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Event Article:
2nd Annual Media Day |
Top Pros Come out
for Pardee - 2nd Annual Media Day
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Date: |
2/01/09 |
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Location: |
Lake Pardee,
California |
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Event Dates: |
Jan 31st - Feb 1st,
2008 |
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Reviewer: |
Zander & Cal |
Introduction:
Sequels, especially in
fishing, often have a difficult time living up to the original experience. Last
year, bass pros and outdoor writers from across the country gathered at the
first annual Lake Pardee media event and despite less than ideal weather
conditions, managed some impressive fish including two smallmouth over nine
pounds. Kent Brown, host of the Ultimate Bass radio show on 1140 AM in Northern
California, was responsible for organizing the first event and when he contacted
us to renew the invitation for 2009, well, let’s just say he didn’t have to ask
twice.
Skeet Reese rolls in with his
famed custom rig
So how do you guard
against a let down from last year’s incredible event? How about cranking up the
guest list with names like Byron Velvick, Robert Lee, Gary Dobyns, and Skeet
Reese not to mention returning pros Greg Guiterrez, RJ Bennett, Bub Tosh, Dean
McDaniel, Randy McAbee, Corey Fenske, Alan Fong, Mark Lassagne, and Russ Graves.
All vessels were inspected for
invasive mussels
Just like last year, the
event was kicked off the night before with a meet and greet dinner and overnight
accommodations courtesy of Jackson Rancheria Casino. It’s here where Kent
prepped the new participants of the event by reminiscing about last year’s
success and then shared organizational details including what time to be at the
gate and who would be fishing with whom. It was a very lively crowd with the
pros exchanging jokes, jabs, and colorful stories from 2008 and years prior.
A quagga sniffing dog inspects
Skeet's rig
The TackleTour pairings
for the first half of the day? Zander would be fishing with Gary Dobyns, and Cal
with Byron Velvick. We were excited and though it was hard to sleep with all the
anticipation we managed three hours before heading to the lake.
On the water before the sun rises
Gary Dobyns rigs his rods. Yes, Zander and Gary had donuts for breakfast. Dobyns
has a reputation to uphold after all
On the morning of the
event, the pros gathered with their boats at the gate shortly before dawn and
again like last year, Fish and Game wardens were on hand to inspect each boat to
make sure they were all clean and dry doing their best to guard against
infestation by the invasive quagga and zebra muscles.
The sun rises and Gary starts
fishing on Pardee, a lake he has never fished before
Pardee owners Richard and
Kerry Cooper were on hand to greet us at the gate and share with us the news
that the former ban on boats registered in Santa Clara County is now lifted.
That’s right, if you live in Santa Clara County and were disappointed by your
exclusion from East Bay MUD lakes last year, you are now welcomed to return.
What’s more, Richard tells us inspections will now only be held on weekends and
holidays at Lake Pardee. Welcome back Santa Clara!
With a tough bite Gary turns to
wacky rigged senkos for a bite...
Next
Section: Let's go fishing already
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