Determined to reach the Peak

Charles Peak knows how to win as co-angler: determination

OROVILLE, Calif. – If it wasn’t for the fact that he’s 66 years old, Charles Peak of San Jose, Calif., says he might consider turning pro. In his second season as a co-angler in the Stren Series, Peak picked up the second win of his young career Saturday on Lake Oroville.

The tournament didn’t start as very promising for Peak, as he found himself in a four-way tie for 29th place after day one. But the 7-pound, 11-ounce weight he pulled that day was his smallest of the tournament. On day two he brought 10 pounds, 8 ounces to the scales and moved into second place, then iced the deal with an even 9 pounds Saturday, which was the heaviest weight caught by any co-angler that day.

Peak won $2,905 plus a Ranger boat and trailer. He already was calculating how to spend the money in the minutes after the weigh-in. Or, more accurately, his wife was.

“At first I thought this would go for a leather sofa,” Peak said. “But that’s coming out of our tax refund. My wife is working on this one now. But I think I can keep the boat.”

Peak has a simple tournament philosophy: Young guys have stamina, old guys have determination.

“You can’t give up,” Peak said of his on-the-water demeanor. “A lot of people start to fade about noon. But you got to hang in there to the last second. Your last cast and first cast have to be the same.”

No doubt Peak will be determined to win again when the series moves on to the California Delta on May 28.