SPANISH FLAT, Ca - Five years ago when a microphone was put in front of him and the question was asked: “How did you like fishing with your dad?”, you would have received from a then four foot tall, eleven-year old Jesse Roach Jr., a very shy and very soft spoken response, leaving much of the talking to his dad who was just delighted to spend a day on the water with his son. But today, asking the same question of the now sixteen-year old, strapping young man (who now stands over six feet tall), you will get a well thought out, confident reply indicative of a young man that has grown up in the shadow of a committed and mentoring father.
And both Jesses' have much to be proud of as they claimed their piece of glory, capturing last Saturday's Future Pro Tour/Lake Berryessa title in commanding fashion. “It's been a long time coming”, said an elated Jesse Roach Sr., who has fished with his son in Future Pro events since the tour's inception in 2003. I am so proud of young Jesse and how well he has come into his own as an angler”. He was just awesome today”, he added, clearly proud of his young son.
And "on em" he was, as young Jesse used a lipless Lucky Craft LV series crankbait to haul in the fish that would secured their win – a 8.14 largemouth that Jesse said came airborne twice before it succumbed to his dad's waiting net. That fish along with four others gave them a total weight of 16.35 pounds, earning them $1975 dollars, a Lamiglas Rod for big fish, and the Costa Del Mar “Champions Choice” award which consisted of two pair of premium sunglasses. In addition, Jesse captured the “Future” Future Pro Angler of the Year title which honors the highest finishing youth fishing the tour. Congratulations to Jesse and Jesse Jr., as they use this victory to gain confidence in the up-coming Future Pro Tour Classic event they will soon be competing in.
Second place honors went to Paul Parks and James Markham, who used chatter baits all day long, targeting smallmouths in shallow water. “We heard that the fish were deep, but after we caught a two pounder on the first couple of casts - in the shallows, we stayed with that pattern all day”, they added. For second place they took home $1,375 dollars and were the Ranger Cup winners for the event.
The small boat division was taken by Jeff and Tim Masters who weighed in 9.55 pound to take the win over that field of anglers.
Angler of the Year Race settled
In a very tight Angler of the Year race Jeff Pyles and Chris Fancelli, of Redding , held off two very talented teams to capture the 2007 Future Pro Tour Angler of the Year title. The AOY title denotes them as the best and most consistent amateur team in the west, and brings with it a package of cash, prizes, and limited sponsorship bonuses worth over $7,000.
In the small boat division, Don Petty, and Kenny Elliott, took Angler of the Year honors and in addition to their cash bonus, will be hoping to win the new Ranger boat at the FPT Classic so they can move up to Div II competition. Congratulations Don and Kenny!
As the Future Pro Tour wraps up its fifth year, we would like to take the time to thank all of you that have contributed to making it the success it has become. Your patience, and support for this endeavor has been the key to its success and we look forward, with your help, to growing the tour to what it is destined to become.
Up next….The Future Pro Tour Classic…and sixty-five of the best amateur teams in the west competing at Lake Oroville November 10th and 11th for the keys to a brand new Ranger 188vs, powered by an Evinrude 150 E-TEC engine, with full Minn Kota/Humminbird electronics! The Gold County Casino will headquater the event at their beautiful new hotel/casino, as a host of premier sponsors, special guests such as FLW Touring pro Gabe Bolivar, 2-time B.A.S.S national champion Ish Monroe, and the west's all-time money winner Gary Dobyns join us for our Classic celebration dinner.
Good luck to all Classic Qualifiers….and we hope to see you all next year!
FPT
Vince Harris
President/Director, Future Pro Tour Tournament Trails
3117 Merrywood Dr.
Sacramento Ca, 95825
(916)768)0938
www.futureprotour.net
vince@futureprotour.net
Advertising