Les Myers and Mike Bard conquer Lake Oroville’s stingy bite
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 11:25 am
If last weekend’s duck season opener was anything close to last weekend’s stingy bite at the FPT’s “Gold Country Showdown” event at Lake Oroville, then it is for sure that a good number of hunters ate roast chicken instead of roast duck for dinner.
For FPT competitors fishing that “Gold Country Showdown” event not only faced the daunting challenge of competing on a clear, deep-water lake currently hundreds of feet below normal pool, and a day that would prove to yield only a few limits over 6 pounds, but also had to keep focused on the task-objective of finishing high enough to secure one of only 100 berths available in the Tour’s year-end championship event known as the Coors Light Future Pro Tour Classic.
But Les Myers and Mike Bard, possessing only a mere three years experience in organized competition, put a plan together that combined both skill and fortitude –and a variety of techniques, to overcome all of the challenges mentioned above, and best a field of 75 tough competitors to capture their first-ever Coors Light Future Pro Tour victory.
“We have been pacing ourselves from the moment we started fishing this tour”, Les noted. That is to say, we have put in a lot of time on the water reading, asking questions, studying techniques, and converting the many frustrations we have experienced along the way, into learning tools. So this win is extremely satisfying!”
Their 12.13 pound five-fish limit earned them $1930 dollars, two custom plaques, and ensured for themselves a qualifying berth into the 15th Coors Light Future Pro Tour Classic championship event.
Congratulations Les and Mike on a victory well deserved!
Mike Caddick and Tyson Rappleye capture Coors Light “Silver Bullet” AOY title
As predicted, neither one of the two teams gunning for the Coors Light “Silver Bullet” Anglers of the Year title were willing to concede anything to the other, and battled “down to the wire” trying to close the meager 1-point gap that would determine the coveted 2017 title.
And the showdown between the two most consistent teams on the tour did not disappoint, as Tyson Rappleye and Mike Caddick brought in a limit (8.83) that was just over 2 pounds heavier than their arch rivals Tom Peirson and Connor Urling, to win the AOY title.
“It’s a dream come true for us”, noted Mike Caddick visibly emotional as he addressed the large crowd at the award sceremony. I have the best partner in the world in Tyson Rappleye, and our styles of fishing complement each other during both pre-fish and competition …and that paid off BIG for us this year”.
Congratulation Mike and Tyson for being the” best of the best” in 2017!
Well that wraps up what was a very fun and exciting 15th year anniversary season for the Coors Light Future Pro tour, and we wish to thank all of our partnering sponsors and participating anglers for their unwavering support, which continues to help make the Coors Light Future Pro tour the premier – and most exciting, amateur level bass fishing circuit in the west.
And as we close down for the year, we sincerely wish each of you – and your families, a very safe and happy holiday season!
FPT