BULLFROG BASIN, Utah - Ten very happy anglers took the stage at the BASS Federation Western Divisional Friday after winning berths in next spring's Federation Championship.
Before he weighed in, Arizona's Dave Mehalechko fidgeted next to a holding tank, estimating whether his final catch would be enough to help him finally beat Utah Federation angler Jim Bishop of Grand Junction, Colo. Although both anglers were all but guaranteed berths in the Federation Championship, Mehalechko wanted to be the best angler in the west.
"When the scales close, that's when it's done," he said. "Right now, I have a chance to beat Jim and, if I do that, that would be so awesome. He's such a good fisherman."
Bishop struggled slightly on the third day, bringing in only four bass weighing 5-13 and said the day had been a battle. He spent the tournament flipping Pepper Hawg Jigs and spinnerbaits, using colors from chartreuse to black in order to tempt Powell's bass.
"We tried some holes," he said. "They didn't work out."
When Mehalechko's 7-14 proved 7 ounces shy of Bishop's 27-7 benchmark, Mehalechko was philosophical.
"Well, we all knew Jim was the angler to beat on Lake Powell," he said, swiftly turning his focus to his championship berth. "But I'm ready. Let's leave now!
"I've been (to the amateur world championship) before, so I wanted to come back and do it again," added Mehalechko, who topped his closest Arizona competitor by 6 pounds, 2 ounces. "I'm very excited that I came back and did it. Last night, I was dreaming about it."
The tournament's $13,000 prize purse will be divided among the state teams, based on their anglers' cumulative catches. The eventual distribution of the prize money is determined by each state's Federation. Arizona finished in last place, but Mehalechko said all of his team's share of the prize purse goes directly back to the state Federation's coffers.
"We're just fishing for a spot at the championship," he said, beaming.
Mehalechko, an insurance salesman for AIG from Glendale, Ariz., and Bishop, the owner of Jim Bishop Painting, will be joined by Oregon's Dave Palmer, an electrician; California's Mike Rold, a soils technician for Wallace Kuhl and Associates; Colorado's Joe Conway, a general contractor with Ty-rex Construction; Brent Shores, a television host from Idaho; immunologist Jay Evans of Montana; New Mexico's Bob Lechel, an environmental scientist with Los Alamos National Labs; Washington's Paul McKenney, an auto mechanic with Quick Auto Clinic; and University of Wyoming electrical engineering major Tyler Swaney.
New Mexico's team walked away with top honors in the event after catching a cumulative 214-2, and will take home the largest portion of the prize purse.
The other much-coveted prize was also awarded Friday after Marco Rodriguez of Nyssa, Ore., brought in a 6-pound, 10-ounce lunker that became the Purolator Big Bass of the Tournament. Rodriguez, an Idaho Federation team member, said the $1,000 from Purolator is earmarked for a new trolling motor.
