LAKEPORT, Calif. — In a tournament dominated by offshore prespawn bass, there is one angler doing something completely different at one of the nation’s premier largemouth fisheries. Brent Shores is junk fishing on Clear Lake. To the educated bass fisherman that strategy just does not add up. The prevailing pattern should be staging bass on cover just outside the shallow coves. That’s how many of the top anglers are fishing, but not the leader from Idaho. Even so, the leaderboard tells the truth. Shores moved from eighth place to take the lead with a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 2 ounces. Going into tomorrow’s final round his two-day total is 39-14.
The Boise Bass Busters angler realizes his lead isn’t secure. In second place with 38-8 is Davick Hansen of Utah. Behind him is fellow Utah angler Mike Lavallee with 37-0. Considering where Shores was yesterday makes a dark horse coming from behind the pack entirely possible. Shores already claimed one prize in this tournament. With the lead comes the Livingston Lures Leader Award and its $250 cash bonus. Should Shores win tomorrow, he advances to the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship set for this fall. The overall tournament winner and leaders from the other 10 states in the competition advance to the championship.
Junk fishing is the go-to pattern when all other tactics fail to produce. It requires strong patience, intense focus and the willingness to use multiple lures and techniques. Shores’ lineup of lures includes swimbaits, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, and even a Carolina rig. He’s using a different lure presentation with each bait.
“It took all of it to fill out the limit,” he admitted.
KC Stone, who today fished with Shores, went along with the junk fishing approach. It worked for him, too. Stone is 26th overall but his weight for today was 20 pounds. Yesterday, he didn’t weigh a fish.
“The fish are moving and it takes baits with different actions to get their attention,” added Shores. “Tomorrow might be completely different and require me to change up again.”
Today’s results also showcased Clear Lake’s top shelf status among the nation’s bass fisheries. Several double-digit weight fish were caught. Adam Gross led the pack with a largemouth weighing 11 pounds. Two more fish weighing 10 pounds were weighed and several more near the mark. Ironically, by all standards the lake is not performing as well because of postfrontal conditions.
California maintains its lead in the state competition with 228-2. Washington follows with 217-7 and Utah is third with 214-15. Idaho is fourth place with 214-9 and Oregon is fifth with 207-3. The winning state team will be awarded a Triton 189 TRx rigged with Mercury outboard, Lowrance electronics and a MotorGuide trolling motor. The complete package is valued at $39,000.
