December 6, 2004 Folsom, Ca
Graves And Scarberry Win Folsom

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1st Place	2nd Place
3rd Place	Big Bass
Results

The wind chimes on my front porch sang a gentle song in the early morning darkness. I was almost afraid to part the slats of my bedroom mini-blinds and take a peak outside at the weather. The ground was damp and a soft slight breeze rustled through the trees. It was only 3:00 a.m. and the remainder of the day was yet to come. I imagined the taste of that IHOP coffee and pried myself from between the covers. Being careful not to bother my wife Cindy's sound sleep. My nephews, Jerame and Justin, and Ron Herrin arrived as I was warming up my truck. I gladly accepted their offer to hitch my boat up and then we were on our way.

The lights were on at the Folsom IHOP when we pulled into the parking lot at 4:15. There were a couple of anglers there eagerly waiting to register. Actually I think they were looking forward to an IHOP breakfast! Promptly at 4:30, Brenda cheerfully opened the doors. They had the hot tasty complimentary IHOP coffee on the tables, along with coffee cups, ready for the anglers. As we readied for registration, IHOP began to fill with anglers.

Steve Warren, of XS Energy, was there to give cans of XS Energy drinks to the anglers as they registered. Steve is testing the waters to see if the anglers would like an alternative to other energy drinks. XS Energy comes in four tasty flavors and have NO CARBS and NO SUGAR and only 8 calories a can. From what I could tell, the anglers actually LIKED the XS Energy drinks. California Tackle Co. sent up sample packs of their plastic baits for the anglers to use as well. There were tubes, lizards, worms and "Cinkos" of all different colors and sizes under the name of "Jim Dandy" plastic baits. Each angler also received a California Tackle hat along with the baits.

With the 29 teams registered and bellies full. It was a short 5.6-mile drive to Brown's Ravine. The rain had let up a bit and was down to a mist now and then. I was still keeping my fingers crossed. Rounding the corner to the Hobie Ramp, the red and green lights of the boats floating in Hobie cove appeared to be Christmas lights strung across the water. An appropriate sight for this time a year! Team number 15, Chris Forman and Wayne Allen, had been drawn as first boat out. Once launched into the cloudy misty day, the teams had until 3:00 p.m. to bring their 5 best fish to the scales.

After a day of racing around the lake, dodging the sprinkles of rain and catching nothing but dinks. My nephew Justin and I decided to head to the marina and get things set up. We had the scales ready to go when the first boats began to arrive. Looked as though the fish had cooperated with a few of the teams. Most did catch a few fish and limits were averaging 7 to 8 pounds. Everyone thought that Dave Rush and Brad Taggert had it in the bag when they brought their 11.69 limit to the scales. Then a confident looking Russ Graves of the Fishin' Depot stepped to the scales. Russ and his partner Jim Scarberry raised the bar one more time with a 12.09 limit. The tension mounted as last years Folsom Lake champions Cliff King and Eric Parra came to the scales with an impressive looking sack of fish. Weighmaster Jerame Davis kept the crowd of anglers and fans in suspense while awaiting the scale to settle. "12.06!" was the weighmasters call! You could here the sighs of disappointment for Cliff and Eric, along with the cheers of congratulations for Russ and Jim. With the wind coming up and the cloud cover quickening it's pace towards us. I advised everyone that the awards ceremony, taking place in the parking lot, would be a quick one. We had to beat Mother Nature!

For their 12.09 limit Russ Graves and Jim Scarberry earned $1270, $93 in option money and 84 Lumber sponsored plaques. Just a breath behind them with 12.06 was Cliff King and Eric Parra, they netted $635 for 2nd place, $93 in option money and 84 Lumber sponsored plaque. Eric also received $290, a Competitive Edge VPR Pro Wrap-Around worm/jig rod and 84 Lumber sponsored plaques for the 4.09 Big Bass of the event. Hot off his win at the first Anglers Choice Pro/Am at Lake Oroville, Dave Rush and his team partner Brad Taggert took home $535 for 3rd place, $93 in option money and 84 Lumber sponsored plaques. Sabin Holm and Brent Lyon had 4th wrapped up with their 11.26 limit good for $435 and 84 Lumber sponsored plaques. An 11.06 limit had a check for $340 in the hands of John Maes and Dave Rubin along with 5th place 84 Lumber sponsored plaques. Ish Monroe and Zack Thompson with a 10.58 limit was the winners of the Lucky S.O.B. (Son of a Bass) $5 one spot out of the money option and took home $140. Two spots out of the money were Chris Forman and Wayne Allen who weighed in 9.28, each received a $25 Just Fishin' gift certificate courtesy of Dave Yates. Kent Brown had 2nd Big Bass of the event weighing a 3.97 bass. Kent gave his tackle pack consisting of a California Tackle lifetime warranted spinning reel, a RoboWorm assortment, a jar of Craw-Cane powered fish attractant and an assortment of custom hand tied finesse jigs to Steve Warrens' son Alex who helped out during the event. The Sunnys Electric Marine trolling motor tune-up certificate, a $125.00 value, went to Bobby and Bob Trujillo. Armando Palacias and Oscar Sarnecki received a 12 pack of XS Energy drink, the energy drink with NO CARBS and NO SUGAR and a GREAT taste! On top of that Steve Warren of XS Energy had drinks for everyone for the ride home. All in all a great event!

Thanks goes out to the John Khauv and the staff at the Folsom IHOP for being prepared and making us welcome. A big THANKS to my staff, Dan Davis, Jerame Davis, Justin Davis and Ron Herrin for the GREAT job they do during the event. Thanks to all of our national sponsors Bass Cat, Mercury, Motorguide, Lowrance, Bass West, Competitive Edge and AC Pro Shop. Our local sponsors Just Fishin, Ultra Truck Works, Sunnys Electric Marine, Calif. Tackle Company, RoboWorm, Craw-Cane, Bass Widow Products, Sacto Pro Tackle and 84 Lumber get a well deserved thanks as well. Both our national and local sponsors make our events possible and fun!

The next California Foothills Division event will be held on Lake Berryessa out of Markley Cove January 10th 2004. Mark your calendars and make plans to join us. Please drop me an e-mail at 481terry@msn.com if you have any questions.