2004 BASS Federation Western Divisional 05/16-05/21 Lake Powell, Bullfrog Utah Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown (Fed.) No/lbs-oz Winnings 1 Jim Bishop Grand Junction, Colo. 14 27-07 2 David Mehalechko Glendale, Ariz. 15 27-00 3 Brent Shores Boise, Idaho 15 25-02 4 Dave Palmer Roseburg, Ore. 15 24-09 5 Dan Jordan Lebanon, Ore. 15 23-15 6 Joe Conway Security, Colo. 15 23-09 7 Jerry Schlief So Jordan, Utah 15 22-14 8 Robert Lechel Santa Fe, N.M. 15 22-08 9 Paul McKenney Chelan, Wash. 15 22-05 10 Troy Meckert New Plymouth, Idaho 15 22-04 11 Tyler Swaney Craig, Colo. 15 21-11 12 Mark Roberts South Jordan, Utah 15 21-05 13 Don Knecht Los Alamos, N.M. 15 21-01 13 Michael Rold Elk Grove, Calif. 13 21-01 15 Don Boeger Caldwell, Idaho 15 20-15 15 Ted Gardiner Vernal, Utah 15 20-15 15 Bill Golightly Preston, Idaho 15 20-15 18 Chuck Brinkman Wickenburg, Ariz. 15 20-14 19 Ruline O'Neill Evanston, Wyo. 15 20-12 19 Shane Shafer West Haven, Wyo. 15 20-12 21 Ronnie Red Fresno, Calif. 15 20-11 22 Jay Evans Corvallis, Mont. 15 20-10 23 Larry Hardy Mesa, Ariz. 15 20-07 24 Troy Coburn Centennial, Colo. 15 19-15 24 Donald Connole Helena, Mont. 15 19-15 24 Ronald Mace Kennewick, Wash. 15 19-15 27 Phil Strader Glide, Ore. 15 19-10 28 Daniel Batinich Canyon Lake, Calif. 15 19-07 28 Joe Ramirez Bayard, N.M. 15 19-07 30 Dusty Womack Caldwell, Idaho 15 19-03 31 Bruce Harris Oakdale, Calif. 15 19-01 31 Casey Wayne Welch Arvada, Colo. 15 19-01 33 Johnny Johnson Farmington, N.M. 15 19-00 34 Dave Gerhardt Durango, Colo. 15 18-14 34 Eric Inman Saratoga Springs, Utah 15 18-14 36 Danny Nelson Bloomfield, N.M. 14 18-13 36 John Turner Yuma, Ariz. 15 18-13 38 Sean Hinton Morrison, Colo. 15 18-12 38 Thomas Mulliken Walnut Creek, Calif. 11 18-12 40 Harold Summers Monroe, Wash. 15 18-10 41 Larry Triplett Parker, Colo. 13 18-09 42 Marco A Rodriguez Nyssa, Ore. 12 18-08 $1,000.00 43 Kenny Hansel Los Alamos, N.M. 14 18-07 43 Curtis Kimbell Kennewick, Wash. 14 18-07 45 Donnie Cox Colorado Springs, Colo. 15 18-03 46 Stan Fisher Trout Creek, Mont. 14 18-01 46 Steve Perkins Whitefish, Mont. 15 18-01 48 Jason Archibald Herriman, Wyo. 15 17-15 49 Steve Bell Elepha Butte, N.M. 12 17-14 50 Greg Pink Montrose, Utah 15 17-13 50 Franco Vallejos Albuquerque, N.M. 14 17-13 52 Bob Bjorklund Centennial, Colo. 14 17-11 53 Rebecca Golightly Preston, Idaho 15 17-08 54 Sean Andrachick Marion, Mont. 13 17-06 55 Jeff Boyer Auburn, Wash. 15 17-01 56 David Stachowski Tucson, Ariz. 15 16-15 57 William Bravence Tucson, Ariz. 15 16-14 57 Rick Correa Sherwood, Ore. 14 16-14 57 John Hayes Albuquerque, N.M. 15 16-14 60 Willie Reed Missoula, Mont. 14 16-13 61 Danny Peluso Waterford, Calif. 14 16-12 62 Ron Gilworth Socorro, N.M. 15 16-09 62 Curtis Spindler Missoula, Mont. 14 16-09 64 Larry Krueger Colorado Spgs, Colo. 15 16-08 64 Dee Rounkles Ogden, Utah 12 16-08 66 Jim Armstrong Missoula, Mont. 13 16-07 67 Don Allphin Provo, Utah 11 16-06 67 Nick Guadagnolo Manteca, Calif. 15 16-06 67 Daniel Hedrick Hillsboro, Ore. 14 16-06 70 Dave Phillips Boise, Idaho 13 16-04 71 Gene Batey Pasco, Wash. 15 16-03 72 Sal Gervasi Canyon Lake, Calif. 15 16-02 73 Don Hull Mead, Wash. 14 16-00 74 Ken Riska Havre, Mont. 15 15-12 75 Rick Hoover Lagrange, Calif. 14 15-09 76 Timothy Venkus Wilton, Calif. 11 15-08 77 Ernie Johnson Albuquerque, N.M. 14 15-06 77 Robert Riehl Tracy, Calif. 15 15-06 79 Jeffrey Colwell Windsor, Calif. 