Top Stick Tour - It's What We Have Been Waiting For Guys

[Ron C]

Having been a tournament director for two decades, I can not even begin to tell you how many times I've heard guys complain that there are no big money Pro tournaments on our local Southern California lakes. Sure, there have been some failed attempts (due primarily to faulty or unpopular formats), but no one has been able to come up with the right formula – until now, that is.

Beginning this Saturday, February 17, 2007, the Top Stick Tour will kick off its inaugural season at beautiful Lake Casitas in Ventura County. The Top Stick Tour is not just another tournament trail; it is a Pro-Am tournament trail that features one-day, shared weight, draw tournaments. There are five point-earning tournaments, all of which are right here in Southern California. The Pro winners of each tournament and the Top-15 Pro point earners will qualify for the Tournament of Champions (TOC), as will the Top-20 point earning Am anglers. The TOC will be held at a mystery lake, which will be identified after the fifth and final tournament of the season; reminiscent of the old “Grand National Fly-Awayâ€

[Kelly Ripa]

I can't wait to see who's in it I am going to defend my teams honor on sombodys back deck this Saturday....Gentlemen....let's fish

[Bassin]

Do we need a pro to sign up with, if we are signing up as an AM?

Thanks,
Bryan Vogt

[Kelly Ripa]

call C.J. or John Barron....Times running out

[Ron C]

...at least not right now, that is. They have a couple more Pros signed up than Ams, but you better not wait too long as this situation will probably change quickly. I know of a couple of Castaic Bass Club guys who told me yesterday that they are going to sign up today as Ams.

See you there!

[swimb8]

ill make the phone call today. You got one more pro John. see ya'll saturday.

[Ron C]

...see you there Paul.

[Ray L.]

I am really looking forward to this... no pre fish and all..... I really love off limits for a pro am event..... fun fun fun.....
Maybe I can get lucky and get a good draw....
Who cares I may as well shut up and fish....

[Basn Dan]

Ray said, "Who cares I may as well shut up and fish...."

now I ask you... has anyone ever known Ray L to just "shut up and fish?"

J/K Ray, wished I could join you guys but I'm already committed. Good fishing, all.

Danny

[Ray L.]

Heck I have Casitas on Sat. then Castaic on Sunday. Oh what a fun weekend.

[Basn Dan]

I know the feeling Ray... ABA @ DVL Sat & NBW @ DVL Sun...

[Ray L.]

At least yours are at the same lake and you don't live that far. I may stay at a friends house and not drive back and forth.

[tunaman]

It seems that you and Lance are getting WAY too close Ray!!!

[Lance]

Becuase Ive pre-fished with Ray several times I can vouch that Ray hits a new level of focus when he's on the water, he becomes the fish

[Bassin]

"Ray hits a new level of focus when he's on the water, he becomes the fish"

Lance have been "Lippin" Ray again....

[Lance]

Ya ya ya very funny

[mark poulson]

Do you lip him, or just swing him aboard?

[Hollywood]

it aint the big mama belly scoup?

[Lance]

Its a good thing you guys dont write for material for comics

[Hollywood]

I couldnt do that, im having a hard enough time putting together an article for Tom at Basswest. My writing skills just plain out suck!

[Lance]

So your writing skills are one step above mine

[Hollywood]

Im stuck on the title, i guess I should just skip that for now and move onto the article? HA HA......

[Lance]

whats it about? if you cant say pm me

[Hollywood]

no secrets lance..

[Bassin]

Hey Hollywood,
I bet Tom would say different...I am still waiting on the article that is coming out in this next issue about us sticks that fish out of boats powered by our legs and oars.......

Bryan

[propgun]

Hey Ray I'll be right there with you both days. See ya on the water

[Hollywood]

Ah Bryan, indeed Tom wants it quiet im sure, that's why no article info here just yet. hehe...... i still can't figure the opening sentence, im a horrible writer.

all that time ditching english after lunch to hit castaic in the tinny is paying off! LOL

[mark poulson]

Just say something in Japanese to start. Almost no one here will know the difference, and it will get you started. The ones who do know will probably just laugh.

[Hollywood]

LOL, that will probably be a good idea. Not to shabby, especially for there japanese subscripers in the usa and japan.

Now what Japanese do i know? LOL...

[Hollywood]

oh and yeah, i know all the nasty words, i have really bad teachers and friends, there always trying to get me slapped by someone! lol

[Guest]

The belly boat article will be arriving soon. In fact, for subscribers it should be available online within the next 48 hours or so. It's a great article - Andy Parsons did a great job with it.

Hollywood - as for your Japanese start.... I have a tough enough time getting the 1/2 and 3/4 characters out of the magazine (sometimes end up as ?) when it gets converted from PC to Mac... Mac's just aren't smart enough to make it one character like Bill Gates' machines do! (I can hear the Mac keyboards lighting up now - let me hear it boys!) I doubt th Macs can handle the Japanese characters any better!

And definitely don't drop any Japanese "dirty" words in it.... I have a tough enough time trying to keep this magazine kid friendly with the possibilities of alcohol and tobacco ads...

Alright - I need to get some sleep!

Good luck to those fishing the Top Stick event this week... the AC Castaic Event and the AC Pacific Coast events as well, and both NBW and ABA DVL events!! Wow its a full weekend of fishing no matter where you live!

[Hollywood]

Don't worry Tom, I will leave the Kanji and the bad words out of them. I can hardly speak it let a lone spell any! I can bairly recognize my own name, I have to look at my business card to refresh myself what my name is in Japanese so no worries!

[Brian Linehan]

The Top Stick deal is going to be a great event. Chris and John are offering something unique and you know the events will be run great. I spoke with a lot of good sticks who are fishing and I think it will be real interesting. My prediction for the overall AOY-
Mike Hart & Kyle Grover.

[Hollywood]

is this a pro/am style event? where you draw your partner?

[Kelly Ripa]

It is a draw combined weight format. What's the weather like ....I remember it being darn cold at Yakota this time of year.

[Hollywood]

Darn cold is right, im about an hour south east of yakota I think. I think it was 6C when I left for work this morning at 7am (thats warm) and been around 11-12C during the day time,

Today is raining so its keeping the air warm or i would think it would have been about 3-4C in the am...

At the lake it is -2 to 2C during the early morning! No wonder them bass aint biting here!