Another competition is brewing in this diverse event. High School teams are competing in a friendly competition alongside the adults. The teams already are state champions and will fish in the Costa Bassmaster High School Championship. The idea is for the youth to gain experience at a high-level event.
Clear Lake - Konocti Vista Casino - Clear Lake, CA
4/8/2015 - 4/10/2015 STANDINGS ANGLER DAY 2
# Live # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz PTS
Accumulative
Name City, State # Fish Lbs - Oz
1 Brent Shores Boise, ID 5 5 22- 2 10 10 39-14 0
2 Davick Hansen Clinton, UT 5 5 14-13 10 10 38- 8 0
3 Mike Lavallee Sandy, UT 5 5 18- 5 10 10 37- 0 0
4 Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO 5 5 17-11 10 10 35- 4 0
5 Jason Hemminger Oxnard, CA 5 5 29-12 7 7 35- 3 0
6 Kory Ray Lebanon, OR 1 1 4-13 6 6 33-14 0
7 Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT 5 5 17- 3 9 9 33- 0 0
8 Tim Rawlings Malad City, ID 5 5 17-14 10 10 32- 7 0
9 Kim Pfaff Deer Lodge, MT 5 5 16- 0 9 9 30-13 0
10 Mark "Chief" Torrez Camarillo, CA 0 0 0- 0 5 5 30-10 0
11 Mike Coleman Pinoeer, CA 5 5 15-14 10 10 30- 7 0
12 David Kromm Kennewick, WA 3 3 9- 7 6 6 29-12 0
13 Clint Johanson Benton City, WA 5 5 16- 5 10 10 28- 5 0
14 Robert Peixotto Albuquerque, NM 5 5 12- 8 9 9 27- 7 0
15 Justin Campbell Pasco, WA 4 4 12-11 7 7 26- 7 0
16 Mark Hilyer Libby, MT 3 3 15- 8 5 5 26- 0 0
17 Levi McNeill West Valley, UT 3 3 11- 4 8 8 24-15 0
18 Mark Lassagne San Ramon, CA 3 3 5-10 8 8 24-14 0
19 Brian Day Margarita, CA 5 5 21- 2 6 6 24-13 0
20 Steven Wilson Rohnert Park, CA 2 2 13- 0 4 4 24- 8 0
21 Josh Ragan Rathdrum, ID 1 1 1-11 6 6 24- 6 0
22 Addam Gross Cove, OR 3 3 14-13 5 5 24- 3 0
23 Kevin Ford Eugene, OR 2 2 9- 4 7 7 23- 9 0
24 Jeremiah Smith Denver, CO 5 5 12-12 9 9 23- 9 0
25 Tony McCalmant Post Falls, ID 4 4 11-10 7 7 20- 7 0
26 KC Stone Pleasant View, UT 5 5 20- 0 5 5 20- 0 0
27 Nicholas Fitzsimmons Lyle, WA 3 3 6- 9 8 8 19-14 0
28 Lane Coale Grand Junction, CO 3 3 8- 7 7 7 19-13 0
29 Jeremy Kimberling Rathdrum, ID 2 2 8-12 6 6 19-13 0
30 HS-OR Steigman - DeGree Redmond, OR 5 5 19-12 5 5 19-12 0
31 Bill Golightly Preston, ID 5 5 14- 5 8 8 19- 7 0
32 Mike Dominick Alberton, MT 2 2 9- 8 6 6 19- 7 0
33 Stephen Pike Las Vegas, NV 3 3 19- 5 3 3 19- 5 0
34 Chris Lambert Olympia, WA 5 5 16- 3 6 6 19- 4 0
35 Jesse Milicevic Henderson, NV 3 3 10- 5 6 6 18-13 0
36 Kenny Hansel Los Alamos, NM 1 1 7-15 5 5 18-11 0
37 Keith Truett Brownsville, OR 1 1 8-11 6 6 18-11 0
38 Don Dethloff Coeur d Alene, ID 1 1 4-11 6 6 18-10 0
39 Jeremiah Hofstetter Aurora, CO 1 1 3- 4 6 6 18- 8 0
40 Chase Ratchford Kennewick, WA 3 3 10-13 6 6 18- 8 0
41 Todd Woolard Salem, OR 5 5 13-11 7 7 18- 2 0
42 Jason Hickey Weiser, ID 2 2 8- 8 4 4 17-14 0
43 Gene Batey Jr. Pasco, WA 3 3 14- 8 4 4 17- 5 0
44 HS-AZ Sendek - Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 5 16- 6 5 5 16- 6 0
45 Keegan Graves Meridian, ID 0 0 0- 0 4 4 16- 6 0
46 Franco Vallejos Albuquerque, NM 2 2 5- 1 7 7 16- 5 0
47 Dusten Stewart Roy, UT 5 5 16- 2 5 5 16- 2 0
48 HS-ID Kropp Hickey Weiser, ID 3 3 16- 2 3 3 16- 2 0
49 Tim Myers N Las Vegas, NV 4 4 10-12 6 6 15- 7 0
