LAKEPORT — The team of Russ Meyer and Jim Yokum of Redding proved that experience counts when it comes to bass tournament fishing.
Meyer, who recently won the West Coast Bass Pro/Am tournament at Clear Lake, teamed up with Yokum to win the 23rd Annual Holder Ford/Konocti Vista Casino Team Bass Tournament held Saturday and Sunday at Clear Lake.
Meyer and Yokum beat out a field of 134 teams to capture the tournament, which was held out of Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina in Lakeport. They weighed in a total of 10 bass for a combined weight of 47.39 pounds. They also had the big fish for both days, which means their total winnings came to $6,640. They were in fourth place after Saturday with 21.03 pounds. They brought an additional 26.36 pounds to the scales on Sunday.
Jeff Otani and Andy Norman of Foster City took second place with 43.61 pounds and collected $2,925 in prize money. Third place went to Tom Armstrong and David Harmon with 39.93 pounds. They collected $1,560.
Rounding out the top five place were John Pearl and Daniel Dwelle with 38.36 pounds ($1,170), and Steve Kelly and Jerry Hakin with 38.2 pounds ($1,050).
The tournament paid down to 26 places and it took 34.04 pounds to receive a check.
While most of the fishermen said they had a great time, the fishing was tough. Nineteen teams failed to weigh in a fish either day and only 44 teams weighed in limits on both days. The water temperature was as low as 47 degrees in the mornings and only rose to 52 degrees in the afternoons. The more successful anglers used the drop-shotting technique to catch their fish. A few were successful casting swimbaits. The best action took place in the north end of the lake.
Tournament director Ed Clarke, owner of Tackle It in Lakeport, said he was extremely pleased with the operation of the tournament and the conduct of the fishermen. Clarke and members of Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina conducted boat inspections to make sure all the boats had quagga mussel tags. Clarke said there was 100-percent compliance with the inspection requirements.
A county ordinance requires all boats either be screened or inspected and issued a color-coded band before being allowed to launch at Clear Lake.
