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Yak-a-Bass held its gamblers series event at Lake Tulloch. Lake Tulloch is one of the most majestic Motherlode lakes. It is surrounded by beautiful homes with hundreds of docks and stunning mountains covered with magnificent old oak trees. The weather was beautiful just days before, but Mother Nature decided to toss a wrench into the weather. On Saturday morning the predicted weather was rain and wind. Seems as if in every kayak tournament so far this year the rain shows up in force, perfect duck weather one might say. On day one, it rained most of the day with some wind and then on Sunday, the weather was rainy and with brisk winds.
After two days of wet weather, Abel Patino was crowned champion with a two-day total of 176.00”. Patino used a few different techniques to capture his win.
“Day one, I went up into the North End of the lake to Black Creek.” said Patino, “I fished coves that I have history in.”
“I started shallow with a crank bait. I got bit after a few casts on DT6. I Continued to fish the crank bait for another 20 minutes with no more bites.” stated Patino, “I went back to the old trusty Ned rig that I fished last time I was at Tulloch and immediately started catching fish.”
“After four hours inside of this cove I had around 75”, it was time to make an adjustment.” voiced Patino, “I explored other areas of the north side and landed a few nice fish on secondary points leading into coves.”
“When I was leaving the cove, I saw a bait ball. So, I decided to work them with a drop shot paired with a plastic shad lure.” pronounced Patino, “I caught a 17” fish culling up right away casting into the bait.”
“I kept chasing that bait ball around tossing my drop shot rig at them and culled up to 85.” declared Patino, “I had a fish on that was big, around 6 or 7 pounds that came off right at the boat. I chased that bait ball around the rest of the day.”
“Day two I headed back to that same area looking for that same bait ball.” vocalized Patino, “Never did find the fish or that same bait ball with my forward-facing electronics.”
Patino made an adjustment that proved to be the winning pattern. He abandoned the bait ball pattern and started to toss his Ned rig on secondary points, he quickly caught an 85” bag.
“It was around noon when I had around 85” on the Ned rig fishing secondary points in the same cove that I fished the day before.” expressed Patino, “I caught a 19” right away and knew this is going to be the deal.”
“The bit died off after a while and I started to work my way back to the ramp.” spoken Patino, “I was using the small TRD in green pumpkin and would let it sit to get my bites.”
“I left the cove area and caught a 17” fish that gave me around 90.” expressed Patino, “I had to fish slow, just letting it sit there and the fish would pick it up.”
“Day one, I caught around 40 to 50 fish and day two I caught around 30 to 40 fish.” said Patino, “Day one more fish but smaller size and day two less fish but better size fish. I had a great weekend.”
Patino thanked his wife for all her support and his sponsors Headwaters Adventures Company, Bioenno Batteries and Newport Vessels for all their support.
Daniel Balaba finished in second place with a combined limit for two days of 174.50”. Balaba had big fish for day one and day two, two very impressive fish that measured 20.50” on day one and day two a monster 21.00”. Balaba found a magical location that had a flat that had a ledge with two rocky high spots.
“I fished a Ned and Neko Rig on the flat to catch my fish.” spoke Balaba, “I did toss a jig around but the Ned and Neko caught my better fish.”
“The Ned rig I used a TRD and the Neko rig, I’’ keep secret.” voiced Balaba, “I found these fish during the last tournament I fished there five weeks ago.”
“I spent the first three hours scooping but only caught one small fish. So, I checked the fish I had found during the last tournament. They were still there.” declared Balaba, “The top of the ledge was in five feet of water and the bottom was in fifteen feet of water.”
“The fish were relating to the ledge.” stated Balaba, “I caught smaller fish shallower, but the better fish were on the ledge.”
“Day one, they bit all day long and hammered the bait, on day two, they bit in the morning better and it was a mush bite.” articulated Balaba, “I fished the same area both days, I did try to find another area but that was the only hot spot for me.”
“I had a great time both days, I really enjoyed myself.” voiced Balaba, “It was nice to catch big fish both days.”
“The fish would keep reloading in the same area.” expressed Balaba, “I would just wait them out until they showed up.”
Balaba thanked his wife for all her support, as well as James, Bill and everyone else that had taken part in hosting such a great event, also, all the anglers that showed up to compete – without the anglers we would not be competing.
Bam Miller captured third with a two-day total of 168.25”. Miller ran to the North area of the lake where he powered fished shallow to catch his fish. He worked in the same area on day one as day two.
“Day one the fish were much shallower than day two.” said Miller, “I caught them from 1 to 5 feet of water on day one and on day two they were in 5 to10 feet of water.”
“On day two, there was more boat traffic in the area I was fishing.” spoken Miller, “That is why I think the fish were deeper on day two.”
“With all the boat pressure, it spun me out.” voiced Miller, “I had to focus more to keep my head straight so I wouldn’t spin out. Also, my buddy went into the water, so I gave him my sweatshirt and I was freezing. I stayed with him the rest of the day to help him out since he broke his measuring board getting back into his kayak.”
“I lost a big fish on a swim jig on day one, it was around 6 or 7 pounds.” said Miller, “On day two, I ran from the far North end to the dam and hooked up on a fish. It was tangled in a tree, so I free spooled my line, it came out. I had her coming back to the boat when she jumped and spit my lure out, it was big around 7 to 8 pounds.”
Miller thanked Jackson Kayak, The Black Horse Crew, and his girlfriend for all her support. “I had a great weekend, it was really fun.” pronounced Miller, “You could catch the fish about any way you wanted to.”
Top Ten:
1. Abel Patino 176.00” (85.50”- 90.50”)
2. Daniel Balaba 174.50” (89.75” - 84.75”)
3. Bam Miller 168.25” (85.75” - 82.50”)
4. Sean Case 168.00” (82.25” - 85.75”)
5. Greg Blanchard 160.75” (79.75” - 81.00”
6. Keith Gouveia 157.75” (77.50” - 80.25”)
7. Anthony Martinez 157.50” (79.25” - 78.25”)
8. Justin Dutcher 144.50” (60.00” - 84.50”)
9. Mike Ensign 125.75” (63.75” - 62.00”)
10. Terence Sullivan 125.25” (47.75” - 77.50”)
Big Fish:
Daniel Balaba 21.00”
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