La Grange, Calif. – A 600-plus mile journey led Adam Deakin from his home in Boise, Idaho to his first fishing trip on Lake Don Pedro, where he joined a pro angler field of 83 boats to kick off Day One of the second stop of the 2025 BAM Tournament Trail Pro/Am circuit. By day’s end Deakin sat atop the leaderboard, gapping his nearest competitor by nearly six-pounds with a five-fish limit of 22.12, which included the Big Bass of the day at 10.02, a new personal best.
“This lake is really cool,” said Deakin. “It reminds me of lakes in Colorada as far as its clear water and (how it) sets up similarly.”
Deakin’s double-digit fell to an undisclosed swimbait that he threw on 17-pound Seaguar with a custom-made 7’11” swimbait rod. In addition to his swimbait fish, Deakin credited a five-inch Yamamoto Senko tied on with a Seaguar InvizX eight-pound leader married to 10-pound PowerPro braided line with a 7’1” medium-fast action St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass rod.
“I was using my Humminbird Mega Live 2 to see fish in front of me and making really long casts,” he said while also mentioning a jighead minnow, strolling and mid-strolling. “I think that’s key, because these fish are really pressured.”
Deakin is comfortable with the conditions he faced today and hopes for some breeze tomorrow. “The wind made the fish eat better,” he shared. “When it was slick, things were harder. The X-factor will be Sunday, because the conditions will completely change.”
Swimbait For Stilley
NorCal co Andy Stilley of Copperopolis took the Day One lead for the Am side with an 18.08 limit, bolstered by his 5.85 Big Bass. Stilley also attributed his biggest to a swimbait.
“Here and there, I would throw a Huddleston swimbait, and I just got blessed with two of them back-to-back – boom and boom,” Stilley explained. “I struggled for the other three, draggin’ a jig around.”
Stilley landed his big one in the morning hours and threw his swimbait on a Dobyns Champion XP with 17-pound Seaguar line.
Stilley hadn’t originally planned to compete; and found his way to the tournament registration line just in time to jump in as a backseater. He is typically found back on the bank detailing boats as the Owner and Operator of Stilley Mobile Detailing.
Each will face their respective sides to earn a spot in the top-10 field cut on Saturday.
Day One Results
Pro Top-10
1 Adam Deakin 10.02 22.12 22.12
2 Matt Miley 04.35 16.16 16.16
3 Christian Ostrander 15.86 15.86
4 Clayton Eslick 14.91 14.91
5 Logan Huntze 14.88 14.88
6 Brett Leber 05.13 14.87 14.87
7 Marty Lawrence 04.66 14.87 14.87
8 AJ Azevedo 14.77 14.77
9 Chad Sweitzer 05.39 14.67 14.67
10 Alex Niapas 14.59 14.59
Am Top-10
1 Andy Stilly 05.85 18.08 18.08
2 Curtis Thornhill 03.54 16.35 16.35
3 Tommy Rice 04.94 15.15 15.15
4 Jodie White 13.59 13.59
5 Ugene Downing 03.29 13.21 13.21
6 Thaddeus Vinson 12.75 12.75
7 Casey Dunn 12.40 12.40
8 Jeffrey Slayter 04.22 12.22 12.22
9 Joe Cote 11.84 11.84
10 Dayne Mendes 11.75 11.75
Boats will blast off for Day Two on Saturday, March 1 and continue through Championship Sunday, March 2 at Fleming Meadows in La Grange, Calif. Weigh-ins will be held at the same place and will start each day at 3:00 pm – 2:00 pm on Saturday for High School Anglers.
The full pro/am field will fish Saturday and face a top-10 field cut for the final day of fishing, setting the stage for an elite showdown for the Don Pedro Pro/Am title. The champion will be crowned on Sunday.
Media representatives are invited to cover the BAM Don Pedro Pro/Am, offering a wealth of story angles, live-action visuals, and exclusive interview opportunities. Whether capturing the pre-dawn boat launches, big weigh-ins, or interviewing top anglers, this event is a must for fishing media. For press credentials, interviews, or additional media support, contact: Mark Lassagne | 925-787-3474 | mark@bassmag.com
The lake was off-limits to all contestants on February 24–25. Competitors were not to be on the water or gather outside information during this time. Practice Days were February 26–27. Anglers must have been off the water by 4:00 pm on February 27.
Angler’s check in was held on February 27, from 4:30–6:00 pm, at Chicken Ranch Casino Resort. At that time, anglers presented Tackle Warehouse receipts (within 30 days) to qualify for contingency prizes.
Payout And Awards
Saturday, March 1
Field-Cut to the Top-10 Pro and Co-Anglers
Tackle Warehouse and Ford Fairfield contingency winners announced
Payouts for anglers placing 11th through the last paid spot
Sunday, March 2
Championship Day – Top-10 battle for the title
Bass Boat Technologies $250 contingency award announced
Crowning of Pro and Co Champions
Top 10 Pros and Co-Anglers receive final prize payouts
Accommodations
Chicken Ranch Casino Resort is the official lodging.
Staying at the official resort ensures easy access to check-ins, meetings, and post-event celebrations.
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