The Markley Cove staff had the coffee on along with smiling faces when we arrived. The 26 dedicated teams that showed up to brave whatever Mother Nature could dish out received Beanie Bears, with the Anglers Choice logo on it's t-shirt, from California Tackle Company and a new bait from RoboWorm along with Yamamoto sample pack.

The RoboWorm baits were twin tailed with craw claw jig trailers that have recently been released on the market. The Calif. Foothills Division was field-testing this new bait to see how they work on our Northern California lakes. The response was good as the anglers did catch fish using these baits. Some of the comments were that the claws have a unique flipping action that creates more vibration in the water and that the body of the bait actually gives the bait more definition. Looks as though RoboWorm has another winning product on their hands!

My brother Dan blasted the teams off at 06:35 as Mother Nature began her wrath of weather. The rain was a steady stream as the boats disappeared into the mist. It looked as though this Sunday would be a storm day! And storm it did! We experienced rain, wind, occasionally bright sun, thunder and a bit of lightening and even hail! I was beginning to wonder if we would ever get a break. At least for the weigh-in would be nice!

When 3:00 p.m. rolled around, Mother Nature had let up some. We were using the gas docks at Markley Cove and had a tarp around one end to create a windbreak. And believe me it did help quite a bit! I want to thank Doug Ableman and Don Swanson's wives for braving the elements and handing out the weigh bags to the teams. It helped for a smooth weigh-in.

The storm front that moved in, played havoc with the fish and the fishermen. Pre-fish patterns were no longer and sight fishing was at a minimum. Yet fish were being brought to the scales. There were a few limits in the 9 and 10 pound range and one just over 11 pounds. Then Marcel Colin and Troy Schroeder, our 2002 Anglers of the Year, slowly motored to the dock. Marcel reached in his livewell and brought out TWO bags. One bag contained four fish that weighed 6.39 and the other bag had a MONSTER largemouth that read 10.78 on my digital scale. What a beautiful fish! Marcel and Troy's limit held to the end. For first place they took home $1220 first place money, $250 Big Bass, and $80 in option money along with 84 Lumber sponsored plaques. In addition to the $1,000 BassCat bonus buck certicicate they won $1550 dollars for a day of fishing. Marcel's 10.78 Largemouth takes the lead for the California Foothills Division "Big Bass of the Year" award. If it holds out Marcel will be awarded an Ultra-Linings Spray-On bedliner from Ultra Trucks Works courtesy of Jesse Angeles. Marcel says he could use it since he just purchased a new truck!

Second place with a 11.01 limit went to Jeff Bitker and Gary Wyckoff. Their 5 fish limit got them $610 and 84 Lumber plaques. The Winger borthers, Clint and Rick, managed a limit for the day. Their 5-fish limit weighed in at 10.76, they netted $400 third place money, $80 in options and 84 Lumber plaques. Ron Brown and George Umberger had a 10.40 limit and 4th place wrapped up. They put a $290 check along with $80 in option money in their pockets and 84 Lumber sponsored plaques. Ron also had 2nd Big Bass of the event a 2.84 Largemouth that earned him a Lifetime warranty SP40 10 ball bearing spinning reel from California Tackle Company. Rod Luman and Loyd Bauman's 9.24 limit of largemouth was good for 5th place $245 and 84 Lumber sponsored plaques. Our "Lucky S.O.B." (Son of a Bass) option of $105 went to Eddie Fletcher and Don Stone for their "One Place out of the Money" 9.21 limit.

The awards ceremony went quick as I was trying to beat another bout of rain. Dave Yates reminded me that we still had some gift certificates to hand out. Steve Thurmon and Terry Honkanen were the lucky recipients of the $25 gift certificates from Just Fishin' courtesy of Dave Yates. Dave Parker received the trolling motor tune-up certificate from Sunny's Electric Marine valued at $125 courtesy of Sunny Lampe. And to complete the awards 4 jars of Craw-Cane, the powdered fish attractant that begins to work as soon as you add it to your bag of baits, were handed out to the crowd. Even the spectators received their own collectable Calif. Tackle Co./Calif. Foothills Beanie Bears!

I want thank all the teams that showed up to compete with the weather that had been predicted. The weather guys were actually right this time! Thanks to the Markley Cove staff that always welcomes us. Thanks to my tournament staff Dan and Jerame Davis and Ron Herrin these guys do a great job! Can't forget our regional sponsors 84 Lumber, Just Fishin', Ultra Truck Works, Sacto Pro Tackle, RoboWorm, Tactical Assault Revolver Rods, Calif. Tackle Co., Bass Widow Products, Craw-Cane and the Office Depot. A big THANKS to our national sponsors Bass Cat Boats, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lowrance, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Competitive Edge, Hamby's, and Bass West Magazine. All of these sponsors help to make our events possible and enjoyable.

Our next event will be held on Lake Oroville on Sunday May 18th and we will be going out of Bidwell Marina. Hopefully the weather will be GREAT along with the fishing. If you have any questions please drop me an e-mail at 481terry@msn.com.