2004 Schedule

The New Melones night tournament held Saturday August 7 was a big success. 42 teams enjoyed some really great food and after they finished their dessert, everyone participated in the huge raffle. There were thousands of dollars in prizes, rods, reels, tackle, food and grocery certificates, boat heater, guided fishing trip (Steve Sapp), and much more. Gloryhole sports and Calaveras Bass Anglers, with the help of US Angler’s Choice, raised $1690 to plant Floride super-strain bass in Melones from the raffle and tournament entry fees. Blast-off was at 7 PM and the weigh-in at 1 AM. The fishing was a little tough for a night event, but there were still 16 limits brought to the scales. First place with 10.79 lbs and a 3.35 kicker is John Martin and Bob Squaglia taking home a $1,160 paycheck. Second place was taken by Deacon Fernandes and Tony Sorreno with 10.48 lbs and scooped up $706. Third place was just 2 hundredths behind with 10.46 lbs with only 4 fish. However, they did have big fish, caught by Bob Bellin a 7.39 bucket mouth with the help of a very good net man, Rudy Linn. The line broke as the fish came to the boat and Rudy some how managed to get that hawg in the net. That net job got them $924, WOW. Fourth place was taken by David Permenter and Eric Jones with 8.57 lbs giving them a $370 payday. With just 11 hundredths less in fifth place is Dean Cooper and Ron Cooper at 8.46 lbs landing them $270. The last three places were separated by ¼ lb. Joe Bruce and John Chairtoppi came in with 7.59 lbs got sixth place and $210. Seventh place and $190 went to Dennis and Dustin Tarap with 7.49 lbs. Last in the money, but they still had second big fish a 3.53 kicker, is one of the hottest motherlode teams this year; Kyle Rasmussen and Joe Menzes. They took eighth place with 7.33 lbs landing them $365. Thank you to the teams that participated and we would like to double that number next year, it really was a great tournament.

A special thanks to everyone who volunteered their time and donated prizes to make that great raffle happen. Please support the sponsors that help make this a success; Angels Inn, Calaveras Bass Anglers, Copy Center, Bass Menu, Country Car Dr., Froggy’s Car Wash, GloryHole Sports, G. Loomis, Gold Country Inn, Long’s Drug, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Roy Gray and Associates, Smalley’s Wholesale, Tom Coss Bass Fishing. I would like to personally thank the sponsors that helped me, Waterford Farm Supply, Dave’s Bass Shack, Escalon Bait and Tackle, Oakdale Bait and Tackle, Ferrarese’s Deli, Joe Bruce, Steve Sapp, Waterford Pizza Plus, and Save Mart Sonora and Angles Camp. All of the previously mentioned are helping to improve the quality and quantity of fish in New Melones, so please support these businesses! Thank you to all.