Team Zinda Bested Field and Boats Big Bass at Berryessa

 

NAPA, Calif. – Wine Country welcomed 109 Wild West Bass Trail (WWBT) teams in the California Division to Lake Berryessa on April 2nd.

At the close of scales for the one-day event, the Zinda brothers – John and Ed – topped the field with a seven-fish limit that weighed in at 39.90. The angling duo also boated the Berryessa big bass of event with their 9.11 which bolstered their weight to more than 11-lbs over their nearest competitors,

Ed believes their ability to make quick decisions and change course are what set he and his brother apart from the rest of the pack.

“Basically we were fishing the narrows for bed fish,” he said. “But when the wind picked up and it was hard to see we had to adjust. We went to the other side of the lake and found few bed fish. We picked up a swimbait and started throwing in a previous spot and got four really solid keepers there and the big fish. That decision turned out to be the right call.”

Their final weigh fish tally included two from beds and five that fell to the swimbait.

“We had to fish the swimbait with a slow retrieve, keeping it right on the bottom,” added Ed. “We were coming swimming it over the top of the point and they were hitting it on the backside.

He noted that the swimmer they threw was an 8-inch Huddie with a ROF 12 and they fished a dropshot with a 6-inch, straight tail Don Iovino dropshot worm on their beds.

“You usually don’t land every fish that you get to bite on a swimbait, but we did,” he continued. “It was just one of those days where everything we did was right – the right time and the right area. When it goes like that, you win and everyone that fishes knows you don’t win very many of ‘em. But, when it all goes right, it’s a magical day and you make the money decision. It was an AMAZING day!”

Ed from Fernley and John from South Lake Tahoe joined fishing forces in 2002.

The Zindas cashed with a total of $7,450, which include $500 for the Yamamoto Toad of the Day and $250 contingency dollars from each of the following: Lowrance, P-Line and Yamamoto.

2nd – Kankeo/Kaneko

From Berkeley, the father-son team of Josh and Miles Kaneko climbed to 2nd place with their limit of 28.66. The Kaneko’s sacked up over 30 keepers for the day.

“We were fishing deep grass in about 10-ft of water,” said 14-year-old Miles. “We found our fish in those isolated grass patches adjacent to shallow spawning areas. We also caught a couple off of beds; but they weren’t any better grade.”

They tempted their bass with wacky-rigged Senkos and a dropshot with a Roboworm. They noted all of their fish were pre-spawn.

The Kaneko’s have been competing on the Delta for several years now. Miles also fishes solo in the Junior Division of The Bass Federation (TBF).

They will add their winnings of $4,100 to their fishing fund.

3rd – Howe/Miller.

With a tournament total of 27.56. Ron Howe from Elk Grove and Bob Miller of Sacramento completed the top-trio of teams.

The NorCal pair put in lots of practice time, spending a couple of weekends in a row at the lake, prior to the event.

“I followed typical waves of spawning bass in protected areas out of the wind, looking for flat grassy coves and fished them incredibly slow,” said Howe. “We covered a lot of water and fished super-patient and super-stealth and quiet. It was painfully slow.”

Their weigh fish were taken from 1- to 4-ft, with Senkos and a dropshot. Changing colors depending on the clarity of the water.

How and Miller have been fishing together for 15 years. They banked $3,000 for the limit.

The following was also paid:

$500 Run and Win with Lucas Oil to Dobyns/Strader (20th)

$500 Evinrude to Durling/Durling (20th)

$300 Evinrude to Dobyns/Strader (42nd)

$200 Evinrude to Garner/Marthey (64th)

Full results available here.

The WWBT continues the California Teams division with their next stop on the California Delta on May 14.

The WWBT debuted in 2016 with 17 events that include two Pro/Am and two Teams circuits – one based in California and the other in Arizona. Each Pro/Am circuit consists of three tournaments and a combined, year-end qualifying championship event. The Teams circuit includes four tournaments and a year-end championship.

A special thanks to all of the WWBT sponsors – Lucas Oil, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Lowrance Electronics, Dobyns Rods, General Tire, Add-A-Wrap, Protect the Harvest, Gator Guards, P-Line, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Power-Pole, Industrial Decals, Hydro Force Marine, Super Clean and E3 Spark Plugs.