50 Zackery Shaff Richland, WA 1 1 6- 1 3 3 15- 4 0
51 Nick Wood Yreka, CA 2 2 6- 4 4 4 15- 4 0
52 Andrew Sayles Galt, CA 1 1 5- 0 3 3 14-15 0
53 Joe Cole Coalville, UT 3 3 11- 6 5 5 14-14 0
54 Ellison Hubbard Las Vegas, NV 1 1 4-15 4 4 14- 5 0
55 Bret Felter Malad City, ID 2 2 4-11 5 5 13-10 0
56 Mitch Ratchford Kennewick, WA 1 1 1- 0 6 6 13- 2 0
57 Tony Lind Auburn , WA 4 4 8- 3 5 5 12-12 0
58 Harrison Bertsch Rathdrum, ID 5 5 10- 9 6 6 12-11 0
59 Becca Golightly Preston, ID 2 2 4- 3 4 4 12- 8 0
60 Michael Gibney Gresham, OR 1 1 9- 3 2 2 12- 3 0
61 Nick Boehme Logan, UT 0 0 0- 0 4 4 12- 2 0
62 Jason Hooper Salem, OR 1 1 1- 1 5 5 12- 0 0
63 Tim Roberts Green River, WY 3 3 8- 7 4 4 12- 0 0
64 Steve Lund Glendale, AZ 4 4 8-11 6 6 11-12 0
65 Patrick Davis Henderson, NV 3 2 8- 9 5 4 11-12 0
66 HS-WA Lack - Oldenburg Cheney, WA 5 5 11- 8 5 5 11- 8 0
67 Andy Bravence Globe, AZ 2 2 3-15 6 6 11- 6 0
68 Pat Hanning Tucson, AZ 2 2 9- 2 3 3 11- 5 0
69 Dejon Lewis Ventura, CA 3 3 5- 3 6 6 11- 3 0
70 Dan Jordan Camas, WA 1 1 3- 1 5 5 11- 0 0
71 Lee Thomas Green River, WY 1 0 2-11 4 3 10-15 0
72 Tate Brown Heber, UT 0 0 0- 0 2 2 10-12 0
73 Sidney Reeves North Ogden, UT 3 3 8- 5 4 4 10- 4 0
74 Ethan Peterson Post Falls, ID 1 1 10- 1 1 1 10- 1 0
75 Ron Mace Kennewick, WA 2 2 8-13 3 3 10- 1 0
76 Stan Fisher Trout Creek, MT 2 2 4-10 5 5 9-10 0
77 Matthew Antonich Post Falls, ID 2 2 7- 0 3 3 9- 9 0
78 Derek Phillips Castle Rock, CO 0 0 0- 0 4 4 8-14 0
79 Joe Joseph Camarillo, CA 1 1 3-12 3 3 8-14 0
80 Doug Gaskill Las Vegas, NV 1 1 3-10 2 2 8-13 0
81 Dave Cole Heber, UT 1 1 4- 3 3 3 8-13 0
82 Kenny Oldham Coalville, UT 2 2 6- 5 3 3 8- 6 0
83 David Bertsch Harrison, ID 4 4 8- 5 4 4 8- 5 0
84 Travis Whitney Kennewick, WA 2 2 3- 6 4 4 8- 3 0
85 Steve Hammond Famington, NM 2 2 6- 3 3 3 8- 2 0
86 Justyn Palmer Coeur d Alene, ID 0 0 0- 0 2 2 7-15 0
87 HS-MT Garrison - Cooper Thompson Falls, MT 3 3 7-14 3 3 7-14 0
88 Dave Lee Mesa, AZ 1 1 2-15 3 3 7-12 0
89 Matt Durham Las Vegas, NV 2 2 7-11 2 2 7-11 0
90 HS-UT Zabriskie - Burn Murray, UT 2 2 7-10 2 2 7-10 0
91 Mandy Myers Santa Quin, UT 3 3 7- 6 3 3 7- 6 0
92 Matt Peters Las Cruces, NM 2 2 4- 0 3 3 7- 6 0
93 Chris Rockwell Morrison, CO 1 1 4-12 2 2 7- 0 0
94 Jake Cook Pasco, WA 2 2 3- 2 3 3 7- 0 0
95 James Miller Jr Tucson, AZ 2 2 6-13 2 2 6-13 0
95 Connor Santos Colorado Springs, CO 2 2 6-13 2 2 6-13 0
97 David Mays Portland, OR 3 3 6- 9 3 3 6- 9 0
98 Dominic Amato Las Vegas, NV 1 1 1- 6 3 3 6- 9 0
99 Dave Nichols Mesa, AZ 1 1 4- 6 3 3 6- 7 0
100 Chad Phillips Thornton, CO 1 1 4- 5 2 2 6- 0 0
101 Dee Rounkles Jr Ogden, UT 2 2 3-14 3 3 6- 0 0
102 Robert Satterwhite Lakewood, CO 0 0 0- 0 2 2 5-15 0
103 Paul Martinez Jemez Springs, NM 1 1 5-15 1 1 5-15 0
104 Kevin Wiggins Las Vegas, NV 2 2 5-10 2 2 5-10 0
105 Curtis Spindler Missoula, MT 0 0 0- 0 1 1 5- 8 0
106 Johnny Johnson Farmington, NM 1 1 2- 2 3 3 5- 7 0
107 Gene Mestas Henderson, NV 2 2 4- 1 3 3 5- 0 0
108 Tom Lugibihl Missoula, MT 2 2 3-14 3 3 4-15 0
