La Grange, Calif. – Upsizing his Day Two limit by nearly three-pounds, Christian Ostrander moved into the lead on Day Two of the BAM Tournament Trail Pro/Am stop at Lake Don Pedro with a two-day total of 34.46.
The Turlock, Calif. pro climbed from third place into first after adding 18.60 on Day Two to his Day One 15.86. The push put him just shy of three-pounds over the remaining field in the top-10 cut for Championship Sunday.
“I started on the same spot the last two days and didn’t catch a fish on it.” said Ostrander. “I got there for the first hour – a big fish spot and it didn’t happen; so, I went out and wormed everything else.”
Reporting his Day One fishing was abbreviated after a technical difficulty, Ostrander’s ability to hit more of his intended areas made the difference in his upward trend on the second day at the scales.
“My trolling motor batteries died at 11 am (on Day One); so, I was completely done,” he explained. “Today, I hit some spots I wasn’t able to yesterday. I rolled around on ‘em and they were biting.”
He hopes for more of the same tomorrow on the final day; but believes the bass will tighten up.
“Not as many boats, a little overcast – it should be another good day,” he said. “But a heck of a lot tougher. These guys think they’re going to go out and crush ‘em; but that’s not going to be the case. I just need to put my head down, go out and catch a solid sack, and come in with it.”
Ostrander limited his lure talk to a “throwing a worm and some stuff around” using a spinning setup that included a G. Loomis NRX and a Shimano Vanquish.
“At Pedro, everyone thinks you are going to go catch big swimbait fish and most of the time it doesn’t happen; so you got to keep the light line honest and hope you get a couple four pound bites,” he said.
Downing Moves to Top as Co-Anglers Shuffle Positions
Showing out with consistency, Ugene Downing of White City, Ore. added a five-fish limit of 14.51 to his Day One 13.21 for a two-day total of 27.72 that rocketed him from 5th place to first and secured a spot as Ostrander’s co-angler for Championship Sunday.
Fishing behind his pro draws, both from California, Chad LeBlanc of Wheatland and Nick Cloutier of Oakley, Downing was able to put together his limits each day by dragging a Neko-rig that he threw on FC Sniper in six-pound-test paired to 10-pound P-Line with a Dobyns Extreme Champion rod.
“Casting off the side, shaking the heck out of it – as much as I could,” he described. “Today, it took a little bit to get on ‘em; we finally got on ‘em and it was just a sackfest. We were catchin’ ‘em left and right.”
Downing reported the best bite was between 11 am to 2 pm and the most productive depth was 8- to 20-feet. He anticipates tomorrow’s rain could force a presentation change.
Hopefully, I can keep dragging a worm, but I’m thinkin’ maybe spinnerbait, A-rig – maybe a jerkbait – if I get on the reaction bite with the weather coming in,” he said.
The top-10 co-anglers will be paired with the top-10 pros each in order of their respective sides as the final field cut launches for Day Three on Championship Sunday.
Day Two Results
Pro Top-10
1 Christian Ostrander 15.86 18.60 34.46
2 Adam Deakin 10.02 22.12 09.42 31.54
3 Chad Sweitzer 05.39 14.67 05.28 16.49 31.16
4 Jason Crone 14.39 16.12 30.51
5 Nick Cloutier 12.24 04.35 17.67 29.91
6 Billy Hines 03.35 12.28 05.07 17.41 29.69
7 Brennan Osborn 13.74 15.49 29.23
8 AJ Azevedo 14.77 14.29 29.06
9 Alex Niapas 14.59 12.84 27.43
10 Matt Miley 04.35 16.16 11.20 27.36
Am Top-10
1 Ugene Downing 03.29 13.21 14.51 27.72
2 Troy Mays 11.10 04.66 15.20 26.30
3 Jeffrey Slayter 04.22 12.22 03.77 14.06 26.28
4 Thaddeus Vinson 12.75 04.18 13.43 26.18
5 Jodie White 13.59 11.24 24.83
6 Curtis Thornhill 03.54 16.35 08.44 24.79
7 Rocky Ward 10.04 03.59 13.33 23.37
8 Tommy Rice 04.94 15.15 06.98 22.13
9 Andy Stilly 05.85 18.08 04.03 22.11
10 Shawn Nash 09.98 12.12 22.10
Boats will blast off for a third and final day of fishing on Championship Sunday March 2 at Fleming Meadows in La Grange, Calif. Weigh-in will be held at the same place and will start at 3:00 pm.
The top-10 field cut set 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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