Borofka bags 32-1 to claim lead
Monster 10-pound kicker anchors biggest limit of event
LAKEPORT, Calif. – While the trend on most bass fisheries is to see weights drop after day one in multiple-day events, then again, Clear Lake isn’t your average fishery. Day two of the EverStart Series Western Division on Clear Lake showcased some of the largest bags of the event, including a 32-pound, 1-ounce bag that boosted Jason Borofka into the driver’s seat to start the final day.
Borofka could hardly sleep last night knowing that day two was a new day that brought a good chance of catching a big bag. He had left some places alone on day one and held back on some fish, so he was eager and ready to see what the full potential of his bite was.
“I really just did a lot of the same things that I was doing yesterday,” said Borofka. “I was kicking myself a little for holding back yesterday, but I got back on my same rotation today and it paid off.”
After catching 23-4 on the first day, Borofka’s 32-1 from today helped provide a two-day total of 55-5 and a mere 1-5 lead for tomorrow.
Though it was an incredible day on the water for the Salinas, Calif., resident, it wasn’t without a few bumps in the road.
“Well, first thing this morning I ran to a point and fired a cast,” the Ranger pro explained. “When I got bit and set the hook I must have trapped a wasp between my shirt and neck because I got stung instantly. Surprisingly, I didn’t lose the fish.
“I have been covering a lot of water both days trying to hit as much stuff as I can. At one point today I stopped to help jump a fellow angler who had a battery issue. I didn’t think much of it but when I went to start my motor up a little while later I heard my low voltage beep. I got it started, but that is when I decided to run back up north and fish close to the takeoff just to be safe.”
Before Borofka left the south end he managed to box the biggest fish of the tournament – a 10-9 beast.
“I hooked that big one on some pretty light line and it was way out on the end of my cast. When it came up to jump I looked back at my co-angler and asked if he saw that thing. My co told me it was the biggest fish he had seen so I got real nervous. It got to the boat and was jumping back by the motor and running me around, but once she was in the boat I just started screaming and yelling. That made me forget all about my sore neck from being stung.”
Due to his battery problem and deciding to run back north Borofka targeted shallow grass for the remainder of the day. He caught two 6-pounders to help cull a few 3-pounders providing some key upgrades late in the day.
He is fishing around 15 spots on the south end of the lake but may plan on hitting the north end tomorrow based off of what he saw today. All week he has utilized a one-two punch of a shallow and deep bait – something he plans on continuing to do.
“I plan on doing the same thing tomorrow where I will run south to start. But after what I saw today, I may need to come back north a little earlier. It’s a timing thing, but who knows if they will bite. Whatever happens, happens. I’m just happy to be where I’m at.”
Bailey up to second
Being a local in an event can often be a curse. In the case of Paul Bailey of Kelseyville, Calif., it is paying off. Bailey caught 25 pounds, 2 ounces on day one to sit him tied in sixth place. Today, Bailey hauled in 28-14 to grab second place with a two-day total weight of 54 pounds – just 1-5 off the lead.
“Yesterday I wanted to head to the south end and fish two community holes that I knew had some good fish,” said Bailey. “I threw a Huddleston Deluxe swimbait all day yesterday to catch that 25 pounds. I changed it up today and stayed north to check on some schooling fish. I lost three right away that were all over 5 pounds. The first one I landed in the boat was a 7-pounder. It took 45 minutes to catch the bag I weighed and I left them biting. There is a bunch more fish in that school and I don’t think I hurt them at all.”
After putting nearly 29 pounds in his livewell, Bailey spent the rest of his day trying to get his co-angler on some fish.
“I don’t know if those fish will bite or not tomorrow. All I can do is go out there and try.”
Jordan in third
Jody Jordan of Vacaville, Calif., got off to a good start by catching 23 pounds, 12 ounces on day one. Day two had Jordan weighing one of five bags to break the 28-pound mark with a stringer of bass that tipped the scales at 28-11. His two-day total weight sits at 52-7 and locks him in third place for the final round.
“I got to my spot this morning and there was nobody on it which really surprised me,” said Jordan. “I sat there all day and caught fish throughout most of it. I only caught about eight fish today, though I did lose a few that I think could cost me.”
