HENDERSON, Nev. - The conclusion of the 2016 Wild West Bass Trail (WWBT) Lucas Oil Western Classic puts the debut season of the circuit in the books and reveals the leaders in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race.
Pro AOY honors went to Jason Cordiale of Orinda, Calif. for the California division and Troy Lindner from Los Angeles, Calif. took the trophy for Arizona.
The co-angler crowns were won by Graham Grove of Atascadero, Calif. and Julius Mazy from Phoenix, Ariz. Grove won for the California division and Mazy took Arizona.
Each will be rewarded for their angling consistency with an AOY prize package that includes entry fees to the 2017 WWBT Pro/Am events, a set of Dobyns rods and a case of Lucas Oil.
ARIZONA PRO | TROY LINDNER
Lindner’s run for AOY started with some setbacks; but even after blanking on the first day of the first event of his season, he was not deterred.
“After one day of no fish, I went out the next day to find that my batteries completely died overnight,” he said. “I told my guy that I had no battery and I had no fish; but that changed quickly. Within 30 minutes, I had two fish for five-pounds. I was landing a fish as other people were still taking off. That boosted my confidence and I needed that.”
He believes that taking advantage of pre practice time on each fishery before the off-limits was a factor in his success throughout the season.
“It helped me to understand the water level and what was happening with the fish,” he said. “It never helped put me on a winning pattern at any event; but it did give me confidence that I could catch some fish. I think that is what helped me the most – mentally. ”
Although he continually did well in the standings and cashed at every stop, the AOY win came as surprise to Lindner. “With zeroing the first day of the whole season, never being on winning fish in any event and then weighing in one fish at the end of the season, it was kind of shocking that I won it,” he said. “I just kept fishing no matter what was handed to me. That is what you learn to do, keep your head up and keep fishing – keep grinding and it will pay off.”
The finishes that led Lindner to the top of the season’s standings included Pleasant (9th), Havasu (14th), Roosevelt (11th) and Mead (17th).
Linder credits the WWBT AOY title as the “biggest accomplishment” of his fishing career.
“I think it is even bigger than my Havasu win and any other AOY titles that I’ve had,” he said. “It is an incredible circuit and the payouts are so good. I finished 17th at Mead and still got a check for $2,000. That’s really good for a $700 entry. Nothing compares. The WWBT gave me a reason to stay here and fish in the West.”
The WWBT off-limits format is a draw for Lindner.
“The limited practice really benefits someone like myself that has to travel to the event,” he said. “It is very equalizing when you have to compete against others that live on the lake.”
Linder is excited to return to the WWBT for the second season and is looking forward to the television broadcasts of the events that will air in 2017.
“Gary and all the guys that are involved in WWBT are fishermen and they understand the needs and wants we have,” he said. “This circuit is just incredible for people that can’t take two weeks off to practice for every event. The limited practice just levels the playing field. The cut day next year will also be very nice. If you don’t make the cut, you will be able to travel home early.
“The contingency program is really wonderful, allowing guys to get checks down in 20th or 25th or even lower. The co-angler payouts are amazing. They gave away a boat at the championship. That is really good. Everything about it is fantastic.
“The WBBT reignited my passion and my confidence in tournament fishing out here. Next year, winning AOY will be even more of a challenge; because it will be over the course of six events. I can’t wait for the championship at Mead again, because it is the best equalizer there is. Anybody can win it and I will be back to give it a try myself.”
CALIFORNIA PRO | JASON CORDIALE
Cordiale put his 2016 season to rest claiming the AOY title in two circuits. “I also won it in the ABA delta division,” he said. “But I have to say that WWBT is actually my most favorite circuit that I’ve fished yet and I’ve fished a lot of different circuits.”
As the year kicked off for WWBT, Cordiale noted the he was most looking forward to the Delta stop as this was his home water.
“I am very comfortable in shallow, grassy lakes or the Delta,” he said. “I found the biggest challenge to be Mead, because I was having boat problems going into the tournament and I knew it was going to take long runs. Also, I saw the weights at the U.S. Open and how a lot of guys weren’t even catching fish for the three days; so that worried me too.”
To quell his concerns, Cordiale put a couple of days of pre practice in before the off-limits to gain familiarity and it paid off. Similarly to Lindner, this pre practice time is something that Cordiale attributed much of his success to.
“I would take at least two days before the off-limits to go to the lake and at least navigate the place, figure out the lake levels and if the water was rising or falling; because I hadn’t been to some of the places in so long – especially Shasta and Oroville,” he said. “Just getting familiar with the different creeks and river arms helped; so that I would know where the population of the fish were. It got me dialed in, so that when we had official practice days, I wasn’t starting from scratch. This made it so I could spend my tournament time in more high-percentage areas.”
