Chris Zaldain wins 2005 Clear Lake Pro Kickboat Open with a little over 21lbs. Chris Youlden take's 2nd and I squeeked into 3rd. Congrats Chris's on a job well done. Full results will be p
Lets here your reports.

Great job to Chris! You're a superstar waiting to happen. Now hurry up and get a boat!

Anyway, also have to thank John and his crew for a wonderfully run tournament and efficient raffle. Had a great time and wish I could have stuck around for the awards ceremony.

My brief report:
Day 1 - Lucerene - started at Nice and rowed my way back. Not a thing. Only 1 fish that was 12 7/8". No way I could stetch it out to 13. x(

Day 2 - M&M - Fun. Found a fun flipping and senko bite. Caught close to 4 limits of fish but only managed 10lb 6oz. Couldn't get on the bigger bite. Oh, well. Made up for the day before!

Anyway, great job to all those who caught fish and nice to hang out with everybody once again. Hope to see everyone soon.

Todd
http://www.bassanglerprofiles.com/toddiwamoto.htm

Hey thanks alot guys. First off, I want to thank John, Paul, Mitch, and Zelenka for putting on the biggest BNT event to date and kept it smooth as always. Thanks to the sponsors who also made this event possible. Here's my report:

I didn't get to Clear Lake until about midnight friday night, the whole way up I knew I was going to fish Lucerne the first day. I really haven't spent much time in Lucerne but decided to just go fish. As we blast off, I start working the obvious structure (docks,trees,etc.) while kicking towards Nice. I started off with reaction baits like rips, traps, and spooks for about the first hour...no love. With the weather warming up, Clear Lake's spawning period is about to bust loose, I thought I would look shallow and poke around in places I knew fish spawn. As the sun came out that morning, I went back into some areas way in the trees and brush and found myself a HUGE aquarium. There where fish everywhere! but not all bass, there were carp, bluegill, some crappie, and hundreds and thousands of shad. At this point I found my first bedfish, a small 2lb. male locked on a nest. Something I thought was really interesting was the fact that this fish was bedding up in this little cove filled with shad, there where huge clouds of shad constantly swimming over the bed and right in front of his nose...he didn't care at all. I pitch a 4 inch roboworm at him a couple of times and he eats it, first fish in the box. At this point I told myself I can run this pattern and hope to spot a couple of big females. I found two creeks that were loaded with bedding fish but all males, saw some big girls but they were still deep and not willing to get into bed :( . I ended up with a limit of male bedfish that was good enough for first place in my group the way the bite was going. I weighed 8+ lbs.

Day 2 was an exciting day, I heard about all the big fish that were up so I decided to stick with my bedfishing pattern. The weather wasn't quite the same as saturday, we had wind, clouds, and some rain that got me a little worried. I started off with a good 30 min. row, get to my spot and started with a frog and a beaver, got a limit within the first 20 minutes, alot of flip fish. I wasn't getting anything big so I put on the polarized glasses and went bed hunting, saw beds everywhere, some had nothing on them, some had males on them, and some had a pair on them. At about 9 o'clock I spot a pair way back in the sticks, 4lber and 8lber. the 4 was locked on and not moving, the female was kinda just swimming around the area, swimming up, going down, it was frustrating. I work on the 8lb female for 2 hours without pitching once at the male.(the reason the female would come up was because of the male) I gave up on her and the first pitch to the male, whack, in the box. With 2 hours left I start my row back, I get to the campground with an hour remaining, start looking around at all the beds, all males. I spot a 3.5 lber with 40 min. remaining, I got him to eat the 6inch roboworm twice before I poked him with the hook, The fish got me all wrapped up in the weeds and a crossbar of a dock, almost lossed him but culled a 2 pounder instead . I ended the day with 13+ lbs. and a total of 21+ lbs. for the win. I wish we had a couple of days of nice weather, we would have seen some donkeys weighed in. I had a great time on the water with you guys, hope you learned something, I can't wait for the next open.

