LAKEPORT >> The experts who called for record-breaking weights to be brought to the scales during the 29th annual Lake County Chamber Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament held Saturday and Sunday on Clear Lake weren’t even close.
A shift in the weather pattern on Saturday and rainfall on Sunday put a big, big dent in the bass bite, especially on day two. Through it all Doug Jones of Nevada City and Fred Contaoi of Trindad managed to bring 52.55 pounds to the scales to claim the $6,500 first prize in the 100-percent payback tournament, which took place at Konocti Vista Casino and Marina.
A field of 134 teams took to the water at first safe light on Saturday and brought back better-than-average weights, but the bite toughened up dramatically Sunday as teams struggled to put fish in their boats. Case in point were first-round leaders Kyle Ray and Robert Thornton, who brought 32.7 pounds to the scales on day one but finished with only 45.22 pounds, dropping them to third place in the final standings, which was worth $1,500.
Consistency paid off for Jones and Cantaoi, who were in third place after Saturday’s first round with 28.4 pounds. They brought in another 24.15 pounds on Sunday to move up the standings and claim the win.
Second place and $3,200 went to Mark Crutcher and Brad Amodeo with 45.49 pounds. The Crutcher/Amodeo team made perhaps the biggest move on Sunday after failing to crack the top 20 on Saturday.
Rounding out the top five places in a tournament that paid down to 25th place were Phil Leazer and Tony Renati in fourth with 49.94 pounds ($1,200) and George and Kevin Cockriell in fifth with 40.85 pounds ($1,050).
Top-10 finishers included Paul and Brian Bailey in sixth with 40.01 pounds ($925); Joe Bitker and Mike Gordon in seventh with 38.70 pounds ($825); Scott Renie and Kevin Dearing in eighth with 38.23 pounds ($750); Cameron Cole and Lyle Gossett in ninth with 37.82 pounds ($675); and Ron Sanderson and Scott Choppell in 10th with 37.57 pounds ($600).
It took 30.79 pounds to finish in the money.
Big-fish winners each day received $1,500. Sanderson/Choppell won on Saturday with a 10.78-pounder while Matt Saavedra and Charlie Almassey won on Sunday with a 10.93-pounder.
Teams from throughout California as well as Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota and Arkansas took part in the tournament.
