1st Place GARY HOWELL and KEN MAH
2nd Place RYAN WHITE and PHIL CLARK	3rd Place JUNIOR MORRIS and GLEN LOCKHART
Results

Oroville CA, - U.S. Angler's Choice Northwest regional anglers invaded the Gold City in search of their pot of gold. This was the largest Regional Championship anywhere in the West. Eighty-four of the West's top U.S. Angler's Choice teams were greeted with overcast skies and a gentle breeze as anglers headed out on day one. Small fish were the staple of the day.

Taking the lead at the end of the first day of competition was the team of Tom Sams and Cody Elred of Placerville. The team put together a 9.98-pound stringer to take the early lead. The lake proved to be fruitful for all the teams as there was only about 4-pounds between the Placerville team and the entire field going into the final day of competition.

Day two provided anglers with similar conditions as anglers targeted their piece of $110,000 Purse. The West's field was comprised of local team favorite like, Rush-Taggert, Jackson-Tatro and the always-threatening teams of Howell-Mah and Thomas-Chauvet. The question was could this second year team from Placerville be able to hold off the charge from the tightly bunched pack?

The final days weigh-in festivities got under way at Lake Oroville's Bidwell launch ramp at 3:00pm. As the crowd watched the anglers weigh their limits most anglers found the bite to be tougher on day two. Longtime pro Dee Thomas said after the event,
"In all my years of fishing I can't remember a tighter finish."

Placerville's Sams and Elred were taking on quite a charge from the local favorites, as the weigh-in got under way. U.S. Angler's Choice President and master of ceremonies Mark Mendez told the crowd, "This is going to be a very tight finish coming down to hundredths of a pound." While second day weights were not as high as anticipated, 2 teams brought in 5-bass limits that were over 9 lbs. On the line were three fully rigged Bass Cat boats with Mercury Outboards and Motor Guide Trolling Motors and Hamby's Beaching Bumpers. For the award ceremony, the anglers would head back to the tournament check-in site of the beautiful main showroom of Oroville's Gold Country Casino.

Going into Day 2 Gary Howell of Stockton and Ken Mah of Elk Grove were just 49 one hundredths off the lead. This team proved once again to be one of the toughest teams in the West. Howell and Mah weighed a solid 8 pound limit on the final day of competition to take a narrow lead with 17.49 pounds.

Howell said, "I started throwing top water early, nothing for about a half hour and then I caught fish #1, missed one and caught another one. Then the action died, off to point #2." Their adjustments on day two proved to be just enough to head off the tightest finish anyone could remember in years. Their efforts earned them two Bass Cat Saber Boats and big fish money of 400 dollars. The pair thanked their sponsors the Outdoor Sportsman in Stockton and C&C Marine.

Ryan White of Auburn and Phil Clark of Elverta weighed 8.57 pounds on day two to make a charge at the top spot, but fell just short with 17.41 pounds. Still the pair got a piece of the west's best team TOC prize of three boats taking home a fully rigged Bass Cat Boat.

Making a huge leap to steal the third spot was the team of local experts Junior Morris and Glenn Lockhart, who compete in the Choice region. Sitting in 10th place after Friday's competition, the pair brought the largest bag of day two to the scales weighing 9.24, which nearly earned them a boat with a weight of 17.39 pounds. Still they went home with $3400 dollars in cash.

Falling to fourth on day two was the Placerville team of Tom Sams and Cody Elred; still they took home $2400 dollars for their work. This is a great example of anglers reaching out to introduce anglers to the sport. Elred is the neighbor kid who showed interest in fishing and Sams took the youngster bass fishing. They've been fishing together for a couple of years.

Stealing the second half of the tournaments big fish money with the final days big bass was the Oakley, California team of Luke Ellison and Jason Brown. Their second day big bass of 2.98 pounds earned the pair $400 cash for their efforts.

After two steady days of fishing, US Angler's Choice is pleased to announce that all fish caught during the tournament were released alive back into Lake Oroville. A 100% release obviously sustains this and any fishery and further shows the scrutinizing public how much care is taken to maintain their lakes and rivers. (Topwater baits, jigs, and tube baits were responsible for the top 3 finishes.)

U.S. Angler's Choice Teams are awarded each year with the most rewarding Tournament of Champions anywhere in the Country, here in the West it is unheard of to fish for 3 fully-rigged Boats in one Championship event.U.S. Angler's Choice is expanding in Northern California to better serve the grass roots team fisherman and give them a shot at the West's best TOC prizes. With circuits throughout the country and well-established Northern California and Foothill circuits, U.S. Angler's Choice is continuing to push the envelope with expanded Delta circuits and new Gold City (all Lake Oroville) and Motherlode circuits. Anglers will have many more opportunities to come out and fish. Combine this with a 4-color national magazine coverage both angler's and their supporters win. Check www.www.usanglerschoice.net for your teams' opportunity.

U.S. Angler's Choice currently sanctions tournaments in 34 states across the nation. National sponsors of U.S. Angler's Choice Tournament Trails, Inc. include Mercury Marine, Bass Cat Boats, Motorguide Trolling Motors, Lowrance Electronics, Lakeborne Tackle, Hamby's Beaching Bumpers, Hamby's Light Duty, Competitive Edge Fishing, Bass West magazine and locally by the Oroville area Chamber of Commerce.