(CLEAR LAKE this week--Kent Brown photo)
Following four regional circuits and four regional semi-finals, 39 California anglers are in line to compete at Clear Lake for the California Bass Championship with a top prize of $15,000 and this trophy, shown exclusively here.
After 16 qualifying events, everyone who made the grade will take home at least $1000, not bad for an initial $118 entry fee, plus travel expenses.
Now it all gets down to making the most of six afternoon hours on Thursday and six morning hours on Friday–catching the best sacks possible. For Kent Brown, host of Ultimate Bass Radio and pro qualifier from Roseville, that means, “Low to mid-20-pound sacks will be at the top of the leaderboard each day.”
To stay on top of things, you can find the live video link on the CBC website (click here). According to director Tom Leogrande, coverage starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, but noon on Friday to accommodate the DFG’s hot weather, 6-hour rule and alter the fishing patterns.
From my vantage point here in Lake Elsinore, it will be interesting to see how those who came through this tough venue will fare. At the moment it’s not certain who will actually make it to the championship from that group, but Brent Benish, Robert Duffy, Jerry Hobart, Dennis Saiki, Jessie Forthun, Mike Martin and David Baker all earned the right to compete and may be there. Tony Lain (work) and Rick Grover (in Africa) will not be present.
BIG SACKS expected (file photo)
Said Brown, “Though we all qualified fishing alone, we’ll each get an observer. In light of the Lake Mead (Mike Hart incident) situation, I have no problem with it.”
Some complaints of the lake conditions have come up this summer regarding algae. According to Brown, “In some places the algae is unbelievably thick–it looks two to three feet thick, though it’s actually on the surface.” However, he doesn’t see the any of that affecting the bass.
“They’re still fine,” he reported. “It’ll take 46 to 48 pounds to win this thing.”
We’ll all know more by Friday afternoon.
BTW: wildlife artist Chad Turner is the man who built the one-of-kind championship trophy for this year’s inaugural competition.
5 Responses to “CBC State Final begins Thursday at Clear Lake”
Where is there a list of the finalist?
Interesting picture of kb? I’ve never seen him “in” a boat. 
Charley, in case you didn’t get that yet: http://www.californiabasschampionship.com/Top402010.html
Just gives Dobyns the boat now, so everyone can get down to the serious business of finishing in second place…..yet again.
I’d be HAPPY to be at Clear Lake and to flip a jig into that algae. Here they LOVE to get under that stuff.