13 15-04 80 Ken Elvsaas Snoqualmie, Wash. 14 15-01 81 Boyd C Golightly Preston, Idaho 10 15-00 82 Don Simper Baycity, Ore. 13 14-14 83 Tom Melowitz Grand Coulee, Wash. 14 14-13 84 Orville Alleman Cornelius, Ore. 14 14-12 85 Julian Auman Trout Creek, Mont. 12 14-11 86 Gary Sparks Green River, Wyo. 12 14-10 87 Michael King Pendleton, Ore. 13 14-08 88 Shane Baertsch Lolo, Mont. 11 14-07 89 Tracey Platz Nampa, Idaho 11 14-05 90 Jeff Rubin Tempe, Ariz. 14 14-04 91 Ben Gross Kingman, Ariz. 10 13-08 92 Kirk Bain North Bend, Wash. 12 13-06 92 Bret Felter Malad, Wyo. 12 13-06 92 Trace Myers Provo, Utah 10 13-06 95 John Gardner Durango, Colo. 13 13-04 95 Kory Ray Lebanen, Ore. 11 13-04 97 Nick Witkowski Arlington, Wash. 9 13-03 98 Fred Estes Psot Falls, Idaho 10 12-13 99 David Mays Portland, Ore. 12 12-12 100 Rob Romey Hayden, Idaho 14 12-10 101 Rod Rasmusson Rock Springs, Wyo. 11 12-08 102 David Albrecht Evanston, Wyo. 11 12-03 103 Steve Rezek Prescott Valley, Ariz. 11 11-13 104 Marty Hansing Antioch, Calif. 10 11-11 105 Mike Bozner Rock Springs, Wyo. 12 11-07 106 James Lee Thompson Portland, Ore. 11 10-12 107 Forest Graham Bellinghame, Wash. 9 10-11 108 Randy Ray Pierson Grand Junction, Colo. 9 10-07 109 David Herrera Aztec, N.M. 10 10-06 110 Curtis MacFee Blft, Idaho 8 9-12 111 Chuck Holland Wickenburg, Ariz. 10 9-10 112 Jim Muck Roseburg, Ore. 10 9-09 113 Dana Ingalls Marysville, Wash. 8 9-06 114 Rick Jeffries Marion, Mont. 9 9-04 115 Troy Bell Mesa, Ariz. 8 9-02 115 Rodney Hurst Santa Quin, Utah 9 9-02 117 James Miller Tucson, Ariz. 5 8-01 118 Randy Di Domenico Boulder, Colo. 8 7-13 119 Steve Johns Kaysville, Utah 6 7-09 120 Craig Bailey North Salt Lake, Utah 7 6-11 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Marco A Rodriguez Nyssa, Ore. 6-10 $1,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 90 530 675-04 2 82 519 655-13 3 85 521 658-13 ---------------------------------- 257 1570 1989-14 TEAM STANDINGS DAY 3001 NEW MEXICO 214-02 $4,100.00 002 COLORADO 207-07 $2,250.00 003 CALIFORNIA 206-06 $1,500.00 004 IDAHO 202-12 $1,000.00 005 WYOMING 200-03 $825.00 006 MONTANA 198-00 $725.00 007 UTAH 192-13 $600.00 008 OREGON 191-13 $500.00 009 WASHINGTON 189-01 $350.00 010 ARIZONA 187-05 $250.00 INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS DAY 3 NEW MEXICORobert Lechel Santa Fe, N.M. 15 22-08 Don Knecht Los Alamos, N.M. 15 21-01 Joe Ramirez Bayard, N.M. 15 19-07 Johnny Johnson Farmington, N.M. 15 19-00 Danny Nelson Bloomfield, N.M. 14 18-13 Kenny Hansel Los Alamos, N.M. 14 18-07 Steve Bell Elepha Butte, N.M. 12 17-14 Franco Vallejos Albuquerque, N.M. 14 17-13 John Hayes Albuquerque, N.M. 15 16-14 Ron Gilworth Socorro, N.M. 15 16-09 Ernie Johnson Albuquerque, N.M. 14 15-06 David Herrera Aztec, N.M. 10 10-06 COLORADOJoe Conway Security, Colo. 15 23-09 Troy Coburn Centennial, Colo. 15 19-15 Casey Wayne Welch Arvada, Colo. 15 19-01 Dave Gerhardt Durango, Colo. 15 18-14 Sean Hinton Morrison, Colo. 15 18-12 Larry Triplett Parker, Colo. 13 18-09 Donnie Cox Colorado Springs, Colo. 15 18-03 Bob Bjorklund Centennial, Colo. 14 17-11 Larry Krueger Colorado Spgs, Colo. 15 16-08 Jeffrey Colwell Windsor, Calif. 13 15-04 John Gardner Durango, Colo. 13 13-04 Randy Di Domenico Boulder, Colo. 8 7-13 CALIFORNIAMichael Rold Elk Grove, Calif. 13 21-01 Ronnie Red Fresno, Calif. 15 20-11 Daniel Batinich Canyon Lake, Calif. 15 19-07 Bruce Harris Oakdale, Calif. 15 19-01 Thomas Mulliken Walnut Creek, Calif. 11 18-12 Danny Peluso Waterford, Calif. 14 16-12 Nick Guadagnolo Manteca, Calif. 15 16-06 Sal Gervasi Canyon Lake, Calif. 15 16-02 Rick Hoover Lagrange, Calif. 