BETHEL ISLAND, Ca. - Happy to finally put aside for a while their dropshot/darterhead baits and light tackle rigs, Future Pro Tour anglers are welcoming with open arms the middle leg of the Tour's 7-event journey, and a chance to get re-acquainted with some of the California Delta's monster largemouth bass.
Known throughout the country as perhaps the best “pound for pound” bass fishery, and to many, the place where the next world record bass may be caught, the California Delta boasts over 1000 miles of tidal shoreline, with a seemingly endless maze of sloughs and levies that sprawl throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Mid spring is a great time to be fishing the California delta as post-spawn fish recovering from bedding activities move out and begin to actively feed again.
In this third event of the FPT's 2008 season, many anglers on the Tour that consider themselves “delta rats” – a term used to describe someone who fishes the delta exclusively, will be challenged with the task of re-calibrating the early season's deep water strategies, and move back to their “roots” and the waterway where many site as the place where their love for bass fishing first began.
“I've been waiting all year for the first delta event!” noted an excited Cliff King, who fishing with his young son Colby look forward to throwing big swimbaits for big fish. Don't get me wrong…we have become a much more well rounded team by fishing the Tour and its 7-event multi-lake format, but the delta is home..and the place where we feel we can finish well”.
Sheldon Bright, a resident of Elk Grove, had another perspective about the upcoming series of delta events on the FPT schedule, and looks forward to the comfort and familiarity the delta waterways offer him. “I'm just glad to be back fishing in a place that makes sense to me”, he noted confidently. Reading the tides, knowing how fish position themselves in the current, and what (structure) they will be holding on at this time of year, is right up my alley, and my partner (Tuan Nguyen) and I plan on doing very well in this event”, he added. One of the variables the FPT's northern region anglers may not have factored in will be the added influx of anglers that may show up from the FPT's newly formed central valley region preparing in earnest for their own FPT delta event in mid-August.
And helping to build the excitement and fun of this upcoming event, the Future Pro Tour will feature two of the west's most notable professional anglers at its traditional pre-registration seminar, to be hosted at the Hook, Line & Sinker tackle shop in Oakley the Friday before the event. On tap to give Future Pro Tour anglers the best information possible regarding catching mid-spring bass on the California delta will be:
• Andy "Cooch" Cuccia
Few can argue that Andy "Cooch" Cuccia has forgotten more about fishing the California Delta than most people know. Guiding more than 100 days a year on the river has given him a wealth of knowledge about tides, currents, and bass migratory patterns that is second to none. An accomplished professional angler, Andy's forte is his uncanny ability to effectively reach anglers of all skill levels. Candid and animated, you do not want to miss the pearls of angling wisdom Andy will have to share with anglers that have a need to know how to catch bass on the river.
• Dee Thomas
Freshwater Hall of Fame inductee and industry-acknowledged “Father of Flippin”, Dee Thomas truly knows the intricacies of delta bass fishing. Having won just about every professional bass fishing title there is to win – including a 1975 B.A.S.S national title on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas, and a ninth place Bassmaster Classic finish (1975) where he placed higher than Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Jimmy Houston, and Al Linder, this “living legend” will honor the Future Pro Tour with his presence and share with us some of the secrets it has taken him a lifetime to learn. For those of you that have never met Dee, this is your chance to hear a true icon of our sport.
The optional pre-registration seminar will be held on Friday, May 9th , from 4:00 to 7:00pm at the Hook, Line and Sinker in Oakley – the official tackle headquarters for all FPT delta events (925) 625-2441), where in addition to the great seminars, there will be a free BBQ, and a free raffle for premium prizes including a Humminbird depth finder and Minn Kota on-board battery charger valued at $300 each! The event, held on May 10th will be hosted by Russo's Marina located on Bethel Island - in the heart of the California delta, with blast off commencing at safelight.
Late registrations for this event will be accepted at the Russo's Marina ramp the morning of the event from 4-6am, and limited memberships for the event will be available for just $5 per angler. The host hotel for this event will be the Comfort Suites in Oakley (925 755-1222).
And don't forget…this event will be televised and aired on COMCAST Sports appx 2 weeks following the event, so polish up those boats, put on those sponsor shirts…and lets get ready to rumble on the California Delta!
See you all there!
FPT
(916) 768-0938
www.futureprotour.net
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