1st Place	Big Bass
Results

The old saying goes here in the Four Corners region, if you do not like the weather now wait 10 minutes and it will change. It probably didn't change every 10 minutes but it sure seemed like it. On Saturday, 28th, 14 teams showed up to battle the weather and the fish. They endured rain, snow, wind, fog, and falling temperatures to see who was going to be awarded 1st place in this survival of the fittest event. The weather had its way with everyone and the fish came unwillingly to the scales. As usual, someone always finds a way to catch fish and today was not any different.

This being the third event, we have had three different winners. Why this is worth mentioning is we only had three different winners for the whole season last year. The team of Johnny Johnson and Gary Cottom caught enough fish to be crowned winners with 15.04lbs worth $1015 and 2nd biggest bass at 4.49lbs. They rounded up their limit using a mix of plastic and reaction baits with no one bait better than the others. This was the story from all anglers. The team of brothers, Casey and Jeremy Watkins secured 2nd place by bring in 12.28lbs in a 5 fish limit good for $505. First place out of the checks and 3rd place went to the team of Barry Stanley and Homer Pirkey with a limit weighing 11.83lbs. Last year's 3-time winner, team of Wade Jordan and Mike Carver brought in 5 fish weighing 11.17lbs good for 4th place. Big bass was 5.86lbs, worth $140, and it belonged to the team of Chris Guikema and Mike Sulkosky. I wonder if the team of Perry and Skelton knows the difference between 12th and 13th place. Skelton can just ask his wife Kellie because she knows it is $55 for winning the Lucky Loser pot for the smallest weight. If you are not going to win, you might as well get cash for something. By the way, Kellie fishes for Team Kelly, lady members being Kelley Shepherd and Kellie Skelton. There were 7-five fish limits weighed in with all but one team catching at least one fish. Total weight was 109.74lbs for 51 bass, which averages out at just over 2.15lbs per fish. This lake is always the perennial leader in quality bass in the Four Corners area.

The battleground moves to Navajo Lake on March 27 with the AOY race shaping up to be a wild one. After 3 events, there is only 20 points separating first from seventh and no one is out of it. The last four events are held on lakes that feature smallmouth bass but have a good contingent of largemouth. During the springtime, it usually takes a few largemouths in the weigh bag to win on these lakes, Navajo and McPhee.

Everyone needs to look on the website and get the new info on the AOY and Championship rules changes. I hope this gives the desired results in more participation on the local and Championship level. This year the Championship will again be on Clearlake in northern California from September 30 thru October 2, 2004.

Anglers Choice has the greatest sponsors who really get behind the anglers. Our sponsors include BassCat boats, Lowrance electronics, Eagle, Motorguide trolling motors, Mercury Outboards, Competitive Edge baits, Solar Bat eyewear, Bass West magazine, Wilson Trophy Co, acproshop.com . Our local sponsor is K B Dillon's restaurant who provides the meeting place for us. Do not forget our great sponsors when considering your next purchase, without them, it would be impossible to bring this circuit to you. I would like to thank some people for their volunteered time to help at the weigh-ins. Thank you, Shelley Jordan and Sandy Rogers for the pictures, Liz Aldrich for her recording expertise, and Homer Pirkey for weigh-ins. Without them, I could not give the level of professional conduct that is expected from an Anglers Choice event.