BETHEL ISLAND, Calif. (May 5, 2005) - Pro Thanh Le of El Cajon caught a two-day total of eight bass weighing 39 pounds, 8 ounces to lead round one of the EverStart Series Western Division bass fishing tournament on the California Delta. This tournament is the fourth and final Western Division event of the season, and the top-40 pros and co-anglers in the season-ending points standings advance to the $1 million EverStart Series Championship on Pickwick Lake Nov. 2-5.
Although the weather has not been ideal during the tournament, anglers have enjoyed huge catches, especially considering weights are based on a four-bass limit. Wednesday saw two 10-pounders caught, and Thursday saw more giant California bass brought to the scale. Shane Morgan of Palmdale caught the Snickers Big Bass in the Co-angler Division - an 11-pound, 5-ounce monster largemouth worth $205. The fish ranks in the top-10 heaviest bass ever caught in FLW Outdoors events.
Le - winner of the last EverStart Series Western Division event on Lake Mead - is having a fantastic season. By making the top-10 cut, Le is the Western Division points champion. Le's lowest finish this season was at Clear Lake in March where he placed 21st.
"I really didn't expect to finish as the points champion," Le said. "It feels really good.
"I've used three main baits this week - a 7-inch Senko, Sweet Beaver and a frog. I'm using 20-pound fluorocarbon for the Senko and Sweet Beaver and 65-pound braid for the frog. Most of my fish are postspawn, but I did catch a couple big fish today on beds."
Rounding out the top-five pros are Bobby Barrack of Oakley (eight bass, 37 pounds, 3 ounces); Dewayne Bonham of Brentwood (eight bass, 36 pounds, 7 ounces); Steve Sapp of Manteca (eight bass, 36 pounds, 4 ounces); and Ron Colby of Page, Ariz. (eight bass, 36 pounds, 1 ounces).
Rob Riehl of Tracy caught a 9-pound, 15-ounce lunker largemouth to win the day's Snickers Big Bass award for the Pro Division and earn $625. Leroy Bertolero of El Macero caught a two-day total of eight bass weighing 33 pounds, 3 ounces to maintain his lead in the Co-angler Division.
"I've been fortunate to draw two pros that fit my style," Bertolero said. "I live an hour from here and fish the Delta 60-70 days a year. I practiced nine of the 12 days before the tournament, and I practiced techniques that I would use as a co-angler. I've caught all my fish on a Super Spook or swimbait 3 to 6 feet deep in open water."
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Ryan Brown of Orting, Wash. (eight bass, 31 pounds, 6 ounces); Steve Sepulveda of Modesto (eight bass, 29 pounds, 5 ounces); Lance Dudley of Phoenix, Ariz. (eight bass, 27 pounds, 5 ounces); and Gary Haraguchi of Half Moon Bay (eight bass, 26 pounds, 8 ounces).
Anglers caught 1,113 bass Thursday weighing 2,821 pounds, 14 ounces.
EverStart Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 10 pros and co-anglers - based on two-day accumulated weights - advance to the final round. Anglers start at zero Friday, and pro and co-angler winners are determined Saturday based on two-day accumulated weights.