USAC SO Cal. Pyramid Story, Results, and Pics

[Brian Linehan]

The third tournament of the USAC Southern California Region was held at Pyramid Lake on Sunday, February 13. We had a great turnout with 35 teams showing up to win money and earn qualifying points for the TOC held at Lake Havasu in September 2011.

Although everyone knows that Pyramid Lake is one of the coldest lakes we fish in our region due to its location on The Grapevine, temperatures plummeted into the high twenties at blast off. The 5-10 mph breeze didn’t help matters as it seemed to cut right through! By weigh-in, temperatures hovered around 60 degrees and were pleasant.

Previous reports were rather bleak as the lake had been biting weeks before, but the bite reportedly came to a screeching halt in the last week before the tournament. There was another derby held at Pyramid the day before our USAC event and the fishing seemed to improve as many caught limits.

Running a shallow patter, the team of Ron Thompson and Bob Fruge were able to bring in a limit to the scales that weighed 15.64 as well as the largest fish of the tournament at 5.16 lbs. Their first place finish won them $2,980 and the team is always one of the toughest to beat every time we come to Pyramid Lake.

Second place went to Pyramid sticks, Dan Villanueva and Gary Jubilado. Gary won a tournament the day before with over 14 lbs and they were able to weigh 14.03 lbs when it counted on Sunday. They won $1,060 for their efforts and will be a tough team if they decide to fish the rest of the region events.

Third place went to the always consistent team of Billy and Bobby Nelson. The brothers weighed 13.88 and caught the second largest bass at 4.03 lbs. Billy and Bobby won $1,020 and mentioned that they lost a fish that would have easily won them the derby.

Tyson Schafer and Ryan Kahl weighed 13.76, good for fourth place and $340. Unfortunately, they weren’t in the options but as everyone eventually learns, it pays to be in the options. Great job on your catch Tyson and Ryan!

Finishing in fifth place was Chris Dixon and Lamont Brumfield with a limit weighing 13.51 lbs. Chris and Lamont won $660.

Sixth went to Martin Wall and Gil Valadez with 13.35 lbs and $580.

Seventh and last in the money is the current AOY leading team Bill Siemantel and Troy Lindner. They weighed 12.88 lbs and won $100.

Third big fish of the derby went to Aaron Fishinger and weighed 3.88 lbs. That fish won Aaron $120.

Thank you so much for all of you who decided to fish! Our region is really catching on and instead of our numbers declining as the year progresses, our numbers are actually growing. I think we’ll eventually have some 40 boat fields in the imminent future and that will be amazing!

We all need to thank our dedicated sponsors who make the giveaway possible. For anyone who hasn’t been to one of our derbies this year, we have the best product giveaway I’ve ever seen. In fact, Al Lindner showed up to watch the weigh-in and he mentioned that the dollar amount of prizes given away was amazing. The total value of all of the giveaway prizes totaled over $2,600 retail value and every team won at least two times!!!

Our loyal and dedicated sponsors are Roboworm, Rago Baits, Don's Smokin' Salmon,Slick It!, BBZ Bill Siemantel, Team Davies Products, Perregrine 250, I-Rods, Basschow, Pink Stuff, Last Chance Bait and Tackle, Zank's Custom Worms, Anglers Marine, Andy's Automotive, 22nd Century Swimbaits, Pizz Customs, J&T Tackle, McSpins, Bully Baits, Rapala, Suffix, Upton's Customs, Nojo's Custom Baits, The Trolling Motor Doctor, Mercury, Simple Green, Monster Energy, Sav-On Tackle, Frankendonnie Custom Swimbaits, Donnie's Glass Repair, Dobyns Rods, Corner Bakery, Revenge Baits, Lucky Craft, and many more are on the horizon.

Our next tournament is Sunday, March 13 at beautiful Lake Piru! The bite will be really good and the venue will provide a true test of who is the best in the region. See you all there!