Congratulations on your win Chris and thank you for the detailed report. I certainly learned something from it and maybe can do better next year. Question though: How in the name of Ned do you stand up on your kickboat? A couple of us were talking about it after the awards and theydid not think you had a standing platform on your boat. If I tried to stand on mine I would be in the water in no time.

Buzzfish

Congratulations Chris - nice job :)

Standing in the kickboat ... hehe.

Hey Rob, where's that pic of you standing on your kick? I looked and couldn't find it.

Way to stick'em bro, good job.


After watching Chris in action before i decided to be brave and stand up on my boat. It's really not as hard as people say, especially in the VV. I haven't done it with water in my well yet, still figuring out where to set the frame for my big ass.

cz

Here's one of the pics (Paul jokingly photoshopped the boat to be camo but its a real pic).

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/3044.jpg

Nico showed me this boat where you can get a casting deck add on for it which I thought was pretty cool

http://a1460.g.akamai.net/f/1460/1339/6h/www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/31/66/66/i316666hz03.jpg

"It's not over 'til the fat lady spawns..." or something like that.

Friday pre-fish
Got on the water in Lucerne around 11:00. Water was calm, sun was already beating down. Saw tons of fish (good ones, too) suspended in the tules and under docks. Hard to catch those guys, though. Managed to boat a couple of 1.5# fish slow-rolling the Terminator. Also noted the location of a few bed fish for tourney day. Overall pretty tough bite.

Saturday
Day 1 draw in Lucerne. Although conditions (apparently) havn't changed, the suspended fish are all gone. Who knows where they went? After slow-rolling, carolina-rigging, drop-shotting, cranking, flipping, brass-n-glass, senkos, darthead, and everything else in my box, I finally put one in the boat with a white tube pitched into a bed. Nice fat fish, only about 14" but it weighed almost 2.5#. Nothing else to go with it that day. Back at the weigh-in they read off the top ten -- 10th place was 8 or 9#'s, so I'm not real hopeful. The only bright spot is on Sunday the field switches places (guys from Lucerne fish the Keys, and vice-versa).

Sunday
The wind howled all night and showed no signs of letting up. This is good news for guys fishing the Keys, but bad news for the guys heading to Lucerne. I start out fishing one of the 2 entrances to the Keys, figuring all the fish moving up have to pass through those openings. After awhile I give up and head back into the keys, mostly flipping and throwing a senko. I suck trying to flip out of the kayak! A couple of boats go by and everybody is throwing frogs, so I tie the closest thing I had (a Mann's rat). I get a blow-up within about 10 minutes. I pitch the senko back in as a follow-up bait and fish on! I'm using my drop-shot pole, which is very wimpy, and I only have 8-lb line. Luckily the fish heads for deep water and I just let it get tired swimming around. 4#er in the boat! I throw back in, figuring this was a bed fish and there's another one back there. Get snagged up x( and move in to retrieve it. Sure enough, I spook a good fish. Decide to give it a rest and come back later. Move around to the other side of the dock and get another blow-up on the rat. Havn't fished topwater for a while, so I jerk the bait out of it's mouth before it takes it all the way. x( Can't get this fish to go with another bait. I head way down to the bottom of the Keys to look for more frog water and as I pass M&M I see the wind pushing into the sparse tules out on the main lake. My gut tells me that the fish will position in front of the tules waiting for the wind to blow the bait to them. I pull up on a tule point and first cast nail a non-keeper on the blade. Second cast puts a 1.5# fish in the well...starting to feel like I made the right decision. Probably 10-15 minutes later, fish-on! This one jumps and looks good. I try to lead it out away from the tules but it gets wrapped up! :o I move the boat over the top of it and thank goodness it comes free. Another 4# in the well. One more to go for my 4-fish limit. Maybe an hour of covering water later, and I get my limit fish (2#) on the blade, all slow-rolling. At weigh-in, I'm pleasantly surprised with 4th place! :7

Good job to Chris, Chris, & John plus kudos to the BnT staff & sponsors for a great show! :-)

the godfather

Great job and report Chris! That is some serious talent! I just wanted to thank all the BnT guys for a great time. Awsome first trip to Clear Lake (even though I blanked both days, I did learn alot). I will definitly be back next year and I'll be trying to make it to the Delta Open in July...

