The California Delta welcomed 254 FLW EverStart anglers to its big bass waters, today. For some fishermen, the Delta was giving and shared a big bass or two; for others the waterway was stingy and kept its prized big bass to itself. For one angler, the Delta was a goldmine and that angler knew just where to hunt for his treasure.
“I found these big ones on beds late yesterday afternoon and I went and got ‘em this morning,” exclaimed West Hills, Triton pro Charlie Weyer, in a post weigh-in interview. Known to his friends as “Big Bass Charlie”, Weyer lived up to his name and hoisted a heavyweight to the scale as he dug up the only Delta double-digit of the day.
His Big Bass title was earned with a 10-10 that was the foundation to his five fish limit that topped the leaderboard at 32-9. Describing reeling in the colossal catch Weyer stated, “I got her on my third cast and followed that up with two more really good quality fish before a midday lull.” Weyer revealed he was relieved when the bite picked up again, as the tide began to change.
He didn’t give up many Delta details; but did share he was targeting known bedding areas with soft plastics and offering a slow presentation. He reported a particular affinity to the Yamamoto baits seen on his deck; but wouldn’t confirm a color.
Trailing by more than four pounds is Utah pro Benjamin Byrd, who boated a bag worth boasting about, at 28-1. Bedding fish was also the focus of Byrd’s pattern. He alternated "aggravating presentations" to bass he could visually target with a jig and a dropshot. He gave no credence to the color. Byrd credits a change in conditions that caused the bass to move up and lock on, yesterday.
Proving the "punch bite is on” was Delta notable Sean Stafford from Fairfield. Stafford’s no stranger to 30-lb sacks and came just short of that today, weighing in 27-07. Explaining that he hadn’t really proven a productive pattern in pre practice, he put his other baits on the back burner and began to punch. He described being fishless well into the morning before breaking out the punch rig, but made up for lost time by bringing in eight bass in the partial day.
At 27-04 and mere ounces to make up to move to the next step, Bub Tosh from Modesto was very sharing about his success. Tosh took a turn with a punch rod of his own. He preferred his own Paycheck Baits prototype "Psycho Dad" hiding under a Punch Skirt. Psycho Dad hasn’t been released from the Paycheck holding cell as of yet, but Tosh told tale of a black and chartreuse shade with a hint of a turquoise flake.
Day one on the Delta was forecasted with mild wind and 90-degree weather, factors that the fishermen favored; but alas, the conditions weren’t enough for the California Delta to deliver the big bass goods to most of the anglers. Of the 127 pros only 15 broke 20 pounds, 32 didn’t land a limit and 13 pounds was the half-field weight.
Fishing resumes Friday morning at 6:30 AM and the 127 boats will blast off into the 1,600-miles of waterways with hope of finding their own goldmine.
The anglers will return at 2:30 p.m. for a day two weigh-in that will whittle the field to the top-10. Those best ten will battle for the biggest bags on Saturday which will determine who will be crowned this year's EverStart King of the Delta.
The pro contenders have their sights set on the $35,000 first place prize, while the co anglers are competing for a Ranger Bass Boat.
Best of the boats:
- 32-09 Charlie Weyer
- 28-01 Benjamin Byrd
- 27-07 Sean Stafford
- 27-04 Bub Tosh
- 26-08 Clifford Pirch
- 25-04 Ken Mah
- 23-08 Vu Au
- 23-06 Mike Tuck
- 22-14 Sean Minderman
- 21-15 Steve Geffs
- 21-02 Robert Lee
- 20-12 Zack Thompson
- 20-09 Mitch Southern
- 20-03 Young Yang
- 20-01 Ron Colby
- 19-14 Joe Uribe Jr.
- 19-12 Aaron Cole
- 19-12 Tony Lain
- 19-08 Chris Bond
- 19-08 Richard Dobyns
Update on day two available.
For a full list of standings, visit the FLW website.
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