Photo: Weigh-in McClure January 2019
The 2019 Best Bass Tournaments (BBT) season kicked off at Lake McClure on January 12th, and if that event was any indication, it is going to be another excellent year for the popular tournament trail. The numbers were up, anglers were cashing in with a new sponsor contingency, and everyone had a great time as they always do at these events. Randy Pringle offered a preview of the season and shared a little about what makes BBT different.
Numbers Up and a Great Schedule for 2019
Pringle reported that the first event drew 51 boats and paid out $2,525 to Brent Zieska and Jeff Eddings who weighed 14.29 pounds of McClure bass.
READ RELATED: 5 Ways to Fish McClure Winter Bass
“Typically, we start with 35 or so boats, so that is a great sign for the year that we had over 50 boats. I think anglers in California are getting out to go fishing more and that is great,” he says.
He also predicted a banner year for big fish based on this winter’s weather.
“When we have a colder winter, it starts a cycle that produces more big fish during the spring and summer. It has to do with less vegetation growth and making those big fish more accessible in the warmer months,” he has learned from his years of experience as a California bass angler and guide.
With six different divisions, the BBT has options for anglers across California, and two events are coming up very soon. The Mother Lode Region starts at Don Pedro, and the Coastal Region will kick it off at Nacimiento. Pringle says both of these events should be excellent even though they are much different fisheries.
FISHING DON PEDRO
“At Don Pedro, we should see some big weights and the possibility for someone to catch a giant throwing a swimbait. I expect the winning weight to be 18 to 22-pounds,” he says, and he offered some tips for those anglers. “The fish are moving into the creek channels, and this time of year the biggest bass will be near the thermocline.”
He also said that largemouth and smallmouth could play a role in this one.
FISHING NACIMIENTO
When the anglers blast off at Nacimiento, Pringle says catching fish will not be an issue; but the size will be much smaller than Pedro.
READ RELATED: 3 Ways to Whack ‘Em at Naci in Winter
“You are going to see a lot of small weights, and the seven to 13-pound bags of spots will be coming to the scales. The good thing about lower weight venues is that it helps to level the field some and a big bite goes a long way,” he says.
Typical spotted bass patterns like finesse fishing and reaction baits should play into this one.
Berkley Cast for Cash
One new program this year is Cast for Cash, which awards anglers who signed up through Berkley based on their finish at BBT events.
Berkley will pay BBT teams $250 if they are the highest team at an event and the second highest will win $100. This program is for all 36 BBT events this year.
“At McClure, the team who finished 8th was the highest and the second team placed 20th and won a $100 bill. It is important to support these sponsors that are willing to give back to the anglers like this,” he says.
Fun for Everyone
When asked what makes the BBT different, Pringle says it comes down to having fun.
“If we stop having fun, we would quit doing it. Our tournaments are a great way to fish, laugh, and even poke fun at each other a little,” he says. “It also doesn’t matter your experience level because we will do everything we can to help you grow as an angler.”
Another thing that he feels separates his trail is his staff that is made up of an experienced team.
“Our staff is very accessible, and most have been with me for many years. They are not volunteers and are here for the anglers,” added Pringle.
Travelers
While not new for 2019, Travelers is a great option for BBT anglers. Pringle understands that anglers have commitments and sometimes can’t commit to an entire division, so they created Travelers to help these anglers. Any angler who fishes seven or more events with the same partner automatically qualifies for the TOC.
“The trail is designed for the working angler, and we understand that people have work or family commitments and that is why we have this in place. It gives them a chance to fish for big money at the TOC,” says Pringle.
The TOC
The date is set for the BBT TOC, but the venue is being finalized. Mark your calendars for October 12th and 13th for this fun event.
“Last year we paid out over $52,000 in cash including $20,000 to the winners. We also do a free raffle with tons of products from our sponsors, and we paid out $37,000 worth of prizes last year,” Pringle said.
2019 is shaping up to be another excellent year for the BBT. If you are interested in a fun event, they have six divisions and three open events for you.
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