Congrats Chris and thanks BnT!!

Bryan Vogt

Great job chris! I had an awsome time as well and actually caught a bunch of fish from thursday to sat. :7 sunday was a different story as I was fishing lucerne.I did manage 1 fish but was a very frustrating day x( I wish there was some rock piles out in that area!
I would just like to thank all the guys who run these things(ya know who ya are) it seems every year is better than the last :7 :7
Agin I learned alot and maybe it's starting to sink in :o :+
Swampy

Solid work Chris, it takes a lot to pull the biggest limit from where you fish both days in a row. Way to be on point. This is my second BNT event, and like the first one I attended, you guys organized it real nice. Great job to all involved.

Dave Pham

Go big or go home.

good job chris.i only had one fish in the basket out of the 2 day up there

day 1: lucerne got none but i found one bed fish i tossed a black and red flake madman crawdad tube with black brass an glass x( the crawdad was to big for him to swallow but he was relly p.o.d . then i cast a rattle trap at a dock the stupid thing broke in two


day 2: m&m is where i cagut my keeper fish. i went to the frist slough got a bite on a senko in shallow to se if it was a bed fish,it was not a bed fishit was a stupid 4 inch bullfrog. so i moved up the slough to some lily pads or some thing like that so i swicth to a black side by side buzzbait by persder. bam!! got my keeper. I had no will-e-go board so i went down to some guys fishing out of a boat the fish was only a milimeter over 13 inchs.it only was 1.2 pounds but it was fun to catch.

p.s lake hook me up with a swimbait rod and next year lets have the open at state park and koncti :)

Guess I'm not so surprised with Mr. Zaldain on top; he's been a threat in any tournament he fishes! Mr. Youlden, glad to see you puttin' it all together. And John, I'm bettin' you have some bed-time tales to share, as well -- I'm sure there're some woulda/coulda/ shoulda situations that otherwise might've put you in that top slot!

C'mon, John, tell us a story! :+


(hopin' I can make it to the next one!)

- jeff

-----------------------
Every day Congress convenes, we lose a little more of our LIBERTY!!!

(-- Mark Levin, radio-show host/KSFO 3-6pm)

Thanks to everyone who put on this Tourney. This was a great time. Had some great things to raffle off. That St. Croix was a kick ass rod. Caught all of my fish Sunday on it. Thanks again....

So after the Tourney was over, Jake, myself and Chris Youlden decided to go back out and make a big lap in the keys again. I found alot of males all in about 6-18" of water. Sighted fished 1 fish but the female wouldnt go. I ended up with 8 during the afternoon trip biggest going 2lb13oz. I think Jake ended up with 4-6. Chris Youlden ended up getting a couple biggest going 5lb13oz(where was that fish in the tourney?).

Thanks again that was a killer weekend!!!!! Jake had a good time floating around with you

Daniel

http://www.calfishing.com/dc/user_files/3650.jpg

Attachment #1, (.jpg file)

LMAO! Funny you picked THAT photo. :+ }(

Congrats to Chris Z, Chris Y, and Lake for the top 3. Everything ran smoothly even with the separate launches and weigh-ins. Great job by BNT staff. Lake's day 2 catch at Lucerne was amazing, considering how much everyone struggled there both days.

