The Delta Bass Club is dedicated to doing the hard work necessary to ensure that the tradition continues where Fishing Clubs come to gather, have fun and meet others of the same attitude toward catching that “elusive green fish”.
It all started at 5:00 in the morning at Russo’s Marina but for some reason, a few of the anglers were there at 4:30 (must have been excited to get started). We check all the livewells and had all 30 boats in the water by 6:30 am. At 6:54 am, boat number one was called to blast off followed by the other 29 boats. The blast off took all of 10 minutes (20 seconds per boat). Now the long wait!
I would like to thank Andy (Cooch) Cuccia, for being our MC; he does have a way of saying things – thanks Cooch! I also what to say thanks to Gene Buchholz for helping out our weigh master Rick Tankersley.
As the first flight came in at 3:00 pm it started to get good right off the bat. The Largest Bag of the event came in at 19.80 lbs by the team of Ron Mitchell and Dave Jake from the Sacramento Bass Wranglers making that club the leaders after the first flight. Sacramento had a total of 29.40 lbs for 9 fish followed by Delta Bass Club with 20.65 lbs for 9 fish. The Bass Busters of Santa Clara with 12.35 for 5 fish, Fresno Bass Club with 10.90 lbs with 6 fish and Diablo Hawg Hunters with 3 fish for 5.30 lbs completed the lineup.
Ron Mitchell and Dave Jake had the largest bag of the flight and topped the second best bag by 9.40 lbs. Gary Pardini and Tom Fereria of the Delta Bass Club had the second best bag with 10.40 lbs. Note of interest: in the 2010 Club Classic, Gary Pardini came in with the smallest bag, he was not going to make it two in a row.
The big fish of the first flight was 6.05 that was weighed in by Chris Rhoden of the Bass Busters of Santa Clara. By the way; he was fishing from the back of the boat. The second big fish was weighed in by Ron Mitchell at 5.45 lbs and the third big fish was weighted in by Harry Chang with a 3.90 lb fish.
The first flight started as one of the most exciting weigh-ins for the Club Classic. The Bass Wranglers said they were there to defend their last year’s winnings.
As the second flight came in at 3:10 pm for weigh-in we had the Sacramento Bass Wranglers leading by 7.75 lbs over second place in the running, the Delta Bass Club. The second flight started with Gary Morris of the Diablo Hawg Hunters coming in wanting to weigh a big fish! All heads turned towards Cooch as he weighed the big fish at 6.05 lbs tying the first flight big fish. Side note – I only have on trophy for big fish!
Then the team of Joe Bricker and Dan Daniel of the Delta Bass Club came walking down with one fish in a bag by itself. Big fish coming to the weigh-in! Cooch looked at it and said we have a new leader and when it was weighed, it came in at 6.15 lbs (we had a new leader for Big Fish). As for the fight for first place we had the Bass Wranglers coming in with an additional 19.35 lbs to add to their 29.40 lbs giving them 48.75 lbs after the second flight weigh-in. But wait the team of Joe Bricker and Dan Daniel came in with the second big bag for the second flight at 15.50 lbs and the other team of Delta Bass Club came in with 10.70 lbs giving the Delta Bass Club 26.20 lbs giving them a gain of 6.85 lbs on Wranglers.
The weights for the best club (so far) went like this – Bass Wranglers 18 fish 48.75 lbs, Delta Bass Club 19 fish for 46.85. The Diablo Hawg Hunters 12 fish for 29.40 lbs, The Bass Busters 11 fish for 23.75 lbs, and the Fresno Bass Club 11 fish for 19.85. There also looks like a fight for third place between Diablo Hawg Hunters and Bass Busters of Santa Clara. Gary Morris and Matt Soule came in with the best bag for the second flight with 16.75 lbs putting the Hawg’s over the Busters by 5.65 lbs.
I want to pause for the cause and say thank you to our sponsors: Walton’s Pond, Tom Coss Fishing, Vicious Fishing Line, Pro Cure Fishing Scents, Miranda Calloway at Dobbins Rods, Delta Outdoors, Hook Line & Sinker, Boat Master of Livermore, Connie at Snag Proof, Jim at Black Bear Diner, Bill at One Bass, American Trophies, Bobby D’s Custom Baits, Vince at Future Pro Tournaments, Russo’s Marina, Cooch’s Fishing and Total Tunes.
Now the third Flight and who will be the Number One Club for 2011. The standings and the fight are as follows. The fight for third place is between Diablo Hawg Hunters and Bass Busters. After the first flight the Bass Busters were leading but the Hawg Hunters led after the second flight – who will win third place? As for the fight for first place: it was between the Sacramento Bass Wranglers and the Delta Bass Club (the Wranglers have been leading in both the first and second weigh-ins).
The fight for third started with the Hawg Hunters coming in with 5 fish for both the third flight teams totaling 6.70 lbs. Side note – this Club Classic was the first year for the Hawg Hunters and they said they will be back. As the Bass Busters came in with 8 fish for both of their teams and a weight of 16.8 lbs they jumped into third place with a total weight of 40.55 lbs beating the Diablo Hawg Hunters with a weight of 36.10 lbs.
Now, for the fight for first place and the best Bass Club in the west; it started with the Wrangler teams coming in with 7 fish giving them a total of 62.85 lbs, (A hard number to beat especially when the Delta Bass Club team of John Hagins and Ronnie Van Airsdale come in with 3 fish for 4.90 lbs). As the last team of Ron Pine and Sean Kinnick for Delta Bass come up to the scales, all falls on their fishing abilities. Side note – Ron Pine fished last year with Gary Pardini and they had the smallest bag of the 2010 Club Classic. Can they do it? Well at least they had 5 fish but will it be enough? Well they are not the smallest bag this year with a bag of 14.30 lbs and pushing the Delta Bass Club into the lead with a total of 66.05 lbs.
I want to say thank you to all of the volunteer that helped out – without them it would not go as sooth as it did – thanks.
Please join with the Delta Bass Club and be a part of making the Club Classic a huge success, please join us next year!
Marty Martin’ez
the BassBusters will make a showing next year! 
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