FISH ARE DEEP, SHALLOW, MIXED ON SHASTA

Anglers Prepare for CITGO Bassmaster Western Open in California

What’s at stake: $224,032 in total prize money, plus 15 berths into the CITGO Bassmaster Open Championship. The top five boaters at the Open Championship will earn berths into the CITGO Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 24-26, on Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Fla.

The Pros Said It
“The water temperature is 60 degrees on Shasta and the fish are not in the full fall pattern they should be. They are in that in-between pattern, which makes it hard to locate fish, but that does not mean we’re not going to see fish. “- Two-time Classic qualifier and 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series angler Ishama Monroe, 31, Hughson, Calif.

“We fish deep, clear lakes like Shasta in Arizona all the time. I feel pretty good about the tournament and using the same skills and techniques we use back home. I'm finding fish all over the lake right now and I marked fish in as shallow as 3 feet of water and as deep as 40 feet.” - Leo Carrillo, 38, Tucson, Ariz.

“Fish are popping baits throughout the water column. Shallow fish are hitting bright-colored swim baits from the surface to a few feet below. The ones that are fun to catch are deep ones. Anglers who can read their electronics can see a fish holding on a deep edge of a drop-off or the bottom. You can then place a dropshot rig right on them. Sometimes you can even see the fish strike the bait on your electronics before you really feel the strike.” - Doug Jones, 36, Nevada City, Calif.

“There are plenty of small bass in the lake and anglers will see action throughout the day. The hard part will be to zero in on the large fish. I know the fish we want are in the lake. I've seen them and caught them, but to do it at this time of the year with a full moon is going to be a challenge.” - Russ Meyer, a local favorite and in sixth place in the CITGO Bassmaster Western Open points standings, 48, Redding, Calif.

The Strategy

Monroe: He will look for the deep bite by dropshotting or using a Carolina Rig. Monroe also will search out a shallow bite with what he calls a “few tricks” he’s got ready. He believes anglers with 15 pounds of fish in two days will have a chance to make the cut of 35 anglers after Day 2.

Carrillo: Like Monroe, Carrillo will dropshot and use a Carolina rig. He’s also considering using swim baits resembling trout.

Jones: He’ll key in on the shallow bite first but then go deep for a more fun challenge.

Myer: He has separated the lake into three layers; the top and bottom are the most productive with the most active fish and the middle section, Myer said, is a dead zone with little to no action.

Location and Field
CITGO Bassmaster Western Open
Shasta Lake
Lake Shasta, Calif.
Nov.17-19, 2005

Field
Cut to 50 after Day 2

Launch
Bridge Bay Marina
10300 Bridge Bay Road
Redding, Calif., 96003

Weigh-in
Bridge Bay Marina
10300 Bridge Bay Road
Redding, Calif., 96003

Background
Previous BASS events
2004 California CITGO Bassmaster Open
2000 BASS Invitational
1998 BASS Invitational

Previous winners on lake
31-14, Greg Gutierrez, 2004
32-05, Aaron Martens, 2000
27-02, Gary Dobyns, 1998

Heaviest winning sack
32-05, Aaron Martens, 2000

Lowest winning sack
27-02, Gary Dobyns, 1998

Weather
Temperature
73 degrees, sunny and clear

Lake level
1,002.74 feet above sea level

CITGO Bassmaster Western Open Points Leaders

1 Jared Lintner Calif. 577
2 Jim Davis Calif. 575
3 Jim Reese Calif. 520
4 Zachary Thompson Calif. 509
5 Ricky Shabazz Calif. 503
6 Russ Meyer Calif. 500
7 John Murray Ariz. 496
8 Vince Hurtado Calif. 492
9 Mick Karshner Calif. 491
10 Gary Howell Calif. 436

CITGO Bassmaster Open
Central Open Division
May 5-7 Sam Rayburn Jasper, Texas
Oct. 13-15 Norfork Lake Mountain Home, Ark.
Nov. 10-12 Red River Natchitoches , La.

Northern Open Division
July 14-16 Lake Erie Sandusky, Ohio
Aug. 11-13 Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, NY.
Sept. 15-17 Oneida Lake Syracuse, NY

Southern Open Division
June 23-25 West Point Lake Lanett, Ala.
Sept. 22-24 Lake Guntersville Guntersville, Ala.
Nov. 17-19 Lake Tohopekliga Kissimmee, Fla.

Western Open Division
May 26-28 California Delta Waterway Bethel Island, Calif.
Oct. 13-15 Clear Lake Lakeport, Calif.
Nov. 17-19 Shasta Lake Shasta Lake, Calif.

Local sponsors: Local sponsors include the Shasta Lake Chamber of Commerce and Phil’s Propellers.

Bassmaster Open Series sponsors: CITGO Petroleum Corp., Toyota, Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Bass Pro Shops and Cialis (tadalafil).

BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.

BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 550,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com.