Oroville A/C Pro-Am thoughts

Gary Dobyns · Post by **Gary Dobyns** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:51 pm

Fishing was the worst I have ever seen on the lake since spotted bass have been introduced. It was tough with few fish caught. The weights were pretty normal.

84 boats was not a stellar turn out but the Clear Lake event took many anglers. Still not a bust.

The draw was a little weak and needs some work. Some things need to be improved and dressed up a little.

Payback was pretty strong for 84 boats. $9500 to 1st Brian Ruthman. $5500 for 2nd Richard Dobyns. $5050 for 3rd to Brian Roland, who also got BF money. Also, 7 or 8k went into the pot for the last event. (I saw the total, but do not remember)

The super cool thing for me was seeing a bunch of guys that I had not seen in a while. I got to"catch up" a little with some guys I've known for YEARS. I started to name a few and quickly quit that idea. I'll just say it was GREAT seeing some old friends and look forward to seeing you at the next event and it will be a little better, I believe.

Hardshell · Post by **Hardshell** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:54 am

Not to mention the AM payback. I'd think that for two hundred bux and $4800.00 top prize there'd be guys hangin' off the fences to get on a boat. And yes, I really enjoyed the return to this format. Like they say "you can never go back" but it was sure to visit for a while.

Hardshell

Tony Lain · Post by **Tony Lain** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:04 am

Gary is right. Tuff bite!! I made the drive from way Southern Cal to try my luck on some new water with the Northern guys. Got around seven or eight bites each day, and on the first day missed four of them. DANG!! Only weighed in four fish day one, sorry Mr. co-angler. Day two, caught everything that bit, but a small limit. Oh yeah, my boat's Nav lights had a problem, so I had the honor of being the last boat out each day. Again, sorry Mr. co-angler. For the most part, well run event, but the partner pairing was a bit confusing. Drive up weigh-in and on the spot release boat was very cool. I'm signed up for the next two events as well. US Anglers Choice, keep up the good work!

2ndsuks · Post by **2ndsuks** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:19 am

A $9500.00 1st place payout for a $400.00 entry is about as good as it gets if you ask me and there is still another 20% held back for the final tournament at Clear Lake, what more could we ask for.

84 boats is not bad considering the Holder Ford tournament the same weekend, thatâ€™s a lot boats fishing bass tournaments within one hundred miles of each other.
There were a few glitches in the draw that Iâ€™m sure will be worked out but other than that I thought it went pretty smooth, it was the fastest and most organized weigh-in I have seen. I had a great time, great job Tony..
A big thanks to Mark and the Anglers Choice staff for a well run tournament with an exceptional payout and to Gary Dobyns for going to bat for the anglers and giving us all this opportunity, if this format continues in this direction I see a bright future in store.

The next tournament on the Delta May 2nd and 3rd looks to be a big one already, the payouts and the bass should be even larger, see you all at the Delta.

Mike Tobey

Brian Ruthman · Post by **Brian Ruthman** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:12 am

That was a great run event , Tony Stoltz did a great job doing the weigh in and announcing , i liked that drive up weigh in and a big thanks should go out to him and Mark Mendez and all who were involved with running the tourney . The BBq & food was great i really chowed down , maybe next time we could have some Baskin Robbins ice cream for dessert ......LOL .

Partner pairing/draw was out in the open and good also , the only glitch was they needed a couple of spot lights out there for some light and maybe start it an hour earlier , so everyone could go to bed earlier .
I had two great Co-Anglers Mike Crider & Bruce Saechao i had alot fun fishing with them for the day , so i want to thank them for that .

I got to meet alot of really nice people like Phil Strader , he came over and shook my hand and that was really cool ! I also got a big bear hug from the legend him self Gary Dobyns when i won the tourney , he also gave me a Dobyn's hat , i used his signature baits and Rods in the tourney to win the event .
It was just a fun time and a family type feeling being there and that is what i liked most about it , that is what it is all about for me meeting nice people and being a part of something good for all anglers .

Im going to fish all 3 of these events see you all at the Delta !

brentdeaner · Post by **brentdeaner** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 8:52 am

Good turnout for a returning circuit. There are going to be some bumps along the way, but the staff will get those ironed out. The anglers are giving feedback on what could go better, and Mark and his staff are listening. It will only get better and that is a great thing for the anglers.

On a side note, I was really impresssed with Brian Ruthman. Not only did he win the event, he was humble and very thankful for everything. That was cool to see. I was keeping track of the weights, and he came up to me and asked if he was still leading. (He was in an early flight and had to really sweat it out!) Great job Brian and good luck in the rest of the season.

Brent

DAN · Post by **DAN** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 9:45 am

[quoteThe super cool thing for me was seeing a bunch of guys that I had not seen in a while. I got to"catch up" a little with some guys I've known for YEARS. I started to name a few and quickly quit that idea. I'll just say it was GREAT seeing some old friends and look forward to seeing you at the next event and it will be a little better, I believe.[/quote]

The Staff, Teresa, Tom and Tony overall did a solid job with the Chico Bass Club helping out, a few glitches as Gary mentioned during the draw.... Just for the record I dislike fishing spots as my results showed, but We are on the way to the Delta and llok forward to seeing even more old friends and making some new ones. Thanks Scott and Robby for putting up with me (and my Stones)for the weekend.

Fast 492 · Post by **Fast 492** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:06 pm

Dan, is it that you dislike fishing spots or that spots dislike eating what you are casting

. Better luck next time bro.....

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:14 pm

Fast 492 wrote:Dan, is it that you dislike fishing spots or that spots dislike eating what you are casting . Better luck next time bro.....

LOL, wonder which one..... Hope your feeling better and got rid of all them kidney stones Dan!

Hollywood · Post by **Hollywood** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:24 pm

Overall a great and well run event. A few hiccups along the way but nothing A/C can't do better next time. All the staff did a great job bringing us this event and the rest of the series. The drive by weigh in was awesome and very smooth. The bbq was off the hook! I too chowed down.

I was very impressed with the draw considering the other events going on at the same time. And the payback was awesome too!

I can't wait for the Delta and then all the extra money that is being held for the Clear Lake event.

What a great deal!

Congrats to Brian on his win!

A big thanks to Mark and the entire staff of A/C and sTony from Westernbass.com for throwing a great event. As well as the big man Gary Dobyns for getting us what the "anglers want in a circuit"

This circuit can only get bigger and better. Finally someone who is willing to listen to the anglers.

And just incase I am quoted in an editorial, For the record, I am not a cheerleader of A/C or any other circuit. Just a happy angler!

See you all at the Delta in May!

Kevin Johnson