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Slay Nation Tournament Fishing (SNTF) California Trail held their season opener on Eastman Lake on Saturday, February 6th. 2021. 32 teams came out to enjoy the beautiful weather (highs in the 60s, lows in the 40s with clear blue skies and no wind) but were met with a tough bite. Eastman Lake (located in the foothills in Central California east of Chowchilla) is only at 9% capacity and the fish were feeling the pressure. Water temperature started out at 48 degrees and warmed up to 57 by day’s end. The water was stained with only 1 foot of visibility reported.
Only 1 team found a 5 fish limit that included the big fish of the tournament reported to be a 23 inch 8 pound Eastman Tank. The top team managed to submit a 75-inch limit. Per Tournament Director Jacob Bueno, the bites were few and far between with anglers reporting the most consistent action on ned rigs, dropshot and neko rigs.
Here’s your Top 3:
1. Phong Nguyen and Randy Aguilera – 75.50 inches
2. Fred and Eli Veregge – 51.25 inches
3. Damian Thao – 51 inches (top kayak finisher)
SNTF offers tournaments throughout Northern and Southern California. They cater to small boat angler fishing out of a canoe, kayak or jon boat. It is a team tournament format where anglers can fish out of the same boat or up to 2 boats (kayaks for instance) as long as they remain within 25 yards of each other at all times. Anglers measure their fish on an approved measuring board and then submit their best 5 fish at the end of the day. The angler with longest limit wins (much like your standard kayak tournament). Per Bueno, he is excited to see the trail growing and they invite all jon boat, canoe and kayak anglers to come out and give competitive bass fishing a try.
Next up for SNTF is Pardee Lake on Sunday, 3/21/21.
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