REDDING, Ca. - Early spring and its Shasta time! Perhaps the most beautiful lake in the west, Shasta's backdrop of high-sierra mountain ranges and abundant wildlife can easily distract the casual angler in pursuit of the lake's huge quantity of spotted bass.
Bur for anglers participating in the up-coming Future Pro Tour event on Saturday April 12th, however, there will be no time for hiking or bird watching. At stake in this 2nd event of a 7-event season are points crucial towards attaining a coveted spot in the 2008 Future Pro Tour Classic and the opportunity to win a fully-rigged Ranger Boat with Evinrude Outboard, Minnkota, and Hummingbird electronics.
With the opening event already behind them, these amateur-level anglers have knocked the cobwebs of a long winter off of their rods, and will be looking for patterns that will help them find quality spotted bass.
"We are really looking forward to Shasta!" noted the father and son team of Scott and Marcus Gabaldon, winners of last month's season opening event on Lake Berryessa. We did what we had to do to win last month, but this lake is going to be challenging in that everyone will be able to bring in a limit...and that means it is imperative that we catch a big fish to do well in this event". But challenges are what we look for and that's why we're fishing the Future Pro Tour - to improve on our overall fishing knowledge and become better competitive anglers”.
Scott's points on expanding their knowledge base are well put in that the Future Pro Tour – presented by Ranger Boats, Evinrude Outboards, Thunder Valley Casino, and Folsom Lake Toyota, is designed to offer the amateur-level angler an opportunity to learn the basics of competitive bass fishing, meet lots of great people, and just have fun.
It's goal simply put, is to provide a venue in which the entry/amateur level angler can improve on their bass fishing skills in a friendly yet competitive environment. Requiring only a nominal entry fee ($90), participants are encouraged to share information, and be part of making our events a fun experience for all. The Future Pro Tour is a team format and features 2 divisions – Div I (0-90hp) and Div II (91hp and above), where anglers in each division fish for that division's prize money.
According to locals at Shasta, in particular the crew down at Phil's Prop's & Tackle, the bite is pretty good but you have to go thru a bunch of them if want to have a decent sack. “Fish are moving up in the shallows, and some of the bigger ones are starting to be taken on swimbaits, they noted and if the weather stays stable there may be a bed fish or two. “Come game day – it ought to be wide open”!
Much more information about how to catch em' at Shasta in the spring will be available to Future Pro Tour anglers at the FREE seminar that will be held at West Marine Product (2607 Bechelli Ln, Redding) the evening prior to the event.
West Marine/Ranger pro-staff and FLW touring pro Charley Almassey will be on hand at Friday's seminar to share rigging techniques and springtime patterns on Shasta Lake and will also give you tips on how to stay focused during tournament competiton. Many other pros will join us so don't worry...we'll have you covered no matter what questions you may have!
Beginning at 3:00pm to 5:00pm there will be a FREE BBQ dinner with all the fixin's hosted by Phil's Props and Tackle, (3037 Twin View Blvd , Shasta Lake City ). There will be a free product raffle for all that attend, and Phil will keep the store open so you can pick up those last minute baits. Phil's carries a complete line of tackle, and all the specialty jigs/plastic baits that are used specifically on Shasta Lake. Immediately thereafter, the pre-registration and seminar activities featuring our top pros will begin from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at the West Marine Products Store, 2607 Bechelli Ln, in Redding.
Late registration will be available the morning of the event from 4:00-6:00 am at Phil's Prop/Tackle, and blast-off will be at safelight from Bridge bay Marina. As always, a $5 per-event limited membership fee will be available for l those that want to try out the Future Pro Tour.
Some come on up!…Get your swimbait, darterhead, and dropshot rigs ready for this one…cause I gotta feeling there's gonna be a “whole lotta shakin going on” at Shasta!!
See you there!!!
FPT
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