Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

Hello,

Some of you know me as CHIEF and some of you know as the big indian guy you see at the tournaments. I am first of all not trying to upset or put anyone on the spot. I heard that some people were invited to fish this event and others waited out in the cold to have a chance to sign up. I just want to how they got picked or who picked them? I saw that anglers like Ed Guyette or Randy Crabtree and others were not on the list. These guys like myself have been catching big fish out of Casitas before they made the first wooden Castaic swim bait. I did not hear about this until I got back home from a tournament in Florida. I know you can't invite everyone but I think they could have made a better effort on this part. I would have liked a chance to sign-up, I don't think I rate an invite. But I know I have worked hard in the swim bait fishing world ,but if not I am sure some will tell me. Anyway I wish those anglers good luck.
Happy Holidays to all.
Mark "CHIEF " Torrez
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When this tournament was first announced I asked the same question and the answer surprised me at first; Tom who?
I realized that being a big bass fisherman, you tend to keep a very low profile unless you are into self promotion.
The fact that you may have caught hundreds of bass over 10 lbs and in my case several between 17 to 19 lbs on lures, doesn't help your cause when few people are not aware of you.
Jim Mason is a classic example of a local Casitas big bass expert that was over looked.
The selection process was more of a popularity listing of known swimbait fisherman, then big bass fisherman.
Should be good contest, weather permitting.
Tom

I understand and agree with most of the picks, i happen to know of some names of anglers that i only see sightfishing their big fish in the spring! I also feel alot of names that started the swimbait craze were left out. I am not saying this as a bitter comment. I sightfish and carolina rig a great majority of my monsters on a private lake, i am not a swimbait expert (only have 15 over ten on swimbaits)and hold no grudge against not being picked!
It should have taken a minimum of lets say 50 fish over ten caught on swimbaits to qualify, this should not be a popularity contest.

the info for the Tournament was on this site as well as the huddlston site for a while. Also the line at the BAT was not entirely for the HBC, some were there for the 6" hudds

those not on the "invite list" had an equal opportunity the sign up
for the event, yes a lot of people were not on there but there is no denying the list is great and full of monster catchers

with that I feel some thing must be clear...

Huddleston Deluxe is the Title sponsor for this great event, but this is not a SWIMBAIT TOURNAMENT, it could be won on a jig, 4" worm Etc....THIS NOT A SWIMBAT TOURNAMENT ONLY and Casitas is the first lake the event is being held but the next one will be at another lake...Clear lake, Santa margarita, maybe one of the San Diego lakes my point is this ..it will move

That way it give no one an edge.

if I am wrong than by all means correct me, no offence will be taken

I will be there as an observer.

by the way Mark, your reputation is well known and well deserved

if any one that feels they were left out and wants in, sign up for the next one.

I for one am excited about the event and will volunteer for as many as I can.

see you on the 25th.

As for Jim Mason, he is a casitas legend and was asked to fish but he declined...

See you the water

D.

What about Rick Butler and Joe Marquez? What about Ray Easley and the 21.20 he caught at Casitas in 1980? We all know someone that could have gotten invited but didn't. The reason not everyone knows all the big fish guys is simple: They are not in it for recognition, and frankly could probably care less if we knew who they were any way.

This type of event goes against what the "trophy" guys are after. They are consumed by the pursuit of big bass, not the publicity and PR machine that today's bass fisherman is looking for. They go fishing looking for one big bite, sometimes it takes weeks...sometimes it doesnt. But one thing remains the same, the glory hounds will still pound their chests and yell "look at me" while the rest go about their business catching big fish...whether they got invited to the HBC or not...

The incessant whining is driving me nuts...I cant wait until January 26th, and the day the bitching and moaning is over...

...or at least until HBCII is announced and it starts all over...god help us

What whining and bitching are you refering to? Mark was out of town when all of this ws going on. He just had a question.

Chris Koda

Hey Chief-

I haven't seen you around in a while, how did you do in Florida?

Yep, I know Chief and he isn't whinning. Truth be told he was out of town, in Florida, fishing the BASS Federation Nation Championship for a chance at going for the classic when this whole tournament was announced. I do agree with DL that alot of the big bass guys do keep it underwraps but we all know who they are and they should have gotten invited anyway. Like Shawn R said there should have been a set of citeria that was published that should have been met to get the invite.

Mark
Well said, Alot of us are on the outside looking in and would jump at the chance to do this. First post on this had alot of us thinking. But the next post had us up here driving 6 hours to maybe make the 50, and then some were invited. The one thing that is true. If you get the sponsors and do the work then you call the shots. And the rest of us can just find another lake to fish that day. Just remember who wrote the book

Hey Ron C, thanks for having the tourney. I know you will be spending hundreds of unpaid hours on it. Eric

hey rob,

hope you are doing well. e-mail me

Hey Chief, I'd remove your e-mail address when you get a chance. Programs called 'robots' constantly go around and collect them from the internet. Then folks sell them to 'spammers', you probably know what they are.

