KONRAD RUPP AND JAMES TOTTEN WIN BEST BASS TOURNAMENTS DELTA WINE REGION AS IT LAUNCHES THE FIRST EVENT AT BERRYESSA

     Friday was a beautiful day, sunny with some wind as we arrived at Pleasure Cove Marina on Lake Berryessa in the early afternoon to set up for anglers to check in. We had several anglers who were there pre-fishing and others who arrived at the lake that preferred to get a jump on checking in, giving them extra time before the start of the tournament on Saturday morning. As the day turned into night, seeing the stars in the sky was a welcomed sight. With predictions of rain in the forecast, we were optimistic that the weather would cooperate during the tournament and the rain would hold off until everyone was on their way home. This was not the case, as the anglers started showing up in the early morning hours, clouds started to roll in and by the start of the tournament, rain drops were falling. It rained, heavy at times throughout the day, however this proved to be great fishing conditions for a lot of anglers. There were only seven teams who did not weigh in at this event. As teams came to the scales as wet as their bass , the single fish weights ranged in sizes from as low as 2.09 pounds up to a beautiful 8.15 pound toad caught by Konrad Rupp. He not only caught the largest bass of the tournament but this team of James Totten and Konrad, both from Hidden Valley Lake carried five weigh-in bags, each one had one bass inside. The spectators applauded as each bass was shown while they were lifted from the bags. Everyone had their eyes glued to the readout on the scales as the weight locked on 29.95 pounds! Konrad and James told the crowd they fished in Putah Creek and had their limit by 10 AM using swim baits and  “A” Rig. Konrad walked away with a beautiful Big Fish trophy and they both received First Place trophies to go along with $3370 for their day on the water.
The weath did not dampen their fishing skills. Congratulations guys!
 Second Place went to the team of Joseph Durling from Santa Rosa and Anthony Crivelli of Point Reyes Station who had a limit of bass weighing 24.49 pounds. They told everyone they fished slow dragging jigs in the flat points of the lake. They caught the Third Big Fish of the tournament that weighed 6.20 pounds. For their efforts they took home $1735. Great team work guys! Jeff Asturias of Livermore and his partner Dan Sweat of Pleasant Hill came to the scales with 23.30 pounds for their limit. They told the crowd they fished slow dropshotting weightless worms. They took home winnings of $925 for Third Place. The team of Cliff King and Matt Monaghan, both from Elk Grove had a nice limit weighing 22.18 pounds. Their largest bass weighed 5.69 pounds, just out of the Big Fish winnings but enough to give them Fourth Place overall in this tournament. They were pleased to walk away with $655 in cash. Fifth Place went to Steven Prenkert and his partner Cory Schell, who weighed in their limit of 21.70 pounds. Cory caught a big fish that weighed 5.71 pounds also giving them Fifth Place in Big Fish money in this event. They took home $400 in winnings. Honorable mentions are as follows: Second Place Big Fish went to the team of Jason and Victor Vigil, both from Ukiah who came to the scales with a nice 7.36 pound bass. They had a weight of 14.23 pounds for four bass. For their efforts they took home $390. Fourth Place Big Fish was caught and netted by the team of Chao Vang and his partner Mong Lee from Sacramento that weighed 5.76 pounds. They took home $155 for weighing in that beauty.

