U.S. Anglers Choice Motherlode Closes out Season

The last tournament of the U.S. Anglers Choice Motherlode season was held at Don Pedro Aug. 9&10.  Twenty Nine paid teams showed to fish a dual weigh-in night tournament.  Twenty three of the top twenty five Motherlode teams were going for bragging rights of winning the last tournament for the Motherlode season.  However, seven other good  teams also arrived to match there skills and vie for one of the great paychecks. 

The bite had been very tough at Pedro and all the teams knew it, but as goes with fishing, there were some good fish to be caught.  After the first weigh-in the team of Mike Reynolds and Shawn Pauly were leading, followed by Steve Tosh Jr. and Ben Hetrick, Chris Taylor and Jeff Reed, Hal Walther and Rich Ingram and in the fifth spot was Randy Pierson and Glenn Pierson.  These guys agreed the bite had gotten much better and couldn't wait to get back out for the easy pickens. 

The second half got a little tougher for some but there were still some really good fish caught.  There were 10 fish over 4lbs, 6 over 6lbs, and 2 over 11lbs.  in this event.  It was a 6.81 that landed Greg Bockmon and Jeff Bockmon in first place with a total of 26.52 and A $1660 payday.  Second with a 7.91 toad is Steve Tosh Jr. and Ben Hetrick with a total weight of 25.05 good for $890.  Mike Reynolds and Shawn Pauly had an 11.71 hawg, but miscues and a little bad luck cost them the second half and finished with 23.08 and a check for $700.  The consistent team of Randy Pierson and Glenn Pierson brought over 10 lbs to the scale each half for a total of 21.12 and gave them their seventh straight check, this time for $435.  Coming from way behind was Mel Biggs Jr. and Russ Pierson with an 11.87 hawg, their second big bass award in a row in our circuit, and a total of 18.81 lbs for a hard earned $640.  $300 was for big bass and also a very nice Competitive Edge rod.  The weather was very nice for night fishing, with the majority of the teams reporting catching fish from very shallow to about 25 feet deep on plastics.  Brush Hogs were very popular and a red worm worked well for Mel drop shotting.  Jigs and spinner baits were working and so was a buzz bait from about 5am on. 

Not many wanted to give up their spots because there are still a few night tournaments left. 

U.S. Anglers Choice T.O.C. will be in October  with Ist winning two and 2nd  winning one new Bass Cat boat,Mercury Opti-Max outboard, MotorGuide trolling motor, and LowRance electronics.  Also, the 7 anglers of the year will be fishing for a side pot of $15,000 in cash and prizes.  Check out the Anglers Choice web site.