That is, unless you need more spam, we could all use some more of that, right?

Happy Ho, uh, Merry Christmas to all!

No where did I say Mark was whining, but it may have appeared I was talking about him due to the timing and thread I posted in. If Mark was out of town during the initial sign-up period, and someone felt he should be there, they should have called him. The fishing community is driven by hear-say and the telephone so someone should have at least called him if they felt he was left out(or at least to tell him about it)....and he could have decided on his own whether to call Ron, or send a delegate to the Bass-A-Thon to sign him up. The eligible angler list is endless, and the fact that Mark did not know of the event until he got home is unfortunate..

But it does not change the fact that half the people on this board are tired of all the rhetoric and bs that has come about since the HBC was announced.

Amen!

Ron C and Ken desire everyones support for putting this event on. The question was how did the contestants get selected and it's still a good question, no whinning intended.
Reading Don Paynes Western Bass article on Deep Water Structure fishing, reminds me of another name that could have easily fished this event and may have also been contacted.
The field is set and it should be a very good event and fun to follow how the series turns out.
Tom

I got invited. I know they wanted some guys up north that were just using swimbaits and doing well. Here I am. Plus I am known because I like to talk fishing. I feel I was invited for the fish I have caught in a short time ( Just over two years). I only night fished for 20 years for bass to keep away from the tournaments and day crouds untill I started using swimbaits. If I do well fine, if I don't fine But I am going big or going home I did not get here by dropshoting LOL!. I am in and going to injoy all of it win or lose. If you don't feel I should have been invited well guess what, I was in line at 3am anyway just to BS with the guys so I would have been in anyway. So no need to bash because ether way I was in. I do not feel in anyway AT ALL if I won that I am the best even if I won two of them. Just had a good day and things went my way. When things go your way you will do well anyway.
I wish everyone the best of luck on the 25th it is one tough lake.
Happy Holiday!
Thanks Ken and Ron C
Don.

Poopy pants!!

No Steve they are just wet LOL!!!!!

well said Don...I can't wait for you northern boys come down and show us your stuff...And we did have a good time hanging out at 3am shooting the sh@t at Bass-a-thon...

Give us a call when you are headed this way...

Have a merry x-mas and stick a donkey

Holla
D.

ditto...stick a merry xmas and have a donkey

hundreds of guys like me you never herd of could have won this thing.

Name: Joe Bruce

Age: 38

Hometown: Sonora, Ca.

Years bass fishing: 9

Three largest bass caught:
15.3 Lake: New Melones Bait: Hud rof16
13.9 Lake: Don Pedro: Bait: Hud rof 5
13.1 Lake: New Melones: Bait: BBZ Floater

Number of bass caught over 10 pounds: almost 30

Personal bass fishing accomplishment(s): 2 time Angler of the year Nor-Cal Bass, Won Bass, New Melones official Lg mouth record holder. 15.30 lbs. New Melones heavy 5 fish in a tourney 38.85 lbs. best 5, 44 lbs

Number of bass tournaments won: 9 Which tournament organization(s): Won Bass, Nor-Cal Bass, ABA, Mid-Cal Bass, Anglers Choice

Favorite bass fishing technique: Giant Top Water

Favorite lure: Hud ROF 0

Equipment used:
Rods: G Loomis
Reels: Shimano
Line: 15 lb seaguar yep every 10+ on 15 lb

Sponsors: jigs

Dang Joe, Are you butt hurt or what . Yes hundreds of guys could win it but only 50 can get in. I am not going down there for something to prove, maybe some are. I am going down there to be a part of something I love doing. You have a problem with who is in it?
You should have been in line with me Joe thats all it would have taken to get in , you knew that. right? LOL!!!!
Looks like your ego is eating at you posting that LOL!!!
Why try to belittle the ones that are in and make yourself look better from the side lines? Like I said you had just as much as a chance as anyone to get in, but you did not. Thats your fault.

I guess the Pedro swimbait tourney should be like a walk in the park for you then. LOL!!

Don.

My thoughts are that anybody with a rod and a bait could win. If I go down the lake and fish a spot for an hour with a drop shot I may not catch anything. The next person may use swim baits and cash in. As far as the selection for the fishermen, look at the number of people in California that catch big bass and fish tournys, and you try to figure out the best way to select them.

I say congratulations to the anglers who did get invited, as well as those who got in line and signed up at the Angler’s Marine Bass-A-Thon. After this first one, there will be more and the rest of us will have a chance to sign up. Selecting an “all-star teamâ€

Thanks Tony; I just wanted to be part of something big and new so like many others I was at the Bass-a-Thon all night to sign up. There were still slots open early in the AM so many of you could have been in line like Rob and Dave. I not only got to sign up but met new friends in the process. I will give it my best and have fun doing it,thats why I love this sport. Best to all who signed up.

