OAKLEY, Calif. – Like the pro winner, Saso, co-angler Reese Randall of Payson, Ariz., had to fend off one mighty big bass Saturday to win his first EverStart Series tournament. Randall accumulated a 10-bass weight of 33 pounds, 14 ounces over the last two days and won $4,200.
But it wasn’t easy. Pat Wilson of Petaluma, Calif., came in with a 9-pound, 8-ounce kicker and made a push for the title. However, Wilson fell short with a two-day, 10-bass total of 30-2 and finished second behind Randall.
“Oh, man. When he pulled out that 10-pounder, I stumbled a little bit,” said Randall, a 32-year-old general contractor. “I thought he had me.”
Randall, who also led Friday, was consistent – and versatile – all week. He caught his limit Saturday fishing with Saso using a variety of baits ranging from Zoom Brush Hogs to spinnerbaits, crankbaits and Roboworms on a drop-shot.
“I caught two and three fish on five different baits every day,” he said. “It’s all about adapting to your pro. I caught all five of my keepers today on five different baits.”
Wilson, who also finished in the top five last month at Clear Lake, credited his pro partner for his big day.
“Today I fished with Gary Howell,” said Wilson, who collected $2,800. “Obviously, the guy’s on some fish or I wouldn’t have caught that big one.”
Third place for the co-anglers went to Judy Chaney of Tucson, Ariz., for a final tally of 10 bass weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces. She took home $2,150.
“I’m excited. How could I not catch fish fishing with Gary Dobyns?” she said.
Co-angler Kirk Beardsley of Huntington Beach, Calif., finished fourth with 10 bass weighing 19 pounds, 9 ounces. He collected $1,820.
James Gross of Kingman, Ariz., finished fifth for the co-anglers and earned $1,640 with 10 bass weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finishers at the EverStart California Delta are Kyle Clement of Anderson, Calif., with a final-round total of 10 bass weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce (6th place, $1,380); John Alimpic of Angwin, Calif., with 10 bass weighing 16-5 (7th, $1,280); Gary Wilson of Tracy, Calif., with nine bass weighing 14-3 (8th, $1,180); Roger Mezenen of North Ogden, Utah, with five bass weighing 13-4 (9th, $1,080); and Matt Lowery of El Cajon, Calif., with six bass weighing 12-9 (10th, $980).
Coming up
This concludes the 2004 Western Division. The top 30 pros and 30 co-anglers in the year-end standings have qualified for the 2004 EverStart Series Championship to be held at Lake Cumberland near Burnside, Ky., Nov. 3-6.
The next EverStart Series event is an Eastern Division contest at Lake Guntersville near Guntersville, Ala., May 19-22.