Sacramento Championship Returns

[wayneg]

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Championship Bass fishing returns to the Downtown Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, Ca. – After a 25 year hiatus, championship bass fishing will return to the capitol city of the golden state, as the Thunder Valley Outdoors/Future Pro Tour will host the first day of its 10th annual Future Pro Tour Classic event in the shadow of historic downtown Sacramento.

In less than 8 weeks, the historic cobblestone lined streets of downtown Sacramento will soon see an armada of bass boats in all shapes and sizes, loaded with tackle - and bass fishing “fanatics” eager to get this milestone championship event underway.

The Future Pro Tour Classic is a prestigious, invitational affair, where only a select group of only 90 teams out of the hundreds of teams that participated throughout the year, will be eligible to participate in. At stake, are the keys to brand new, fully-rigged Ranger Z118/Evinrude package with Hummingbird, Minn Kota and Navionics electronics valued at over $35,000. Custom lead crystal trophies and custom classic rings go with the coveted FPT Classic crown, along with the recognition of being the best amateur bass fishing team in the west.

The challenge
Amateur level bass anglers participate in Future Pro Tour events because they know that the tour will present them with the most unique challenges of every kind and flavor, helping them to develop and challenge their growing skill sets. And this year’s challenge will not disappoint, as it is a multi-venue contest that will be conducted on two totally distinct watersheds:

Day 1 - The Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is a diverse fishery mostly known for its massive Salmon and Striped Bass migrations, but very few anglers in this upcoming field of Classic participants have ever fished the Sacramento River for bass, and have no idea that it is also one of the most overlooked yet prolific bass fisheries in the state.

Smallmouth, spotted, and yes, largemouth bass are prolific throughout this river systems, with miles of rip-rap banks, wing dam structures, and quiet sloughs that branch off it’s man channel to offer a variety of choices to those anglers that can focus and keep their “head in the game”.

A legend’s perspective
“New comers to fishing the Sacramento River should view their unfamiliarity with the Sacramento River as an asset, rather than a liability in that it creates the most level playing field imaginable for the entire field of Classic competitors”, noted Dave Gliebe, who has in his illustrious bass fishing career, won 45 boats, qualified for 3 Bassmaster Classics, is a US Open Champion, and won the West Coast Bass Classic Championship on the Sacramento river.

“These guys will be pleasantly surprised as to how many good groups of fish the river holds as you can crank the wing dams and catch quality smallmouth and lots of spotted bass because these river fish like fast moving baits. Once you have a good limit on the main river, quiet sloughs like Verona, and those around and near Sutter bypass, and Sutter Slough may get you some big largemouths by tossing jigs to the shallow grassy areas and lay downs”.

Day 2 – The California Delta
What more can be said about the California delta. Over 1000 miles of sloughs, tules, rocky levies and ever-changing tides, have made it arguably the most prolific big bass fishery in the country – bar none. This fact could provide a “saving grace” for those that don’t catch a big bag on day one on the Sacramento River, as the delta can quickly produce a set of double-digit bass for anyone – at anytime, during a series of just a few casts.

So get ready everyone…as this year’s 10th anniversary of the Thunder Valley Outdoors/Future Pro Tour Classic event is sure to be challenging, exciting, and one that will help the tour stay congruent with its long -standing motto…”A Great Place to Learn”!

See you all at the Classic!
FPT

[basslayer]

This is going to be something totally different. I personally have never fished that part of the river for Bass. The possibility of catching all three species in a totally new environment is really exciting. With the Delta being on day two you've got a legitimate chance to win right till the end.

[fastcat]

Better put a southern boundry in place otherwise the small boat guys will be at a disadvantage too the guys running 45 min to the meadows. Then with 90 teams and limited good spots its gonna be tough.

[mrbassin0614]

When is this and where are they launching out of discovery?

[basslayer]

Discovery Park, Downtown Sacramento

[AnglersPress]

The biggest challenge is not trying to find the fish, as the Sacramento river is full of bass. The biggest challenge, for this field of anglers, will be for them to keep their heads in the game, and don't think about being un-familiar with the Sac River and wondering if there are fish in it.

Remember....a bass...is a bass...is a bass, and if they are in the river - which they are, you can catch them...if you do the work to figure them out.

As of this writing, a FPT Classic pre-fish show is being edited and will air on Oct 20th and Oct 27th to help all FPT anglers prepare for fishing the Sac River, and features what baits to use, how to read the water, dangers to look out for.... ending with some pretty good catches on the river.

The bottom line is that because virtually no one in this field ever fishes the Sacramento River, it creates about the most even playing field possible - for day one.

If you think you got it like that and you want to make a long run...it could prove to be a fatal mistake if you don't really know the river. Forget to factor in current flows, mis-calculate the times at which the locks at Walnut Grove open and close, or don't properly factor the gas consumption required to make a long run to hopefully fertile water, and you may be in for a very long and frustrating weekend.

So for you that think you are ready to test your skills or "move up" to FLW tour events - some of which are held on REALLY un-familiar waters such as the Columbia River, or Lake Havasu, this will be your chance to see how you would face down the challenges pro angler face at just about every tournament they fish!

FPT

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[mrbassin0614]

Could you please let us know when it will be out on air when you know. I would love to watch it!!!

[ash]

i am familiar with Havasu - just sayin

[SacRtrain]

This is a pretty cool idea. I live right at Discovery and fish the river every once in a while. The small mouth fishing is really good. You can go out and crank SM all day on a shad color squarebill that runs 2-4 feet. Just make sure you are hitting rap and you'll be good. The wingdams are always mentioned and do hold fish, but It might be hard to win on them alone due to the limited number and shear amount of boats. If you head north, Verona is legit when it comes to smallmouth. The Yuba is a prop killer so avoid that. Also, check the areas before the weirs around the Yolo Bypass. They usually hold lots of fish and I use a Flick shake on the clay banks there to get some better fish. If you head south, You can get into Steamboat and Elks at Courtland. Both are loaded but Elks has some bigger Largemouth as you head to Clarksburg. And if you go really deep and run to Walnut Grove, make sure you check your watch. Its longer than it looks. But as mentioned, the Meadows can be good, but small and easily fished out. If you do go to WG be aware of the 5 MPH Zones. Ive seen a Sheriffs boat writing tickets lately. And just food for thought, Hog is only 15 minutes from Wimpys.
Good luck guys and bring in some good weights that day. The better it goes, the more likely big tournaments will come to the city of trees.