Once again the IHOP in Folsom at E. Bidwell and Blue Ravine Road was ready for us. The staff had hot complimentary IHOP coffee on the tables if you ordered breakfast. The waitresses were all smiles as they quickly took breakfast orders. The service was prompt and courteous. THANKS to manager John Khrau and the IHOP staff for making us welcome.

Marcel Colin, pro staffer for Reaction Innovation, was on hand with samples of Reaction Innovation products for the anglers and to answer questions about the products. Mike Brakebill of RoboWorm sent product for the anglers as well. The 32 teams were making out this morning with product from Reaction Innovation, RoboWorm and Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits. Along with a full stomach the teams were ready for anything that Mom Nature had in store for the day.

Time to head to Brown's Ravine for launch. As I rounded the corner leading to the Hobie Launch ramp. The reflection of the full moon looked like silver glitter on the surface of Folsom Lake. Bass boats with their navigation lights on rocked lazily in Hobie Cove. A slight breeze swept across the sky bringing with it soft light gray clouds. A postcard shot for sure that may not last the day. The sun was just beginning to brighten the morning sky with blast-off just minutes away. Team number 7 had been drawn as first boat out. Half the field would return at 3:00 p.m. and the remainder would return at 3:15 p.m. for a dockside weigh-in at Brown's Ravine marina.

The day Mother Nature had provided proved the weather people WRONG! No rain and an occasional breeze pushing big puffy gray clouds to block the sun. If fishing would be as good as the day had been all of the anglers would have full sacks. We were about to find out as boats began to coming to the docks.

Tom Sams and Josh Martinez weighed in a limit for 15.54 with a 4.82 kicker fish. They seemed to have staked their claim to the number one spot. Then the Bennett brothers, R.J. and Michael, came to the scales requesting TWO bags. This meant that they had a fish over the 5-pound mark. Their Big Fish tipped the scales at 6.14 and their limit bested the bunch at 15.78. The Bennett brothers were our Folsom Lake champions. They received $1295, a $1000 Bass Cat Bonus Buck certificate and 84 Lumber sponsored plaques for 1st place. For Big Bass they got $310, an 84 Lumber sponsored plaque and a Tactical Assault Revolver Rod - Curt Lytle Pro Series 7'6" one piece flippin' stick valued at $260.00! Tom Sams and Josh Martinez got 2nd place 84 Lumber plaques and $645 for their 15.54 limit. Their 4.82 kicker was good for 2nd Big Bass and a RoboWorm FX series and shakin' worm assortment, a jar of Craw-Cane and a team set of EZ-Cul-RZ floating rope culling system. They also won $90 in option money. Third place with a 14.37 limit netted Ryan Ollenberger and Fil Torres $515, 84 Lumber plaques and $90 in option money. Previous Folsom champs Cliff King and Eric Parra had 4th place, $410 and 84 Lumber plaques in the bag with a 14.29 limit. Bobby and Bob Trujillo's 13.99 was good for 5th place, 84 Lumber plaques and $325. A 13.44 limit brought to the scales by Mark Weichold and Craig Kraft got them 6th place and $255. Our Lucky S.O.B. (Son of a Bass) one spot out of the money option was $120 and went to Oscar Sarnecki and Armando Palacias for their 5 fish weighing 12.55. Our last option check of $90 went to Marcel Colin and Troy Schroeder. After the awards I gave away a couple of plastic baits assortment donated by Sacramento Pro Tackle along with jars of Craw-Cane. A lucky angler also received a plastic bait assortment from RoboWorm consisting of their FX series baits and worms as well as a jar of Craw-Cane. Cliff King and Eric Parra were the lucky recipients of the $25 Just Fishin' gift certificates courtesy of David Yates of Just Fishin'.

All in all it turned out to be a great event with good fishing and good weather. Our next event is at the infamous Clear Lake on March 9th out of Red Bud Park. Remember the Travel Lodge in Clearlake is giving Angler's Choice members a 15% discount off their regular room rates. Since they have just 31 rooms you better call NOW to make your reservations. Should be some BIG fish brought to the scales in that event.

I would like to thank my tournament staff, Dan Davis, Jerame Davis and Ron Herrin for the great job they do from registration to weigh-in and awards. Special Thanks to Marcel Colin for the Reaction Innovation baits, Thanks to our local and regional sponsors Tactical Assault Revolver Rods, 84 Lumber, RoboWorm, Just Fishin', Ultra Truck Works, Sunny's Electric Marine, Sacramento Pro Tackle, Ez-Cul-RZ, Craw-Cane and Office Depot. Our National sponsor Bass Cat Boats, Mercury, MotorGuide, Lowrance, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Competitive Edge and Kistler. All of these sponsors help to make our events fun and enjoyable.

If you have any questions regarding the California Foothills Division, please drop me an e-mail at 481terry@msn.com. See you at Clear Lake March 9th!