Day one at Lucerne sucked. x( I managed only 2 little keepers plus a 12 7/8 incher much like Todd's, all on the dropshot off docks. I saw lots of keepers cruising in the tules and in a creek mouth but they wanted none of what I was offering. Weighed in 2 for 2lbs 9oz. Had a great time that afternoon and evening hearing about all the fish caught at M&M...NOT! You guys just wait 'til you have to fish Lucerne tomorrow. }(

Day two started off crappy with just missed bites for the first 3+ hours. Finally around 9:30 started to catch some fish flipping a sweet beaver into weeds close to retaining walls and posts. Had a limit of 2-2.5 pounders and was culling within an hour. I picked up another clone 2+ lber in a little hole in the weeds and flipped again into the same hole and got what must be his girlfriend and she's a fat one over 3.5lbs. Got a few more fish that didn't help and weighed in 4 for 11lbs 5oz. End up with 13lbs 14oz for two days which is tied for 5th place with Scott Beem. Ties are broken by whoever weighed in the biggest fish and Scott gets 5th and I get 6th since I didn't bother to weigh my biggest fish. I'm very satisfied with my finish after doing so bad on day one. Clear Lake has been tough for me in the past.

Doug

Way to slay Chris. I'll see ya at the Delta in a couple of weeks.

Day 1, I fished the sloughs and had a blast flipping and catching. First thing in the morning an old dude in a bass boat helped me out by pointing out that I should be flipping write on the shore, so I did and nailed fish. I need a net now as I could have culled a few small ones if I only had a net. I used jigs and pigs and Wood SAC's craws as trialers.

Day 2, I had to fish that other place. I caught nothing, 0, zippo, nada. I had a blast doing it some how and I learned a ton on day # 2.
Thanks John and B-N-T as you guys turned me on to a great tourney. I was glad to see every one again too.

P.S. I think I might be going back this Saturday for a little flipping action if the weather is good.

Rich

Fish fear round tubers and Bass Tech kickboats!!
http://www.bassanglerprofiles.com/richcaro.htm

I wasn't sure how this split field was gonna work because of the weigh-ins being divided. But now that all is said done, I love it.
It forces guys to find fish BOTH days instead of just sitting on one pattern in one area for the entire two days.
I started day one in Lucerne racing Chris Z out of the marina. }( A hint of things to come. I started throweing my own crankbaits and a buzzbait cuz I can't resist 'em. Nada. Later I flipped a grove of trees with a beav and got a couple bites but couldn't sink a hook. Later I resorted to the dreaded 4" M.M., wacky rigged on a dropshot. It resulted in 3 fish for 5 lb 9 oz.
Once we discovered what was going on in the Keys I knew the guys going to Lucerne were gonna have it tough. The wildcard though, was the size of the fish in the north end. Someone could pull up on a dock and find it loaded with fat chicks. Tourney over.
I woke up feeling really good. I've been fishing well this year. The weather looks like it will be a bigger advantage for me than I thought. Yeah, I'm friggin' STOKED.
Again Chris Z. and I race off leading the pack of kickboats & tubes into the Keys. He was the guy to beat.
I found a great looking key and stuck a limit with Senkos by 7am and a double limit by 8 but was only able to cull once. Then for some strange reason, I never got bit again.
I finished with 10 and some change for the day and over 16 pounds for second place.

It's really nice to finally add a small trophy of my own to my grandfathers collection of tourney trophies from the 70's.

Chris

I think I'm gonna go up to Clear Lake again this week and practice some sight fishin. You KNOW it's gonna be good! :7

Just an FYI for you guys planning on going up this weekend...A/C Pro/Am will be going on. Make sure to save some big fish for Russ since he's fishing on the PRO side!

Get 'em Russ!

