Pro's looking forward to AC Oroville Western Pro-Am opener

"The 2010 U.S. Angler's Choice Pro-Am circuit is shaping up to be better than ever", noted one of the west's most successful pro anglers and U.S.A.C. advisory committee member Gary Dobyns. "There is no question that these guys have put the fun factor back into fishing Pro-Am events".

The U.S. Angler's Choice Western Pro-Am season kicks off with the first event of the year slated for Lake Oroville this February 27th & 28th, 2010. At stake for participating Pro anglers this year is a better than 100% cash payback on the pro side including up to $51,000 in bonus cash that will be awarded during the final event of the season.

Dobyns continued, "Part of the reason that I am supporting the Angler's Choice Western trail is that these events are run very smoothly. The paybacks and schedule are great and Angler's Choice delivered on everything that they promised in 2009. All aspects of this trail are nothing but positive and you can bet that you will see me at these events in 2010".

"I am planning on fishing all four events this year", noted Chris Raza, Pro angler out of Roseville, CA. "I'm particularly excited about this first Oroville event as the water is coming up fast and the reaction bite is off the hook this time of year". "Besides, I want to be in the running for all that additional cash that will be awarded at year's end".

What Chris is talking about is Angler's Choice Bonus Cash end of the year incentive. 20% of the pro entry fees will be taken out of each of the four Western Pro-am events and held in reserve. During the final event of the year on the California Delta September 10-12th, those anglers who have fished in all four of the Western Angler's Choice Pro-am events will be in the running for what may be over $50,000 in cash based upon full fields during the year. The monies in question will be awarded to the top 10 finishing anglers at this final event. The best part of this is that it is not a points race based award. A competitor can finish in the middle of the pack during the first three tournaments, but if they put together a strong performance at the Delta, they can grab a piece of this cash.

The program is the same for the Am side of the circuit. 10% of the entry fees from each event will be set aside as Bonus Cash for a total that could reach $13,000 by the final September event.

Glide, Oregon pro Phil Strader is also looking forward to the season opener. "I love to hit lakes like Shasta and Oroville in the early part of the year" he noted. "It's the beginning of the year, you get a chance to get back on the water and fish, and with the rising dirty water at Oroville, anyone can go out with reaction type baits and catch limits of spotted bass".

Angler's Choice Pro-am events use a shared weight formula in which each day's Pro and Am angler effectively fish as a team to catch their best five fish limit. The Pro and Am angler "Share" the total weight, which carries over to the next day of fishing. Pro and Am anglers are paired up with different partners for the second and any subsequent days of fishing.

Entry fee for the 2010 season is $425 for Pro anglers and $225 for Am anglers. Pro and Am anglers who sign up together are given a guaranteed entry status. All other entries will be taken on a first come, first serve basis and paired accordingly.

All Options at Angler's Choice Pro-Am events are paid back 100% and both the Pro and Am anglers have their own separate option pools. Options for the 2010 season will include a $50 Big Bass option that will pay out to the top two largest bass of each day. There is also a $50 Top 10 option that pays out to the top 10 Pro and top 10 Am anglers entered into this option pool at the end of the tournament.

Competitors may sign up for the U.S. Anglers Choice Pro-Am events by logging on to www.usanglerschoice.net and clicking the Pro-am events link home page. You may then click on the entry form, print a copy and mail it in with a check or credit card. You may also enter over the phone by calling (800) 360-7112 and speaking with the Angler's Choice tournament coordinator Sonia. Specific event related questions should be directed to Tournament Director Bill Cook at (661) 319-3014. Deadline to enter prior to each tournament is the Wednesday prior to the start of the official pre-fish period.

Fish the best in 2010 - Fish U.S. Angler's Choice.

Source: usanglerschoice.net (2010-02-01)