Tony
I have nothing bad to say about Ron!! he is a stand up guy and does alot for this sport, or the 50 that are in this. Good luck to all. Just being up here it was not an option to drive 6 hours to sign up.
Maybe 150 or 200 names in a hat and draw 50 would have been a better way who knows its over now and a done deal.I know alot of names are not in. Alot of us are unknown because we don't fish tournaments any longer we fun fish, don't need to keep count or brag about how big. Just a big kiss and let her go. And yes I know the lake, I spent 17 years fishing it and was there when Ray got his big one. And if you know Randy ask him how big his pet under the dock is, Maybe we will have a shot at the next one. For now maybe Iwill look up Joe Sat. at Pedro and see who can get the big one

what ever happen to just chasing big *** green fish cause we like too...lets put the egos in check gents

Ron did a great job, bottom line is that no matter how he did it some one would not be happy...cant please every one.

lets not make some thing good for our beloved sport in to an ego
fest...we are all grown men ( some of us at least LOL!!)
lets just have fun and if your not in this one then get in the next one...invite or not.

Well said Darkman! Still got the purple doo?

John

way to go tony....reality check 101...i love it.

its turquoise...still sexy!!

imo there should have been a public poll on here to devise an invitation list with equal nor/socal guys and then had a sign up. This would have been easy seeings how the idea originated here and there are plenty knowledgeable local fishermen. Unfortunately for some marketability sometimes supercedes credibility. This is the reason I know some big bass guys up here stay away from tournaments,fish by themselves,and choose to not self promote. To each is own.

I hope this trail is a success however it plays out. I'm rootin' for quite a few norcal guys.

bassenvy wrote:imo there should have been a public poll on here to devise an invitation list with equal nor/socal guys and then had a sign up. This would have been easy seeings how the idea originated here and there are plenty knowledgeable local fishermen. Unfortunately for some marketability sometimes supercedes credibility. This is the reason I know some big bass guys up here stay away from tournaments,fish by themselves,and choose to not self promote. To each is own.

I hope this trail is a success however it plays out. I'm rootin' for quite a few norcal guys.

"Ron did a great job, bottom line is that no matter how he did it some one would not be happy...cant please every one. "

'nuff said

exactly...you cant make everyone happy...quit your crying people and focus on the big green beast we all love..

Turquoise? Dark and sexy, what will it be for the HBC? Maybe green in honor of the big green beasties these guys are going after. what do ya think? Thank you for keeping it real and direct, its nice to have levity. Ron, John and Ken put a lot of time and effort into this and it is to bad some (not you) are turning it into a whinefest. Get over it and support the idea...it is a great one.
BTW, it was nice to meet you at the BAT, I wish more people were as nice as you.

John

*NM*

I had no pain at all Don till I read your post and e-mail. it wasnt about you at all Don. Ill just act like I never read any of it cause I respect you and wasnt lookin for any drama.

hope you catch a giant and represent the north well.

*NM*

BULL $HIT!!! I don't buy it. Read it again. It sounded like another I am better then you too post to me. Kiss my A$$

Should we talk night tournaments and who placed where?

Don.

I never received an invite for the tourney in the mail at all and I feel I have a pretty good chance to place. I only take a few pictures of my bass

Mike L

RMARX wrote:, hell it could be won on a 2" reaper by a ( GASP) "worm" dragger!! !!

Wouldn't that be great? My PB of 16 came on a 4" purple phenom on 6 lb test.

Mike - Thats funny! You are the king for sure!!

Funny Doug!

not sure what was said here but Don I would have voted for you to represent the north. Don't let this forum throw you off your game. Use your experience and the focus you've aquired all these years.

Well I blew that edit so I will try again, I was just wondering how many guys would have a problem traveling 1000 miles to clearlake for the next HBC. I traveled 800 miles to see lake Casitas and got 13 mpg in my rig. With gas at 3.40 a gallon I was curious how many so cal guys would and could afford to take some time off work to travel to a one day no pre fish tournament. This post was edited as a statement was misunderstood, and the nature of my question was an informative on not ment to disapoint. To all of you from us at swimbaitcity.com happy holidays and may a big bite come your way in the spring to come

Don Osborne

Hey Don, I have been doing it for 10 years.

I've got a better one for you-I bet I have left my boat and trailer at the Sacramento Airport more times than any Northern angler has driven back and forth.

For example, I'll drive up to Shasta and fly back to LA twice in the next 10 days just so I can fish Shasta WON Bass and the Stren. I've done it for the Frog tournaments, Stockton BASS and several other events.

I do this at least 10-15 times a year. A turn around trip to the Delta, Shasta, Clear Lake, or Oroville isn't anything anymore. So much so that I run through trucks about every two years.

There are far more Southern guys fishing North than Northern guys fishing South. You are preaching to the choir bud.

Thats a great idea with the leaving the rig at the airport. I am a non tournament guy. I fish a couple a year. Being a single father of a 10 year old its tough for me. I was just curious to see just how guys do it. Thats all I wasn't barking up a tree. Its jsut soo expensive I thought it was an issue with a bunch of guys

Don Osborne

www.swimbaitcity.com