Todd
http://www.bassanglerprofiles.com/toddiwamoto.htm

hey ya fellaz I got a chance to see some of yall out
there this weekend. Ive havent got a chance to fish any toneys becaues I dont have any wheels but plant to soon. when i gat the chance. I wend up there with a jmy buddy jess and my GF ann amd we stayed in the old keys.I was really tiked off when i found out out i was there for the same weekend as thetourney. But any ways on sat mornign me and a local guy the mame of terry (from the keys) started in the keys about 6:00 to 8:30 terry started with a sweet bever/brush hog with a texas rigged 3/8 to 1/2 oz texas tex rigged producking a 2 fish about 1.9 and 2.4.pitching over a docks and DEED into weed pockets. I didnt get any love just some short srtikes on the bever untill we headed to the main lake to the farside of ratle snake island where I stuck a 2.4 on the drop shot. after abouta hout we headed back to the kets for a lil brak. later that evening me and terry hit up the mew keys for a bout a 2 hrs on thebass boat. he stcuk a nice 6 lber and i was fust left with some short strikes on the bever tedxxas rigged with my 3/8 oz florida screwin bullet and jig n pig. When getting back to oure dock in the older keys I find out my gf stuck a 7.2 on a pedal boat on a drk blue senko with purple flake.
On sunday me my buddy and terry head out to the new keys for a short morning trip for about to
the new keys terry strted out with a nic hrs.terry started out witha 2.1 lber on a bever texas rigged fisihg really deep in the weeds and me 0 for about 5 strikes SKIPPING under docks and DOCK CABLES aftesom breakfast me my budy and my gf went out agin. This time I was in my watterskeetr day tripper floatube and my gf and
my buddy in a pedal boat. As i was setting up my gf stuck a nice 2.2 from the pedal
boat before i could even geta chance to finish seting up. I know one of yall guys followed her cleanup same spot abut 2min later and stuck a what looked to be 3lb min in a yellow kick boat i think it was a watter skeeter. right after in the same sot nice fish. so after that i finnaly got my float tube out and i followed up my gf and my buddy
jess in the pedal boat. It started to rain but the bite never fell off in the new keys my buddy landed 2 dinks and my gf landed 3 bass on senkos and a few nice crapie on small cranks. At this time i was feeling kinda bad as i watched my GF put on a clinic for me when fished a bass boat 3 times to her just fishing from a pedal boat when i pulled up on a
dock in the keys with a rock wall and a floaating foam looking orange floating barrier around it
that produced a 3.7 a 2.1 amd a 1.7 in a strech of less than 25 feed. feeling a little bit
better for myself my girl put the icing on the cake with a 4.1 on a purple blue flake senko to end the day after a poped blader on my day triper and a brokern steering ruder on the pedal boat put the clamps on a evening lthat looked extremly promising.
It seemed taht i had more luck on my tube than the bass boat but It was fun anyhow hope this mispelled uncorreced post helped yall. by the way Rich i belived the old guy you spoke of was terry I was the tall dark gut fishing with him on the bass boat. i know i spoke to a few of yall on the watter in the bb i had alot of fun and i hope i helped out with mt post.

PS: who was the guy who talked to me abut lake chaot on the vv or mabye the odc 816

good job to all hope to get out there wiht yall one day when i get my wheels all straighetnd out

tight lines abner

Chris Zaldain Hurry up and get a boat so you can move and fish the pro circuit. :)
Chris Youlden Way to stick it out bud! You the man when it comes to painting baits.
My hat goes off to you for all the time and your efforts in donating super products. Thanks!
& Johnny You know! I’ll be routing for my friend to go all the way to the classic.

Congratulations to all who placed in the money. :)

My report Day 1 MM started off by catching a small fish with a senko.
Then began to catch & lose better fish flipping in the thick of the grass.
Caught my best fish 4.2# dropshoting a purple thingy an hour before weight-ins.
Total weight 9.11#s

Day 2 I fished hard for a solid zero :(

PS Yo Banana Clip that was me in my VV talking to you and friends.

peace

JC

http://www.bassanglerprofiles.com/joeycastro.htm

Yo Banana clip. It was the old dude that you where fishing with that gave me the shallow tip. All I had to do was watch him land those fish and pull them off the bank. Bingo, thats when the light came on for me.

Rich

Fish fear round tubers and Bass Tech kickboats!!
http://www.bassanglerprofiles.com/richcaro.htm