American Bass

Region: Delta, CA

Director: Lee Hines

Call (916) 759-8948

Off Limits: None

We blasted off 40 boats this morning, in beautiful weather conditions. Looking out over Frank's as I called boat numbers mad me wish I was fishing!!

Our forty boat field included back to back winners Andy "Cooch" Cuccia and Dan Deneen, as well as the father of Flippin, Dee Thomas with his team partner.

I sent the 40 boats out at 6:54 a.m. with the first of three flights due in at 3 p.m. There was some speculation about weights today and soon those speculations were laid to rest.

Dee and his partner weighed in first and set the bar at 21.88 pounds with a 5.96 pound big fish. This weight, as well as other close weights, would fall soon after.

The team of Jim Stich and Dan Fonte weighed in a 33.30 pound bag that included a 9.26 pound kicker that landed them solidly in first place. A short time later, the team of Larry Vignolo and Bob Panella brought their bag to the scales and everything changed. Larry and Bob weighed in 5 fish for 34.14 pounds and this did NOT include a fish that qualified for any of the big fish money. They had a solid 7 pound average bag that netted them almost $1500.

In second place was the team of Stich and Fonte, who netted almost $1300 for their day, which included the #3 big fish at 9.26 pounds.

In third place with a bag of 30.80 pounds was the team of Mike Tuck and James Huffmon, which included the 4th biggest fish at 9.05 pounds. Their efforts netted them over $800.

In fourth with a very respectable 28.43 pounds was the team of Brian Roland and Michelle Garrigan, whose weight also included a 9.01 pound big fish that took 5th in the Big Fish option.

If fifth place, fishing alone and able to shoulder the load, was Mike Andrews with a 25.53 pound sack that included the big fish of the tournament which weighed in at 10.18 pounds.

In sixth was the team of Jonathan and david Koehler, whose 24.73 pound bag netted them $217.

Rounding out the paid field was the back to back winning team of Andy "Cooch" Cuccia and Dan Deneen. Their 24.57 pound bag included the #2 big fish of the tournament at 10.08 pounds. Their efforts netted them $350.

I want to thank all the teams that participated in our event today and hope to see all of you and more at the April 13 ABA team tournament at Russo's Marina. Checkin will open at 4:45.

Good Fishing!!