109 David DiDomenico Boulder, CO 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4-14 0
110 HS-NM Clark - Bradshaw Waterlfow, NM 2 2 4-11 2 2 4-11 0
111 Kevin Melford Camarillo, CA 2 2 4- 9 2 2 4- 9 0
112 Don Collins Kalispell, MT 1 1 2- 0 2 2 4- 6 0
113 Randy Okubo Evanston, WY 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 3 0
114 Cody King Island City, OR 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3-15 0
115 Lance Cathcart Peoria, AZ 1 1 3-13 1 1 3-13 0
116 Bubba O'Neill Evanston, WY 2 2 3-11 2 2 3-11 0
117 Gerald Croy Tucson, AZ 2 2 3-10 2 2 3-10 0
118 Randell Bell Elephant Butte, NM 1 1 2- 6 2 2 3-10 0
119 Brian Hanson Sutherlin, OR 0 0 0- 0 1 1 3- 7 0
120 Robert Christensen Wallace, ID 1 1 2- 4 2 2 3- 7 0
121 Tyler Ivie Hooper, UT 1 1 1-12 2 2 3- 2 0
122 Gary Collins Moorpark, CA 2 2 2-14 2 2 2-14 0
123 Brian Bolander Scottsdale, AZ 1 1 2- 6 1 1 2- 6 0
124 Jon Webb Centennial, CO 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 5 0
125 Rodney Leon Sahuarita, AZ 1 1 2- 2 1 1 2- 2 0
126 Joshua Baker Rathdrum, ID 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 1 0
127 Billy Dunson Farmington, NM 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15 0
128 Dustin Christensen Wallace, ID 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-12 0
129 Tory Thomas Rock Springs, WY 1 1 1-11 1 1 1-11 0
130 HS-CA Gomez - Gomez West Sacramento, CA 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Michael Grande Las Vegas, NV 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Joe Griffin Tucson, AZ 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Paul Hemsley North Las Vegas, NV 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Chad Hullinger West Valley City, UT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Bob Lechel Los Alamos, NM 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Joe Ramirez Bayard, NM 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 William Sasek Vail, AZ 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Timothy Sutton Great Falls, MT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Herb Turner Westminster, CO 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 HS-NV Ebert Wilkin Pioche, NV 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
130 Mark Williams Los Alamos, NM 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0
Name City,State Lbs-Oz
1 David Kromm Kennewick, WA 9-12
2 Addam Gross Cove, OR 11- 0
TOTALS
Day # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 268 268 834-13 19
2 292 290 960-12 22
3 0 0 0- 0 0
# Fish
TEAM STANDINGS DAY 2
Today's Activity Accumulative
Name # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1 CALIFORNIA 31 31 113- 0 60 60 228- 2
2 WASHINGTON 40 40 122- 0 68 68 217- 7
3 UTAH 38 38 120-12 65 65 214-15
4 IDAHO 28 28 102- 7 60 60 214- 9
5 OREGON 26 26 97- 7 62 62 207- 3
6 MONTANA 26 26 85-13 49 49 156- 5
7 COLORADO 18 18 58- 0 47 47 138-15
8 WYOMING 23 22 68- 2 44 43 121- 7
9 NEVADA 22 21 76- 4 36 35 113- 5
10 NEW MEXICO 18 18 52-12 36 36 99- 9
11 ARIZONA 22 22 64- 3 33 33 83-12