March 10, 2002 Berryessa Lake, Markley Ca
Colin And Schroeder win at Berryessa in California

Schroeder and Colin	Kevin Davis

Lake Berryessa Ramp Rap
By Terry Davis

Saturday night the weatherman said that rain was on the way. But clear skies should be in store for Sunday afternoon. I envisioned a windy, rainy, cloudy event. When we arrived at Markley Cove, there was just a drizzle of moisture along with BASS BOATS in the parking lot. The Markley Cove staff was ready and waiting with hot coffee a brewing and smiling faces! Now that's pretty good for 5:00 o'clock in the morning!

Sacramento Pro Tackle sent along 50-pack Magic Worms for the teams that where competing. Everyone had a bit of fun digging through the bags of worms looking for that special color. Once we had the 27 teams signed up, we were in the water ready for launch. Team number 21 was drawn to be the first boat out. Weigh-in would be at 3:15 p.m. on the gas docks at Markley Cove. By the time we had everyone blasted off, the day was beginning to get a bit better. The drizzle had slowed to just a mist and the clouds where thinning out. The day was looking brighter. Now, would the fish cooperate?

Mother Nature had supplied us with GREAT weather for the day's event. It was blue skies and sunny with patchy clouds when weigh-in rolled around. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits as fish came to the scales. Tom Jolin &Greg McCosker held the lead with 4 fish for 9.48 with half the field still to weigh-in. They also had a 3.71 kicker that was currently Big Fish. Their 5th fish had been thrown from the livewell when they ran their Ranger boat aground avoiding a head on collision. Everyone was O.K. and just a little damage to the nose of the boat. Tom was more concerned about losing that fish! Would the lose of that 5th fish make a difference?

Marcel Colin and Troy Schroeder weighed in 4 fish for 10.70 with a 5.42 kicker largemouth. Marcel said at 1:00 pm they had 3 fish and decided to hunt for big fish. Marcel threw nothing but a Zara Spook the rest of the afternoon and landed that 5.42. They just couldn't get one more to go. They took home $1115.00 and Tactical Assault / BassWidow Products sponsored plaques for first place. Marcel received $250.00, a Kistler Custom Rod and a Tactical Assault / BassWidow Products sponsored Big Bass plaque for that 5.42 Largemouth. Not far behind was Kevin Davis with a 10.07 limit. He was fishing alone this event, his partner was participating another event. Kevin received $550.00 and Tactical Assault / BassWidow Products sponsored plaques for 2nd place. Third place went to Rod Luman & Lloyd Bauman. Their 5 fish limit tipped the scales at 9.54. Third was good for $365.00 and Tactical Assault / BassWidow Products sponsored plaques. They also received a team set of EZ-Cul-RZ floating rope culling system by BassWidow Products for bring in the 3rd Big Bass of the event, a 3.21 largemouth. Well, it seems that one fish WOULD have made a difference for Tom Jolin and Greg McCosker! Their 4 fish for 9.48 put them in 4th place. They netted $260.00 and Tactical Assault / BassWidow Products sponsores plaques. For that 3.71 Largemouth Tom received a Tactical Assault Revolver Rod since it was the 2nd Big Bass of the event. Doug Ableman and Don Swanson had 5th place in the bag with their 9.39 limit. They received a check for $225.00. One spot out of the money was the team of David Symmons and Doug Harris with a 9.00 limit. They a received a crisp Hundred Dollar bill to help with dinner on the way home.

We always enjoy our events on Lake Berryessa. The lake gave up 39 Spotted Bass, 33 Smallmouth Bass and 40 Largemouth Bass for total of 112 fish, all released ALIVE and swimming. Total weight was 183.98 making the average weight of each fish 1.64. Of the 27 teams only 16 managed limits.

Thanks to all of those that came out and fished our Lake Berryessa event. A big THANK YOU to the staff at Markley Cove and my nephew Jerame Davis who's always there to help. Thanks to our local sponsor Sacramento Pro Tackle, BassWidow Products maker of the EZ-Cul-RZ floating rope culling system, Tactical Assault Revolver Rods and Kistler Custom Rods. Thanks as well to our National Sponsors Mercury, Motorguide, Cabellas, Bass Cat Bass Boats and Interstate Batteries. Our next event is on Folsom Lake April 7th out of Brown's Ravine. Should be GREAT weather and GREAT fishing. Might even try to have sign-ups at the IHOP restaurant again! I'll keep everyone posted. See ya there!