Brian

FULL RESULTS
1 RON THOMPSON BOB FRUGE 5 5.16 15.64 $2,980.00
2 DAN VILLANUEVA GARY JUBILADO 5 0 14.03 $1,060.00
3 BOBBY NELSON BILLY NELSON 5 4.03 13.88 $1,020.00
4 TYSON SCHAFER RYAN KAHL 5 0 13.76 $340.00
5 CHRIS DIXON LAMONT BRUMFIELD 5 0 13.51 $660.00
6 MARTIN WALL GIL VALADEZ 5 0 13.35 $580.00
7 BILL SIEMENTAL TROY LINDNER 5 0 12.88 $100.00
8 RAYMOND TAK RAYMOND TAK 5 0 11.68 $0.00
9 LOIUS ARNONE JOHN OMARTIAN 5 0 10.52 $0.00
10 AARON FISHINGER STEPHEN L. 4 3.88 10.49 $120.00
11 BRANDON OBER ALDO ACEVEDO 5 0 10 $0.00
12 MARC JEUDEVINE KEITH RINI 5 0 9.76 $0.00
12 MIKE REESE TONY CAPPARELLI 4 0 9.38 $0.00
14 JOHN ED WILDER III JAY POORE III 4 0 9.02 $0.00
15 OSCAR LOPEZ KEN KOHR 4 0 8.68 $0.00
16 PAUL VOGLER DON ROBIDOUX 3 0 8.07 $0.00
16 STEVE DAVIES DELYNN DAVIES 5 0 8.52 $0.00
18 WALT KONDRACKI DAVID HANDY 3 0 7.7 $0.00
19 JERRY BALLESTEROS RON CERVENKA 3 0 7.01 $0.00
20 JEFF SEGERS JEFF DUNN 3 0 6.77 $0.00
21 JASON HEMMINGER MARTIN BRIAN 2 0 6.57 $0.00
22 DENNIS TAYLOR MARK TAYLOR 3 0 6.37 $0.00
23 DONNIE PETERSON STEPHEN LEATZ 3 0 6.01 $0.00
24 DAVID PELTIER JOHN FIKE 3 0 5.98 $0.00
25 BRIAN DAY JIM BASHAM 2 0 5.69 $0.00
26 EDGAR UYEMA CORY DISPENSIERO 3 0 5.62 $0.00
27 MAX ESCAMILLA JEFF HARRIS 3 0 4.32 $0.00
28 ANDY VINCIONI PETE VINCIONI 2 0 3.83 $0.00
29 GREG GALLOWAY PAUL SMITH 3 0 3.82 $0.00
29 LARRY MARQUEZ JASON MARQUEZ 2 0 3.82 $0.00
31 JOHN KARAYAN RON POWELL 2 0 3.65 $0.00
32 JOHN BARRON MANAS MALIKIAN 2 0 3.41 $0.00
33 BOB TULL MARK TULL 1 0 3.16 $0.00
34 JOE PAYNE JOHN KRAFT 1 0 2.14 $0.00
35 BRENDAN WIDICK KATHY HARTMAN 1 0 1.74 $0.00

[Brian Linehan]

First Place Ron Thompson and Bob Fruge with the BBZ look.

Dan Villanueva dn Gary Jubilado took second.

The Nelson Bro's cashing checks and taking names.

Tyson Schafer and Ryan Kahl

Lamont Brumfield and Chris Dixon.


Martin and Edgar












Perregrine 250 and Lucky Craft

Widdick with a Rago Rat and Lucky Craft bait.

Donnie P. with some Upton's Customs


Al Lindner with a Rago Tool.


Greg Galloway and Paul "Pizz" Smith being presented a case of Monster by Jim Basham

Raymond with a custom painted 10" Triple Trout by Whitney.















Team Perregrine

Brendon and Aldo
Greg Galloway and Pizz Custom's Paul Smith.

Edgar Uyema and Cory Dispensiero.

Look what Roger caught on one of his first casts. lol

Louis Arnone and John Omartian working bank.

Louie is bent and John with the net.

Roger was the media boat taking video and pics. Thanks Roger!!!

So Cal studs John Ed and Jay Poore.

Donnie Peterson of "Donnie's Custom Swimbaits" and Stephen Leatz of "Basschow."

Walt kondracki and David Handy speeding by.

GQ models, Brian Day and Jim Basham.

Brian and Jim.

Ron Cervenka and Jerry Ballesteros freezing their tails off.

John Barron and Manas Malikian looking for their first fish. Manas isn't looking too hard.

John and Manas.

Martin Wall and Gil Valadez were on them pretty good.

This guy caught more than Manas!

Ron showing off one of their fish.

Brendan and Kathy throwing the Roboworm.

Martin and Gil.

Raymond Tak caught a nice limit by himself!

Raymond reaching into the well.

Everyone loved the hot dogs.

Brian and Brendan weighing fish.

Bill Siemental watching his bag of fish.

Lengendary angler and great guy, Al Lindner with son Troy.

Basschow's Stephen Leatz watching his fish being weighed.

Brian, Al Lindner, and Brendan Widdick.

Dennis and Mark Taylor weighing in.





USAC mascot, BODY!

Ron's toad.

Did I forget to mention that he caught more than Manas Malikian???



Next tournament is at LAKE PIRU on Sunday, March 13 and I think we'll have a huge field. As a reminder, we gave away over $2,600 retail value of prizes to the 35 teams that showed up and we'll do it all over at Piru. Come see what the buzz is about and become part of a growing region!
Brian

[Garrettt]

haha good write up.

[gixxer464]

Thanks Brian,well run tournament. Thanks to all of the sponsors. I didnt cash a check, but made out like a bandit during the raffle. Thanks again to Roger for letting us borrow a needle. Funny story my partner that I fished the ABA with the day before snagged that rod and reel combo that Roger donated for the raffle.

[Brian Linehan]

Well, I know your spot then. lol. Thanks for coming and see you at Piru

[jazzwannabe]

Whereabouts is that chain link fence in those pics?

[Kevin]

That raffle was killler. Great job again Bri!

[Brian D.]

Well done Bri! Fun event & well organized. See you at Havasu in a few weeks.

[Ron T.]

Great job once again Brian. How do you guys like the new BBz look ? I think Bill should add these to his hat selections. For anybody wondering what the hell we have on our head,this was just a little jab at Bill for teasing my partner about his tournament morning ritual.

[manas_bass]

hahahahaha, your way to funny Bri! Dude i can not believe all the raffle items you gave away bro!! When are we in the i.e. gonna get some of that good stuff!! Are raffles are great, but not even close to the so cal guys! Great job Bri , wish we can draw that kind of field down here!

[Brian Linehan]

The IE will come around for sure Manas!

[Kevin]

I think when the IE starts supporting the circuit en masse, the raffle will be much larger. Makes no sense to give away that much product for so few boats. The So Cal region guys are hardcore!