14 15-09 Timothy Venkus Wilton, Calif. 11 15-08 Robert Riehl Tracy, Calif. 15 15-06 Marty Hansing Antioch, Calif. 10 11-11 IDAHOBrent Shores Boise, Idaho 15 25-02 Troy Meckert New Plymouth, Idaho 15 22-04 Don Boeger Caldwell, Idaho 15 20-15 Dusty Womack Caldwell, Idaho 15 19-03 Marco A Rodriguez Nyssa, Idaho 12 18-08 $1,000.00 Dave Phillips Boise, Idaho 13 16-04 Don Hull Mead, Wash. 14 16-00 Boyd C Golightly Preston, Idaho 10 15-00 Tracey Platz Nampa, Idaho 11 14-05 Fred Estes Psot Falls, Idaho 10 12-13 Rob Romey Hayden, Idaho 14 12-10 Curtis MacFee Blft, Idaho 8 9-12 WYOMINGTyler Swaney Craig, Colo. 15 21-11 Bill Golightly Preston, Idaho 15 20-15 Ruline O'Neill Evanston, Wyo. 15 20-12 Shane Shafer West Haven, Wyo. 15 20-12 Jason Archibald Herriman, Wyo. 15 17-15 Rebecca Golightly Preston, Idaho 15 17-08 Dee Rounkles Ogden, Utah 12 16-08 Gary Sparks Green River, Wyo. 12 14-10 Bret Felter Malad, Wyo. 12 13-06 Rod Rasmusson Rock Springs, Wyo. 11 12-08 David Albrecht Evanston, Wyo. 11 12-03 Mike Bozner Rock Springs, Wyo. 12 11-07 MONTANAJay Evans Corvallis, Mont. 15 20-10 Donald Connole Helena, Mont. 15 19-15 Stan Fisher Trout Creek, Mont. 14 18-01 Steve Perkins Whitefish, Mont. 15 18-01 Sean Andrachick Marion, Mont. 13 17-06 Willie Reed Missoula, Mont. 14 16-13 Curtis Spindler Missoula, Mont. 14 16-09 Jim Armstrong Missoula, Mont. 13 16-07 Ken Riska Havre, Mont. 15 15-12 Julian Auman Trout Creek, Mont. 12 14-11 Shane Baertsch Lolo, Mont. 11 14-07 Rick Jeffries Marion, Mont. 9 9-04 UTAHJim Bishop Grand Junction, Colo. 14 27-07 Jerry Schlief So Jordan, Utah 15 22-14 Mark Roberts South Jordan, Utah 15 21-05 Ted Gardiner Vernal, Utah 15 20-15 Eric Inman Saratoga Springs, Utah 15 18-14 Greg Pink Montrose, Utah 15 17-13 Don Allphin Provo, Utah 11 16-06 Trace Myers Provo, Utah 10 13-06 Randy Ray Pierson Grand Junction, Colo. 9 10-07 Rodney Hurst Santa Quin, Utah 9 9-02 Steve Johns Kaysville, Utah 6 7-09 Craig Bailey North Salt Lake, Utah 7 6-11 OREGONDave Palmer Roseburg, Ore. 15 24-09 Dan Jordan Lebanon, Ore. 15 23-15 Phil Strader Glide, Ore. 15 19-10 Rick Correa Sherwood, Ore. 14 16-14 Daniel Hedrick Hillsboro, Ore. 14 16-06 Don Simper Baycity, Ore. 13 14-14 Orville Alleman Cornelius, Ore. 14 14-12 Michael King Pendleton, Ore. 13 14-08 Kory Ray Lebanen, Ore. 11 13-04 David Mays Portland, Ore. 12 12-12 James Lee Thompson Portland, Ore. 11 10-12 Jim Muck Roseburg, Ore. 10 9-09 WASHINGTONPaul McKenney Chelan, Wash. 15 22-05 Ronald Mace Kennewick, Wash. 15 19-15 Harold Summers Monroe, Wash. 15 18-10 Curtis Kimbell Kennewick, Wash. 14 18-07 Jeff Boyer Auburn, Wash. 15 17-01 Gene Batey Pasco, Wash. 15 16-03 Ken Elvsaas Snoqualmie, Wash. 14 15-01 Tom Melowitz Grand Coulee, Wash. 14 14-13 Kirk Bain North Bend, Wash. 12 13-06 Nick Witkowski Arlington, Wash. 9 13-03 Forest Graham Bellinghame, Wash. 9 10-11 Dana Ingalls Marysville, Wash. 8 9-06 ARIZONADavid Mehalechko Glendale, Ariz. 15 27-00 Chuck Brinkman Wickenburg, Ariz. 15 20-14 Larry Hardy Mesa, Ariz. 15 20-07 John Turner Yuma, Ariz. 15 18-13 David Stachowski Tucson, Ariz. 15 16-15 William Bravence Tucson, Ariz. 15 16-14 Jeff Rubin Tempe, Ariz. 14 14-04 Ben Gross Kingman, Ariz. 10 13-08 Steve Rezek Prescott Valley, Ariz. 11 11-13 Chuck Holland Wickenburg, Ariz. 10 9-10 Troy Bell Mesa, Ariz. 8 9-02 James Miller Tucson, Ariz. 5 8-01