April 10, 2004 Clear Lake, Ca
Scarberry
And Graves Win
Clear Lake
OK……you'd think that a 5 fish limit tipping the
scales at 22.71 would get you a first place finish, right?!
Not if you're fishing Clear Lake, the largest natural lake
in California, in the month of April during the first full
moon of spring!
34 paid teams showed up at Red Bud Park
in Clear Lake, California knowing that the big girls would
be doing their thing. The Best Western El Grande Resort
had given the anglers a discounted rate for the weekend.
With the resort just 2 blocks from the launch ramp, the
anglers could pre-fish Friday, get a good nights sleep and
be ready for the tournament the next day!
The weather was GREAT! Mother Nature had
blessed us with calm waters and 80 degree plus temperature
in the afternoon. Well there was a little breeze in the
afternoon that gave the lake a little chop. Team number
2 was drawn as the first boat out. All hopes were high as
the teams sped off into the smooth flat mirror like waters
of Clear Lake.
We were ready for the ramp side weigh-in
by 2:30 in the afternoon. Right on time the teams began
to arrive with a crowd of bystanders eagerly waiting the
days outcome. Jeremy Zipton and Dane Steinbach came to the
scales with 3 bags in hand. One bag held their big bass
a 9.97 largemouth, this fish would surely be take Big Bass
of the event. Add their other four fish and their limit
weighed-in at 29.34! Talk about raising the bar! Limits
were the rule of the day. A few in the 20's and the high
teens but none seemed to be able to best 29.34. Then Greg
McCosker and Randy Marshall came up carrying 3 bags as well!
They had an 8.57 largemouth for a kicker with a total weight
of 29.76 taking the lead by less than a half pound. But
Jeremy and Dane still had Big Bass of the event and were
in 2nd place. That was until Russ Graves and Jim Scarberry
came up with FOUR bags in tow! Their kicker was an awesome
10.73 largemouth and the total limit weight of 31.19! With
just a few teams left to weigh-in it was unlikely that Russ
and Jim's weight would take 2nd place! That 10.73 largemouth
puts Jim Scarberry in the lead for the Big Bass of the Year
in the California Foothills Division. If it holds out he'll
be awarded an Ultra Linings Spray-On bedliner from Ultra
Truck Works courtesy of Jesse Angeles!
With the scales closed and all weights and
figures tallied. Russ Graves and Jim Scarberry were our
Clear Lake champions. They won $1335for 1st place, $113
in option, $340 Big Bass and a fishing rod for a grand total
of $1788 along with 84 Lumber sponsored 1st place and Big
Bass plaques. $670 2nd place money and $113 in option money
went to Greg McCosker and Randy Marshall along with 84 Lumber
plaques for their 29.76 limit. Jeremy Zipton and Dane Steinbach's
29.34 limit netted them $580 for 3rd place, $113 in options
and 84 Lumber plaques. Jeremy's 9.97 largemouth was 2nd
Big Bass and he received a California Tackle reel, a RoboWorm
assortment, EZ-Cull-RZ floating rope culling system, Craw-Cane,
Pepper Jigs and Buzzbait, Jim Dandy hand and body warmers
and a box of custom hand-tied finesse jigs. A 23.39 limit
got Scott Mascadri and Tom Jolin 4th place, $480 and 84
Lumber sponsored plaques. 5th place, $400 and 84 Lumber
plaques went to Brian Barthman and Tom Helberg for their
23.23 limit. And that 22.71 limit that was mentioned in
the beginning? Bernie Gaunt and Leroy Bertolero took 6th
place and $315 for bringing in that limit. Our Lucky S.O.B.
(Son of a Bass) $5 option went to Father and Son team Jose
and Jackson Jaurez. Their 19.45 limit was for the $160 Lucky
S.O.B. option pot!
During the awards we gave away a Sunny's
Electric Marine trolling motor tune-up certificate, a $125
value, also had two Just Fishin' $25 gift certificates courtesy
of David Yates. We gave a $40 gift certificate along with
a tackle assortment from Troy's Outdoor Sports courtesy
of Troy Maggy and a few RoboWorm assortments courtesy of
Mike Brakebill and RoboWorm. Guess it pays to hang around
for the awards once in a while!
I would like to thank the Best Western El
Grande Resort in Clear Lake for their fine accommodations.
My staff Dan and Jerame Davis and BIG Ron Herrin deserves
THANKS for the great job they do setting up and getting
the teams weighed-in in a timely manner! We cannot forget
our sponsor both local and national Bass Cat, Mercury, MotorGuide,
Lowrance, Competitive Edge, Bass West USA, AC Proshops,
Wilson Trophy, 84 Lumber, Just Fishin', Troy's Outdoor Sports,
Ultra Truck Works, RoboWorm. California Tackle Company,
Jim Dandy Baits, Craw-Cane, XS Energy drinks, Office Depot
and Sunny's Electric Marine. These sponsors help make our
events fun and enjoyable. Our next event in on Lake Oroville
May 1st! If yo have any questions please drop me an e-mail
at 481terry@msn.com! Should be a good time so come on out
and join us!
