Chico State Bass Team emerging as strong contender
Last weekend's FLW-Stren professional bass tournament on Lake Oroville also featured the first-ever local appearance of the new spin-off National Guard FLW College Bass circuit. The college competition is a one-day version of what the pros do, and if anything the production quality of the event and careful handling of the fish exceeds the pros.
The top spot at Lake Oroville was taken by Washington State, with a six-bass total of 10 pounds, 9 ounces, earning them $10,000. The Chico State pairing of Mike Reis and Marshal Smith made a strong second-place showing at 9 pounds, 15 ounces for six bass, earning $5000. This latest performance is on top of Chico State's Matt Dixon and Spencer Moran nailing down the $10,000 first-place prize at Arizona's Lake Roosevelt back in April.
Earnings are split 50/50 between the school and the team. The competitors pay a $35 fee, and are required to have a valid fishing license for the specific waters. Competitors fish with one of the FLW pros who missed the "cut" after the first two days of the pro event. The pro is simply a boat driver, and is not allowed to "guide" the students in any way.
The Chico team's triumphs have contributed a total of $7500 directly to the school. Also purchased was better gear for team members, including an enviable arsenal of pro-quality rods from sponsor Dobyns Rods.
Team president Parker Moran [Spencer's brother] and teammate Jimmy Sweeny finished with a respectable catch of 8-3. Moran said, "We caught our fish on dropshot-rigged two-inch Roboworm Prism Shad, fished in the indentation of creek channels of every cove. We probably released 20 fish each. Depths were anywhere from three feet to 20 feet."
Moran added, "This is an awesome event and a lifetime opportunity. It's a great chance to get our guys into the sport at a high level."
Additional Chico State Bass Team members in the Lake Oroville competition included: Bryce Hayes, Dan Clayton, Bastian Golladay, and Allison Shaw. Other schools represented: University of Oregon, University of Nevada Reno, Arizona State, Sacramento State, Sonoma State, UC Davis, San Jose State, Boise State, Cal Poly SLO, Oregon State, and Fresno State.
Sacramento River trout
Trout anglers plying the stretch of river between Redding and Anderson are doing well, but need to exercise extreme caution, reported local guide Kevin Brock. "Whenever the flows are over 7000 cfs, going under the Cypress Bridge is closed to boats", warned Brock. "Fishing has been fantastic lately, and virtually nobody is up there. On average we are releasing about 30 fish per day. Most are in the 16 to 18-inch range, with a few 20 to 22-inchers......
Stripers, sturgeon and shad are all being caught on the Sacramento River, reported Phil Peeples at the Tackle Box in Chico. "The sturgeon fishing is just OK" remarked Peeples. "Striper fishing is mostly slow, people are spending more time looking for them than they are fishing for them. If you find a pocket of fish, it can still be good.
"Below Colusa, the stripers are hitting on live minnows, and from Princeton to Butte City they are hitting on topwaters. Nothing......
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