Nate Couchman & Dan Sexton Win Pedro Night Open

Sunday June 1, 2003 Lake Don Pedro, CA By: Tim Paes After a spring that didn't want to stick around for long quickly gave way to summer, we found ourselves hovering around the triple digits. Along with the warmer temperatures comes the ski boats, jet skis and crowded lakes! If you still insist on fishing, then nighttime is the right time! Nor-Cal held its annual night open at Lake Don Pedro this past weekend. Forty-four teams signed up to fish this grueling twelve-hour event. The competitors blasted off at 7:00 p.m. for a full night of fishing. However, there were only 25 of 44 boats left standing at the 7:00 am weigh-in at Blue Oaks. Several nice lunkers were weighed with the largest tipping the scales at 6.82 lbs. All 25 teams that weighed fish brought in a 5 fish limit with many reporting catches of 30-40 fish during the night. The anglers brought 125 bass to the scales weighing 316 lbs. First place went to the team of Dan Sexton and Nate Couchman, of Hughson. The pair brought in a 5 fish limit that tipped the scales at 20.22 lbs. The team caught their fish on a variety of lures that consisted of topwater, crankbaits and brown jigs tipped with black Super Pork. "We fished Third Bay, keying on banks with rock and wood", said Sexton. He went on to say, "our better fish were caught in 25 feet". Sexton also thanked Autolife Autoparts, Super Pork and Richardson Drywall as well as his wife and family for all their support. The team also took Big Fish honors for the tournament with their 6.82 lb lunker. All totaled the anglers took home $1,900 for their great finish. Roscoe Scarbrough and Albert Alameda, of Ceres, finished 2nd with their 17.20 lb 5 fish limit. The anglers caught fish early on topwater then improved their limit during the night with Fishin Musician and Zoom plastics. Like the 1st place team, the pair's better fish were caught in 25 feet of water on banks that consisted of rock and wood. The team fished Woods Creek and the canyon. Scarbrough thanked Escalon Bait & Tackle for all their support as the pair accepted $1,290 in prize money. Robert Marxmiller and Randy Reece, owner of Escalon Bait & Tackle, finished 3rd with their 5 fish limit that weighed 16.96 lbs. The team fished upper bay also keying on banks with rock and wood. They caught fish on Senko's, topwater, lizards and brown jigs tipped with purple Super Pork. Their fish came from the bank to 18 feet. For their solid performance the pair took home $867. Rounding out the top 5 in 4th place was Jimmy Ghiorso and Albert Ignacio with a 5 fish limit that weighed 16.42 lbs. The pair took home $529. Fifth place teams tied and each took home $377.50. They were the team of Ty Courtroul and Mario Azevedo along with George Grissom and Don Moorman. Special thanks goes to our tournament trail sponsors, Stratos Boats and Evinrude Outboards. Because of their support, Nor-Cal & 100% Bass will be awarding a fully rigged Stratos/Evinrude prize package at their pro-am championship tournament. Don't miss your opportunity to feel the ride and power of this boat and motor combination! Thanks also to our official rod sponsor, St Croix, for supporting our anglers and awarding their quality built rods to our top finishers at the championship. Nor-Cal thanks our event sponsor at Don Pedro, Stratos Boats. Also thanks to Don Pedro Recreation for hosting our event. Nor-Cal Bass Tournament Trail sponsors are: Stratos Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Bob's Marine, St Croix Rods, Pradco Brand Baits, PMZ Realty, Autolife Sporting Goods, Escalon Bait & Tackle, Tom's Truck Repair, Tracy Oasis Marina, Del Taco Manteca/Oakdale, Thermo Oil Batteries, Super Pork, Fishin Musician Worms, Keeper Custom Worms, Predator Worms, McClure Painting & Plastering and Hildebrand's Auto Repair. The next stop for Nor-Cal Bass takes place Saturday June 7, 2003 at Lake Don Pedro for our annual mixed, (male & female), open team tournament. Visit our website, www.nor-calbass.com, or call (209) 505-4239 for more information.