CHUCK WOOD WINS SMALL BOAT DIVISION WHILE AARON WOOD FLIES TO WASHINGTON D.C.
The father and son team of Chuck and Aaron Wood who are from Fairfield were separated by miles as Chuck fished this tournament alone. Aaron was on a flight headed to Washington D.C. on a class field trip as Chuck endured the elements alone in his boat. He said Aaron had put him on fish while they pre-fished the lake the day before. Chuck said he fished the north and east sides of the lake using crankbaits and drop shotted jigs. Their homework paid off as it was a team effort in locating the areas where the bass were that Chuck brought to the scales. He had a weight of 14.30 pounds anchored with a nice 5.18 pound bass. Aaron will be pleased when he receives his First Place Small Boat trophy upon arriving home from his trip. Eric Epperson searched online to locate a partner to fish the Best Bass Tournaments Delta Wine Berryessa tournament and Alison Lee responded to his request. She showed up early in the morning eager to catch some bass and be a part of this team. They launched and were off to start their day. In the mid morning we received a call that they were having boat problems. Eric’s boat starting battery was not working so he was relying on his trolling motor to get around. There were boats in the area however they were too far away to get their attention so they fished their way to Capell Cove. After the weigh-in JD, a member of our staff brought them back to Pleasure Cove for Eric’s vehicle and boat trailer. We applaud this team for making the best out of a wet and dreary day of fishing while dealing with battery issues. We hope to see both team members at our next event. During the weigh-in and Awards Ceremony 51-Fifty Energy Drinks were available for the anglers however with the cold, wet conditions a few anglers mentioned they would have liked something hot instead but liked the idea these were being offered for them from one of our newest sponsors. They said when the temperatures heat up, they will really enjoy them!
The Twenty – Twenty Award was given to the team of Matt Vella from Garden Valley and his partner Jason Rodriguez from Orangevale for taking Twentieth Place at this tournament. They had five bass that weighed 15.97 pounds and were happy to both receive their pair of Eye Surrender Sunglasses.
Thirtieth Place went to the team of Fred and Emilio Ruiz who were present to receive the Wacky Award. This Sponsor Gift Bag contained Sinister Wacky Worms, M & B Tool and Who- Be-Do Jigs.
Boat number 34 was drawn for the Irwin – Lenox Tools however they left prior to the Awards Ceremony so their prize will be donated to the TOC in October.
Boat number 13 was drawn by John Bounds for the Out Of Bounds certificate entitling the winners to a battery sponsorship with instillation valued at over $500. Jeremy Metheny and Ron Crostwaite were present to win this certificate. All the teams who fished the Best Bass Tournaments Opener in each region were eligible for this prize.
A Sponsor Tackle Store receipt was drawn for the Cull Often Award and Kevin Ryan was present to receive his Cull Often prize bag that contained Optimum Baits Swim Bait Package which included Top Of The Line, Baby Line Through, Double Diamonds, Diamond Heads, and AA Swim Tails. 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 Bait Barn website, 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 and look forward to seeing you again at our next 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 they will also be eligible to win prizes in addition to saving money on fishing tackle when making purchases through our Sponsor Tackle Stores.
I would like to thank my staff for a job well done at this tournament, JD Mc Millian, Jon DeVries, Matt Moreau, Peter Kaprielian, Steve Mohr, Kevin Ryan and Rich Reeser.
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, Bait Barn, The Fishing Instructor, Yakima Baits, Technology Integrators, Hildebrandt, Poe’s Plugs, Timber Tiger, Ima, Optimum Baits, Hooked on Adventures, General Tires, Irwin – Lenox and Helly Hansen, Eye Surrender Sunglasses, Out of Bounds, Gowans Printing, AGS Apparel, Sinister Wacky Worms, M & B Wacky Tool, Who-Be-Do Jigs, Port of Subs, Fish Hound,  Adelaide Inn, Oroville’s  Best Value Inn & Suites, Central Valley Sportsmen’s Boat & RV Show. Best Bass Tournaments sponsor tackle stores: Bait Barn/ Waterford, Mel Cotton’s Sporting Goods/ San Jose, Walton Pond/ San Leandro, Escalon Bait & Tackle/ Escalon, Guns, Fishing & Other Stuff/ Dixon, Coyote Bait & Tackle/ Coyote, CA, Clear Lake Bait & Tackle/ Lakeport, C & C Marine/ Modesto and Sacramento, Jim’s Pro Tackle/ Paso Robles.  
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.   Our next tournament in the Delta Wine Region is at the Delta – launching out of Russo’s Marina on April 14th. We look forward to seeing you there.  

Thank you,
Randy and Sheri Pringle