was only 3rd best because Team Alfred V/Frank S went 4/11.20.  Was it going to be enough to catch Big Ed/Mark????

David M/Kevin D went 3/6.45

Johnny A/Ron G went 1/3.78

Chris G/Miguel L went 1/2.80

Big Ed/Mark C went 2/2.75

The other 3 teams blanked.  With Chris G breaking his phone we were forced to use our fingers for the total math and when we finished counting, it was Team Alfred V/Frank S that came out atop the Final leader board with 9/23.20.  Way to go guys.  That was back to back 1st place finished for new member Frank S and Alfred V’s 3rd Top 3 finish of the season.

The weekend also saw Conrad Apodaca Jr. Solidify his hold on the 2021 Angler of the Year title.  I believe this is his club leading 5th AOY award. WOW!  The Top 10 was also locked up with Robert T making a jump form 11th to 9th and Chris holding onto the 10th spot with 5 more points than Tom C.

I am excited to see what the new season has instore for us and want to thank you all for making this season a great one.

Robert

Day 1 results:

Place/team/fish/weight

1. Big Ed/Mark C 5/16.31
2. Alfred V/Frank S 5/12.0
3. David M/Kevin D 4/11.04
4. Chris G/Miguel L 3/9.53
5. Johnny A/Ron G 3/9.44
6. Albert V/Angel S 3/6.65
7. Conrad Jr/Sr 3/5.68
8. Steve M/Raul V 4.55
9. Gary C/Sergio S 2/4.28
10. Derrick Y/Robert T 1/2.49

Day 1 Big Fish:  Ed Cazares 4.92

Big Boat: Big /Mark C 16.31

Day 2 results:

Place/team/fish/weight

1. Gary C/Sergio S 5/11.92
2. Alfred V/Frank S 4/11.20
3. Derrick Y/Robert T 5/10.86
4. David M/Kevin D 3/6.45
5. Johnny A/Ron G 1/3.78
6. Chris G/Miguel L 1/2.80
7. Big Ed/Mark C 1/2.75
8. Steve M/Raul V 0/0
9. Albert V/Angel S 0/0
10. Conrad Jr/Sr DNF

Day 2 Big Fish: Sergio Sanchez 3.95

Big Boat: Gary C/Sergio S 11.92

2 Day Final results

Place/team/fish/weight

1. Alfred V/Frank S 9/23.20
2. Big Ed/Mark C 7/19.06
3. David M/Kevin D 7/17.49
4. Gary C/Sergio S 7/16.2
5. Derrick Y/Robert T 6/13.35
6. Johnny A/Ron G 4/13.22
7. Chris G/Miguel L 4/12.33
8. Albert V/Angel S 3/6.55
9. Conrad Jr/Sr 3/5.68
10. Steve M/Raul V 2/4.55

 

The Showdown at Lake Hodges turned into the SLOWDOWN at Lake Hodges.  The only things in abundance were crappie fisherman.  The number of boats and personal watercrafts made a fishing obstacle course and made fishing even tougher for February Bass.

A few of the Contenders managed to bring fish to the scales, but there were only 3 of them.

Frank Schwamborn had the winning fish at 2.54 lbs.  Not a big fish you say…..that fish earned him the CBC Trifecta.  1st place, Big Fish, and Big Boat!  It also helped just about cement a spot in the AOY Top 10 standings.  2nd place went to Robert Terrazas with 2.32 lbs.  That puts him just 5 points behind Chris Graciano for the last Top 10 spot.  Rounding out the last of the podium spots was Joe Nava with 2.11 lbs.

Outside temperatures were in the 30’s upon arrival but the sun finally showed itself and got us to the 70’s by mid-day. The cold nights have kept the water temp in the 50’s still with only a few spots breaking the 60 mark.  Water clarity was the normal Lake Hodges pea soup.

Most of us have already put this day behind us and have already begun prepping for next weeks season finale in Havasu.

Place/Name/Fish/Total

1. Frank Schwamborn 1/2.54
2. Robert Terrazas 1/2.32
3. Joe Nava 1/2.11

Dropshot, Neko, Mojo rig

Big Fish Frank Schwamborn 2.54

Big Boat: Chris Graciano/Frank Schwamborn

 

See you on the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the winter months being a notoriously tough time of the year for most bass anglers, the CBC still got together this past weekend for a cold January tournament at DVL.   Most of us were out of bed about 2 AM and on the road trying to get the coveted “first in line” award.   With a launch n’ go format, first in line gets you to your spot first and an early crack at some of the big ones coming out of the deep water.

The weather was cold and the fishing was tough, as expected, but some of our anglers managed to bag a few for the final weigh in.  As the teams came in and we heard more than a few members say they were “skunked”.   I’m sure the thought of pulling out a win or top 5 finish with only a 1-2 fish bag went through some of our heads, but the thought was short lived as Dr. Randy brought in 3 and club president, Derrick Y., brought in a 5 fish limit.  Derrick’s limit (5/12.44)was good enough to earn him the 1st place honors, but not enough for a trifecta sweep of 1st place, big fish, and big boat.  2nd place went to Dr. Randy (3/8.87), and with his top 5 partner, Alfred V. (2/4.98), they secured big boat with just shy of 14 lbs.  3rd place Joe N. (2/6.82) and 4th place Mark W. (2/5.90) managed to tie for big fish (3.67)

The day concluded with our customary habit of grabbing a drink and a bite from the local spot, Archibald’s.

It is always a blast when we get together for a little friendly competition and it was great to see everyone after the holiday break.

 

P.S.  I need everyone to make an effort to take pics of your and our fish at the weigh ins.

Air temp: 37-70

Overcast skies all day

Water temp: 56-57

Water was Gin clear 15-18′

Place/Name/Fish/Total

1.  Derrick Yoshinaga 5/12.44
2. Dr. Randy Estrada 3/8.87
3.  Joe Nava 2/6.82
4. Mark Whitney 2/5.90
5. Alfred Vasquez 2/4.98
6. Robert Terrazas 2/4.96
7.  Johnny Abyad 1/3.18
8. Tom Creasy 1/3.06
9. Pops Colgan 1/2.82
10. Steve Meza 1/2.22

1st place: D/S 6″ Folkstead in 15-30′

2nd place: D/S Robowork 20-30’/Neko 15′

3rd place: Mojo Shot 25-30′

4th place: D/S Roboworm 15′

5th place: D/S 4″ Folkstead 5-15′