Jordan had his limit by 11 a.m. and made one final cull with 40 minutes left in the day. His primary area has received a lot of pressure this week but he is hopeful that he can work more of his spot tomorrow.
“The only thing that concerns me is that we have an earlier takeoff time which means we have to come in earlier. My fish really bite better in the afternoon.”
Newby moves to fourth
After being tied with Paul Bailey on day one, Jason Newby of Bakersfield, Calif., moves up a few notches to fourth place with a two-day total of 50 pounds, 10 ounces. Newby has shown to be one of the more consistent anglers by weighing two 25-pound bags each day.
“I have just been hitting a lot of spots,” said Newby. “It’s a timing deal but I haven’t really got that dialed in yet.”
Newby is throwing reaction baits like crankbaits and swimbaits to do most of his damage. Though, he does note that some of his key fish have come from G Money jigs.
Aside from being consistent, Newby has also fished clean so far as he has not lost a fish.
Hines rallies to fifth
Billy Hines of Vacaville, Calif., sat in 19th place yesterday with 21 pounds, 5 ounces. He improved upon that with 27-10 today to give him an overall weight of 48-15 to help him round out the top five.
Hines fished a big tournament on Clear Lake last weekend so he didn’t bother to prefish this week, in fact, he didn’t really plan on fishing the EverStart.
“I stayed off the lake this week so my fish wouldn’t get beat up,” said Hines. “I was undecided about fishing this tournament but then my sponsor Gone Fishin’ Marine helped me out and said I should fish it. So here I am.”
Hines is throwing two baits and fishing an area that is about the size of a 40-foot circle.
“I culled a 5-pounder today and basically stopped fishing for two hours. I really just wanted to protect my spot from the other boats that were in the area. It should be better tomorrow with fewer boats on the lake.”
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top-10 pros after day two:
6th: Mike Krnaich of Petaluma, Calif., 48-15
7th: Bryant Smith of Castro Valley, Calif., 48-7
8th: Michael Tuck of Granite Bay, Calif., 47-15
9th: Joe Uribe Jr. of Lake Forest, Calif., 47-14
10th: Jeff Michels of Lakehead, Calif., 46-14
Ray wrangles co-angler lead
Dante Ray of Sparks, Nev., jumps out to an incredible lead after catching a 24-pound, 6-ounce limit today. Added with his 19-6 from day one, the Nevada co-angler has an overall total of 43-12 and a 13-6 lead heading into the last day of competition.
“The morning bite was a lot better for me today than it was yesterday,” said Ray. “I had my limit by 8:30 and culled throughout the day.”
Ray has been using an Atomic Custom Baits Pot-Bellied Shad to do most of the damage this week. He said that the fish he has been catching are very spot specific. These are places he has noticed from each day on the water and feels comfortable that he can replicate it.
“I probably caught 14 or so fish today, but the thing is they aren’t rats. They were all 3- or 4-pounders. It was a blast.
“I feel great about tomorrow. Hopefully I will have a pro that is fishing in a way that suits what I have been targeting. I am just blessed to be fishing. I have been so close to winning before and I really want to seize the moment.”
Christopher Dixon of Granada Hills, Calif., moved into the second spot for the co-anglers with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 6 ounces. He weighed 11-8 on day one and 18-14 today.
Jordan Kunde of Palo Cedro, Calif., brought in four fish weighing 12 pounds on day one and followed that up with an 18-1 limit today. His overall weight is 30-1 to give him third place for the co-anglers.
Gayle Janes of Bermuda Dunes, Calif., sits in fourth place with a two-day total weight of 29 pounds, 9 ounces.
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers is Kevin Marcheschi of Santa Rosa, Calif., who caught 22 pounds on day one to sit in second place. Marcheschi weighed just one bass for 7-7 on day two to bring his total for the week to 29-7, enough for fifth place.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers after day two:
6th: John Stewart Jr. of Glendale, Ariz., 28-6
7th: Richard Crine of Anaheim, Calif., 27-15
8th: Nick Nourot of Benicia, Calif., 27-10
9th: Spencer Moran of Carmel, Calif., 27-2
10th: O’Neal Martin of Roseville, Calif., 25-10
Anglers will take off from the Konocti Vista Casino Resort and Marina located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport at 7:00 a.m. Weigh-in will be held at the Konocti Vista Casino Resort and Marina beginning at 2:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.