Congratulations to California Bass Contenders Contenders 2024 Angler of the Year Randy Estrada hailing out of Corona, CA by way of the CBC straight outta of San Dimas, CA. Doctor Randy has been an active member of the California Bass Contenders club since 2001, almost as far back as the beginning of the club. Doc Randy is very well known in the West Coast fishing community as he has fished many of the western local circuits like ABA, Nat Bass West and none bigger or more prestigious than the US Open at Lake Mead. Randy is well known by west coast anglers who have battled against him where he owns the stingy waters of DVL along with his tournament partner and long time friend Mike Collins. The fish doctor has had tremendous success on the club circuits and in the upper ranks fishing against some of the best fisherman on the planet. Before going fulltime with the CBC Randy fished with Sun Country Bassmasters club and Pointseekers club where he still attends some of their club events that don’t conflict with his home club the CBC. Doc is also well known on the big stage as he has fished the US Open nineteen years consecutively, landing several times in the top ten. His 2009 US Open 4th place finish was amongst his highest pro finish to go along with multiple top twenty finishes against anglers the likes of Rick Clunn, Aaron Martens, Brett Hite, Gary Dobyns, Morizu Shimizu, John Murray just to name a few. In 2006 Randy won the US Open AAA championship which helped him propel to the ranks of one of the top pro anglers in the west. At the 2013 WON Bass US Open on day two after weighing a huge sack of fish tournament director Billy Egan put the microphone in Dr Randy’s face asking him a few questions about his day. It was up on that stage in front of the press and huge crowd Randy answered with, “I would first like to say hello and thank all the members from my bass club, the California Bass Contenders”. What a great thing to say on such a huge stage with hundreds of thousands watching live and on webcast from all around the country and the world. Randy your Bass Contender brothers have never been so proud of your awesome achievements and outstanding finish in the WON Bass US Open and in 2024 California Bass Contender season angler of the year.
Doctor Randy spent a prestigious career as medical doctor with his specialty in pediatrics. It is well known that Dr Randy is responsible for life saving care of several of his young patients over his career as a medical doctor. It was early in medical school where Randy met his lovely wife Laura in the very first class, first semester, first intro to medicine 101. Randy wasted no time and rose to the front of the line, like we all know he always does lol, his pursuit to court Laura was similar to his pursuit to be the first boat out of the blocks at every tournament. He offered to study with her, but studying was the last thing on the doctor’s mind. Randy often wins, it took a little bit of pre-fishing, but he soon after landed the best keeper of his life when he married his college sweetheart Laura. Together they raised three wonderful children Amanda, Isabella and Randy Jr. Not only a bass tournament champion, but Randy also hails as an Adult Doubles tennis champion and most valuable player in 2009 in the adult leagues. In Beatty Nevada Randy is not only a back-to-back desert champion, but Randy Estrada actually holds the World record for wild burro racing across 40 miles on foot with a wild friken burro in the middle of summer through Death Valley in the Nevada desert. Not kidding its wild friken burro racing. Randy holds the 2 day world record for fastest time.
Our reigning 2023 Bass Contender AOY Dave Mendez and every other club member knows how difficult it is to consistently place in the top three or four places against our anglers at our monthly events. Our club’s talent pool is amongst the best in the business which is why CBC is the largest and longest lasting club in Southern California. It takes alot of hard work, dedication, concentration and a little bit of luck to put together a run at the coveted Angler Of the Year title. This season Frank Schwamborn and Thomas Riley made a good solid run at the top spot of the season, but it was the fish doctor who came out on top when the dust settled. When I sat down and spoke with Randy about his season in review, he told me about a time he will always remember. It was the year Randy came only a couple of spots from winning the US Open in Lake Mead, NV. He was out in his boat late at night getting baits ready for next day, he noticed he was alone with the exception of one other angler doing the same thing in the parking lot of the host hotel. It was Aaron Martens, who Randy acclaims to probably be the best angler who ever competed both local and on the national stage. They both shared a few laughs that night and commented to each other that it was almost friken midnight and launch time was coming fast. That is just one example of what it takes to be a great angler. Just a couple months ago, last September, anglers Albert Medina, Devin Cummins and I went for a night walk in the marina after a few cocktails. We were at the Blue Water Casino in Parker AZ for CBC 2 day tournament, we saw what we thought could be somebody vandalizing or messing with one of the bass boats parked in a boat slip. As we drew near, it was the fish doctor Randy sitting in his boat with a forehead light getting his gear ready.
Randy has been through it all. He has seen many anglers come and go over the years whether on the club trail or on the pro bass tournament circuit. Randy’s advice for the newer members of the bass club or even those who plan to spread their wings and compete abroad is to simply get out on the water as much as you can. Fish alone sometimes, it is there you will learn valuable things you would have missed when you’re fishing with a partner. Watching videos and getting to know new industry baits and techniques is great, but absolutely nothing compares to time on the water. It is there you will learn about conditions and patterns that can change hourly, daily or weekly. It will keep you on your toes and make you a complete angler. No better words or advice has ever been spoken.
You earned it Doc, congratulations on a well-deserved victory. We salute you!
Your friend: Big ED!
