AC/WRL Delta/ Wine Season Opener

[Randy Pringle]

RAIN DOWN POOR STARTS THE OPENER FOR BERKLEY AC/WRL DELTA WINE REGION

Shawn Taylor and Ravin Persaud dodged rain drops to win Lake Berryessa

Packed in like sardines under a twelve by twelve foot popup with rain sheeting down on all four sides during the early morning sign ups was a job in itself just to keep the paperwork dry. It just wouldn’t be the same if we had nice weather; this is the norm for the Western Rookie League! With the Big Boats and Small Boats added together there was a total of eight seven boats. It looks to be a great year for the Berkley AC/WRL.
One by one the boat numbers were called and they idled out of Pleasure Cove’s five mile an hour zone. My staff and I were hoping the bass would cooperate as Western Bass. TV was coming to video tape this event. The anglers did not disappoint the camera as they came to the scales with nice limits in their sacks. With rain showers off and on throughout the day, the anglers threw a variety of baits to catch their fish. Putting the rain in its place and beating the elements and taking First Place in the Big Boat Division, Shawn Taylor from El Sobrante and Ravin Persaud from Oakland with the winning weight of 14.24 lbs anchored by their 3.75 lb big fish. They told the wet crowd they used jigs, crank baits and creature baits to land their fish on the north east side of the lake. Congratulations for winning the first tournament of the year with $2040 in spending money!
Second Place goes to the team of Damon Robertson and Brad Ford both from Vacaville, local knowledge paid off for these two throwing jigs and drop shotting to put their five fish and the only five fish this team caught throughout the day, they were the right ones to put in the well! With a kicker fish of 3.80 lbs and with a total weight of 13.37 lbs this team took home a cash payout of $1940. Great job!
Travis Tate of Brentwood and Matt Leverich from Oakley fished the north east side of the lake fishing Carolina Rig and one of their nicest fish, a 4.56 lb was caught on a swimbait which was the third big fish of the day. For their efforts they took home $1300 for a day in the rain. I’ll splash my face with water for $1300 bucks! Congratulations guys!
Forth Place was the team of Jim Griffin from Rio Vista and Angel De La Rosa of Isleton. This team has supported the Western Rookie League for awhile and we thank you! With a total weight of 13.21 lb and a 3.21 lb for their big fish, they took home $745. That should be enough for your dry cleaning bill! Nice work!
Rounding out the top five teams in the Big Boat Division was the team of Tom Murray from Sacramento and Greg Dornback of Elk Grove. Greg brought this beautiful 5.28 lb bass to the scale. If you have not had the pleasure of meeting Greg, he is one of the nicest guys, always has a smile. He probably talked his partner into him weighing in their bag. The 5.28 lb bass was not caught by Greg but by Tom Murray, guess he was camera shy when it was time to weigh in his big fish! But it was a nice fish. With their total weight of 13.04 lb and the big bass of the day, this team brought home $980. Congratulations to the top five winners for fighting through the elements to come out ahead of the pack!

Gene Wall and Nick Nourot Make the Long Wet Journey to Take First Place in the Small Boat Division

In the Small Boat Division we had eight teams battling for the win with all conditions being equal, the small boat division is not a handicap but if you add wind and other weather conditions, it can make it very difficult to keep on your pattern, let alone to get there. The team of Gene Wall and Nick Nourot both from Vallejo brought to the scales a nice limit anchored by a 2.76 lb bass giving them a total weight of 10.71 lbs which not only gave them First Place in the Small Boat Division but 15th place in the money pool overall, giving them $110 in cash. When interviewed in front of the crowd, they told everyone they dragged jigs and Carolina Rig on the north side of the lake. Great teamwork, you finished in the top of the field proving you deserve first place in your division!
Second Place goes to the team that probably came the farthest distance over snow covered passes while towing a boat, that is passion for the sport; Grant Hall from Reno, Nevada and Sam Huff from Gardnerville, Nevada with a total weight of 9.66 lbs. Thanks for going the extra mile!
Rounding out the top three was the team of John Clark and Jimmie Williams, both from San Pablo with a weight of 9.56 lbs. These small boat teams proved that size doesn’t matter!
With tournament circuits coming and going and the changes with the WRL, now part of Angler’s Choice, it is important for everyone to understand how we are committed to give you the best payback, events and an even playing field to make your tournament a positive and enjoyable one. With the support of our sponsors we are able to give the Fortieth Place Team, Jon De Vries a gift bag as he was present to win.
The Thirtieth Place gift bag went to the team of Brian Welch and James Nolan.
The Twentieth Place, the 20/20 Eye Surrender Sunglasses went to the team of Dustin Keen and Kevin Ward who were also present to win these fine sunglasses. The anglers that have purchased $20 or more of merchandise from our sponsor tackle stores were asked to bring up their receipts and drop them into the Casa Verde receipt box to be drawn for a prize at each event. (Remember to write your name and phone number on the back of every receipt before dropping them into the box!) Today’s prize winner received an Abu Garcia Vendetta Rod given to Duke Kanaya of Winters. We then drew two boat numbers, boat number 62, who was not present to win their prizes. Their prize with be donated to the TOC. You must be present to win. Then boat number 31 was drawn for the last prize. Matt Leverich and Travis Tate won a gift bag from Berserk Baits containing their jig heads, screw heads and football head jigs in addition to the tee shirt, so not only does Berserk Baits give you great baits to use, you will look good at the same time!
I would like to thank my staff for all the help you have given me and the anglers alike; Kevin Ryan, Rich Reeser, Jon De Vries and Matt Moreau. Someone else; let me think, oh yeah, my wife Sheri Pringle for getting up at 3 AM to work in the rain. I hope she doesn’t ask for a raise and a change of working conditions!
The next event will be held on March 14th on the Delta out of Russo’s. You can check in the night before at Delta Outdoors between 4 and 6 PM, not mandatory, just an option. We will be checking in boats starting two hours before safe light on Sunday morning.

We would like to thank the following sponsors with the Angler’s Choice Western Rookie League for all your support. Remember to support your sponsors as they are supporting you and your sport!

Legend Boats, Mercury Marine, Motorguide Trolling Motors, Berkley Power Bait, Berkley Trilene, Bass West USA, Bass Tackle Depot, Western Bass.com, Swim Bait Nation, Eye Surrender Sunglasses, Abu Garcia Vendetta Rods, Black Dog Baits, Berserk Baits, Bass-N-Mor Fish taxidermy & replicas, Casa Verde Villa – Mexico trip

Sponsor Tackle Stores: Escalon/ Escalon Bait & Tackle, Waterford/ Bait Barn, Modesto/ C & C Marine, Oroville/ Oroville Outdoors, Berryessa/ Berryessa Sporting Goods, Clear lake North/ Clear Lake Outdoors, Clear Lake South/ Clear Lake Bait & Tackle, Delta/ Delta Outdoors, Melones/ Gloryhole Sports, Clovis/ Valley Rod & Gun

[blkdog812]

despite the rain........wow what a great turn out and some nice sacks too