While Cordiale kept all of his finishes in the top-10, eight seemed to be the lucky number of the season with Shasta (8th), Oroville (4th), Delta (8th) and Mead (8th).
He plans to return to WWBT next season. “I am fishing all of the Wild West events,” he said. “It is a great organization to compete in and I want to thank Gary for helping me get into a Ranger and an Evinrude this year.”
CO-ANGLER | ANGLER OF THE YEAR
ARIZONA CO | JULIUS MAZY
Mazy’s key to consistent success from the back of the boat centered on “staying humble and learning”.
“You can always learn something from the pros; so I sit back and pay attention; but fish hard,” he said. “Learning what the pro was doing that was working and doing my own thing that would work with that to better my chances in the situation is what helped me.”
His best advice to be a consistent, successful co-angler is “fishing what is available”.
“You’ve got to remember you are a co and that means you use what is available and make the most of your strengths,” he said. “And, no matter what keep your confidence up. I would also say keeping it simple is the best plan.”
Mazy’s stats for the year were Pleasant (20th), Havasu (5th), Roosevelt (10th) and Mead (19th).
Mazy will be using his winnings to return to the WWBT in 2017 from the other side of the boat.
“There is a lot more that goes into fishing the pro side; but I am ready,” he said. “There is a lot more preparation and a lot more mental.”
He is excited to make the move to pro and expressed appreciation for the opportunity that WWBT provided for him to do so.
“It was a great first season and I’m looking forward to the next season,” he said. “I am really thankful to all of the guys that are supporting the circuit and the big names guys that are coming from the West to support it and to Evinrude!”
CALIFORNIA CO | GRAHAM GROVE
Grove racked up his AOY in his first year fishing any pro/am circuit. He points to fishing a spinning rod when considering his success.
“That’s what I used most places besides the Delta – especially with all of the spotted lakes,” he said. “Plus, I got lucky. I had one good day at each tournament and that seemed to make the difference.
“I really had no idea that I would win it. I was up against Josh Kaneko and I know how good he is. He can catch ‘em; so I got lucky to squeeze past him.”
Grove also noted that pre fishing during the official practice time before each event helped him as he had never been on any of the fisheries prior to the WWBT events – aside from one time to the Delta.
“I got to get a little insight on the lake and have an idea of what was happening going into the tournament,” he said. “I got some great insight from my pre fish partner who has much more experience.”
His eight-years of competitive angling in team tournaments was another factor that Grove believes helped him.
“From fishing teams, I knew what baits I could throw that complimented what my pros were doing at the front of the boat or what speed they were going down the bank,” he said. “Fishing teams also has taught me what areas were good to fish behind someone, if they had a certain area or way that they were positioning the boat.”
Grove’s best advice for success as a co-angler was to have a good day on the water.
“Don’t get stressed out because you’re fishing behind the pro – if you’re going to catch fish, you’ll catch ‘em,” he said. “Hang out with your pro. Talk when they want to and have fun; but be ready to move when they are. Put your life vest on when they do – don’t be sitting in the back tying on baits.”
He thanked all of the pros that he fished with throughout the season.
“I learned so much from each and every one of them,” he said. “I drew a wide variety of fishermen, got to see a lot of different styles and learn from all of them.”
Grove’s incredible first venture into pro/am competition ended with Shasta (6th), Oroville (11th), Delta (3rd) and Mead (30th).
Grove is investing his winnings in his boat and returning to WWBT in 2017.
“I’m really impressed by Wild West for my first year as a co,” he said. “The way it was ran made it real easy to jump in to. I am looking forward to the new co format for next year.”
The WWBT Pro/Am season will kick off in January 2017. The AOY titles will once again be up for grabs.
A special thanks to all of the 2016 WWBT sponsors – Lucas Oil, Ranger Boats, Evinrude, Lowrance Electronics, Dobyns Rods, General Tire, Add-A-Wrap, Protect the Harvest, Gator Guards, P-Line, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Power-Pole, Industrial Decals, Hydro Force Marine, Super Clean and E3 Spark Plugs.
For 2017, the WWBT will conduct 16 events that include a Pro/Am circuit and two Teams circuits – one based in California and the other in Arizona. The Pro/Am circuit consists of five tournaments throughout California and Arizona and a year-end qualifying championship event. Each Teams circuit includes four tournaments and a year-end championship. For more information visit WildWestBassTrail.com and follow WWBT at Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.
Advertising