MATTHEW CLARK AND JOHNNY BEASEY JR BATTLE COLD TEMPERATURES TO WIN ON LAKE NACIMIENTO
Sign-ups began on Friday afternoon in the Best Bass Tournaments trailer a little after 4 PM. We had a few teams show up to sign in early to receive their boat number for the tournament which allowed them more time to get prepared in the morning of the event as they only needed their boat checked by our staff prior to launching. As the sun was disappearing and the evening approached, the temperature started dropping rapidly.
We began sign-ups again in the morning inside the BBT trailer and it was FREEZING! A blanket of ice covered the parking lot and everything that was outside during the night. The BBT trailer and the Berkley canopy pop-up had ice on them. Anglers showed up to check in after receiving their Quagga Mussel Inspection and enjoyed hot coffee under the Berkley pop-up. Boat number 22 was drawn to be the first boat out in the Big Boat Division by Brad Austin who came up to sign-in after most teams were launching their boats or were in the water waiting for the start of the event.
Boats were blasted off about ten minutes after “safe light”. Many teams took off to make long runs while others stayed close to the launch site.
During the weigh-in a lot of anglers talked about how tough it was to get the bass to bite. Some even commented about ice on their line, giving concerns to the line breaking when reeling in their bass in the early morning hours. Only four teams weighed in a five fish limit. Matthew Clark and Johnny Beasley Jr., both from Gilroy proved it could be done! It took a weight of 8.04 pounds to win. Johnny caught a 3.14 pound bass, which was their first bass of the day and it ended up being the Second Place Big Fish. They took First Place with their limit. They told everyone they fished in Las Tablas at the start of their day then around Lear Launch site using the drop shot technique for their bass. They fished in one foot to ten feet of water near the steep taper with depths dropping from twenty –five to forty feet for their fish using 6# test attached to a drop shot hook. Their words of advice to the other anglers, “fish till time to weigh in as anything can happen and it won’t if you give up.” They took home $1,300.00 in winnings and their First Place trophies. Congratulations guys and great to see you both again!
Second Place went to the team of Ty Mc Cutcheon and Brian Beckham both from Bakersfield who came to the scales with a limit of bass weighing 7.73 pounds which was anchored by the Third Big Fish weighing 2.41 pounds. They told everyone they caught their bass on dart heads and jigs against the shoreline in the narrows for their bass. They took home $805.00 and Second Place trophies to show their friends and family for their efforts on Nacimiento. Nice team work guys and congratulations on your day on the water.
Third Place was the team of David Reed of Bakersfield and his partner Timothy Nishukubo of Taft. David caught the First Big Fish of the tournament weighing 3.17 pounds. Their total weight for their limit was 7.25 pounds. They told the crowd they fished the Las Tablas area of the lake also using the drop shot technique on plastics, giving them $745.00 in winnings and Third Place trophies in addition to David walking away with the First Place Big Fish trophy and fishing stories to tell. Congratulations guys on your win!
The team of Jason Lazzerini from Moss Landing and Gene Lazzerini from Prunedale came to the scales with four bass weighing 6.10 pounds. Gene caught their largest bass that weighed 2.00 pounds, which looked like it was going to hold up in the Big Fish money but was bumped out of that position as the last of the teams were weighed in. They took home $185.00 for Fourth Place for their efforts. Sweet!
Fifth Place was the team of Jay Rich and his partner Terry Rawles both from Bakersfield. They managed to get a limit of bass in the cold temperatures that weighed 4.22 pounds and took home $170.00 for their time spent on the lake. Nice!
The Fourth Place Big Fish was caught by Grant Byers, who came to the scales with this one bass weighing 2.39 pounds. It was a very tough day for this team but weighing in this one fish gave them $60.00 to take home for this team, Grant and his partner Kenneth Cleveland both from Bakersfield.
The Fifth Place Big Fish was caught by the team of Harlin Gibson from Maricopa and his partner Mark Snow from Bakersfield, who came to the scales with two bass weighing 3.44 pounds and their Big Fish weighed 2.13 pounds. It was also a tough day for this team as well however they did leave Nacimiento with $30.00 for their win.
Mike Garza from King City and Elliott Dozier from Greenfield came to the scales with one bass weighing 0.97 pounds. They took First Place points in the Small Boat Division which will help them get to the TOC in October.
Nearly all the teams stayed for the Awards Ceremony that immediately followed the weigh-in and we thank you for being a part of it and showing respect for your fellow anglers who placed in the top positions. Anglers were tossed Yakima Baits, Berkley Havoc, Berkley Power Baits, Berkley Trilene fishing line and Emerald Nuts to enjoy.
The Irwin-Lenox Target Weight for this event was 3.35 pounds. The team closest to this target weight without going over was the team of Danny Conaster from King City and Dan Dostal from Grover Beach. They had a weight of 2.92 pounds so they won the Irwin- Lenox tools for being present to receive their prize.
The team coming in twentieth place had left prior to the Awards Ceremony to receive their two pair of Eye Surrender Sunglasses for the 20/20 Award. The sunglasses were forfeited and will be given out at our Tournament of Champions in October for the winners who are present at that time.
The California Wear It Campaign life vest was awarded to Boat number 25 as they were there to receive this fine gift.
Boat number 15 was drawn for Batrum’s Marine Lower Unit Service Certificate and the team of Ray Huff and Tim Caudle won this great prize!
Boat number 4 was drawn for the Sponsor Gift Bag. Jason and Geno Lazzerini were present to receive their BBT Sponsor prize.
Boat number 19 was drawn for a Sponsor Gift Bag however they had left prior to receiving their prize so it will be donated to the TOC.
Boat number 18 was drawn for an Abu Garcia reel. John Beckett and Darrin Armstrong were present to receive their prize.
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, 51- Fifty Energy Drinks, 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 Kevin Ryan and the Coastal Region staff Ray Huff, Tim Caudle, Mike Foreman and Kenny Mc Murray for a great job helping the anglers. You all are an asset to the BBT and our tournaments could not run efficiently without each and every one of you!
The next tournament in the Coastal Region will be held on Lake Santa Margarita on February 23rd. Kevin Cheek is the director for this tournament. If you have any questions, please call Kevin before 11 AM in the mornings or after 7 PM in the evenings at (559) 977-8420.
Best Bass Tournaments is looking for a permanent director for the Coastal Region. If you are interested or know of anyone who may fill the criteria of a Tournament Director, please call Randy Pringle at 209-543-6260 or email randy@bestbasstournaments.com
Thank you for your participation and fishing Best Bass Tournaments at Lake Nacimiento. We look forward to seeing you again soon!
Sheri and Randy Pringle