2010 Snag Proof Open Results: Pros pick up $6000 for first with 22 lbs as 11 year old boats big fish

The 9th Annual Snag Proof Open took place on the California Delta this weekend. Over 170 anglers battled for the biggest bag of frog fish that could be drug up from the unpredictable Delta waters.  11-Year Old Nathanael Knight brought in this 8 lb'r and claimed big bass of the tournament.

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The 9th Annual Snag Proof Open just wrapped up on the California Delta. Over 170 anglers battled for the biggest bag of frog fish that could be drug up from the unpredictable Delta waters.

Fishermen fightin' it out for this year's Frog King Title on the tidal waters of the Delta found the first day's competition came in a low tide phase from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm and day two hit on higher waters from 6:00 am - 12:00 noon.

The Frog Master, himself Bobby Barrack, emceed the event and at final weigh in, his word on the water was, "it's anybody's game". He continued to explain the morning water temperatures have risen from 66-69 degrees over the week and the magic number is 70, "the closer the temp is to 70 degrees in the morning the better the chances for frog bites".

Tournament talk and speculation that swirled at the weigh-in held the belief that bigger bites and better bass would be brought in on day two, with its later time,  warmer waters and higher tides. However; that was not what the Delta had in store for the Snag Proof anglers.

To the surprise of most pre fish planners, much of the success seen on day one could not be repeated.

Day two disappointed for many, but was especially a downer for  Ultimate Bass Radio host, Kent Brown and Mark Blanton, owner of Gone Fishin' Marine. The Brown/ Blanton team ended the first leg of the tournament with a healthy lead from their 16 lb sack and a big fish.

Leading the pack, the pro pair was a favorite for victory. As fast as the Delta can give up big bass, it can take them away and the stingy waters did not bless the duo a second time. With only one fish to add to their tournament total on day two, they had just under 20 lbs, which was still enough to earn the twosome a top five finish.

Those that could put together the three fish limit that held a hefty kicker, on back-to-back days and on opposite tides were looking at a better chance at the fat payday that the Snag Proof Open offered.

The Pro side paid down 22 spots in this order:
  1. 22.16    $6,300 Castellano/Yokum
  2. 21.14    $4,100 Church/Church
  3. 20.94    $2,750 Anderson/Henson
  4. 19.31    $2,125 Brown/Blanton
  5. 18.42    $1,475 Degaetano/Trayer
  6. 18.32    $   825 Peal/Neson
  7. 18.01    $   800 Leogrande/Mercado
  8. 17.86    $   785 Stevens/Bernal
  9. 17.72    $1,050 Alavarado/Alvarado
10. 15.98    $   725 Shell/Six
11. 15.82    $   700 Nelson/Skoglund
12. 15.63    $   525 French/Masters
13. 15.44    $   500 Cuccia/Garcia
14. 14.99    $   475 Bryant/Belo
15. 14.99    $   425 Farage/Stasi
16. 14.52    $   400 Scholz/Moore
17. 14.47    $   375 Daniels/Williams
18. 14.21    $   350 Spencer/Mirante
19. 13.99    $   320 Johnson/Conser
20. 13.86    $1,000 Knight/Knight
21. 13.56    $   225 Tosh/Hetrich
22. 13.39    $   200 Parsons/Cepeck

First Place Pro Team takes $6,300 - Castellano and Yokum

Semi Pro teams took 12 checks home for this amount:
  1. 15.95    $2,800 Wells/Salas
  2. 13.78    $1,550 Chapman/Goodwin
  3. 13.42    $1,280 Clark/Jackson
  4. 12.96    $1,050 Long/Lopez
  5. 12.91    $   650 McLaughlin/McLaughlin
  6. 12.71    $   450 Casey/Casey
  7. 12.17    $   650 Rowles/Diaz
  8. 11.67    $   450 Lattner/Showater
  9. 10.98    $   450 Cook/Bass
10. 10.76    $   450 Rowan/Rogers
11. 10.72    $   300 Larson/Olson
12. 10.19    $   300 O'Neil/O'Neil

Payouts include big fish money and options, if applicable.

First Place Semi Pro Team takes $2,800 - Wells and Salas

With Pro entry at two bills and only one for Semi Pro to compete in the Snag Proof Open, even the lowest check doubled an angler's entry.

Big fish paid out 5 places with biggest bass cash of $700 and a Dobyns Frog Rod going to the 8.17 brought in by the team of Knight/Knight.

"About two hours in" on day two, 11-year old, Nathanael Knight watched the super splash of the 8 lb'r come up over his black, "Bobby's Perfect" he "swang hard" and the youngster wrestled in the tournament toad. Nathanael gave thanks where needed, as he couldn't have done it without dad… "cuz dad helped drivin' the boat".

The youngest Knight on the team was pleased with his catch but quickly set the record straight, that 8 lb'r  was not his pb. Nathanael has "tons of years" of experience, fishing for seven of his eleven years and claimed a double digit from the Delta this year, using his fave lure, a speed trap.

Recently capturing second in the FLW on the Delta, dad, Leon Knight, boasted of his boys longing to fish, saying, Nathanael had been asking to fish this tournament with him for the past year. This is their second team tournament and the young, future bass pro got to keep the Dobyns Rod for his very own.  Nathanael guaranteed he'd be back next year to take a run at first.

Big Fish Winner Team of Knight and Knight

The Snag Proof Open is an annual event on the California Delta. The Frog Only tournament will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year. Fishermen should make plans to join the big blow out 10th anniversary, fishing for a big blow up on a Snag Proof frog.

The Snag Proof Open is presented by Anglers Press, a business that "Communicates the Business of Angling". Featuring fun, affordable, first class-fishing related events, Anglers Press, a parent company of the Future Pro Tour also serves fishermen with business services and presents the Snag Proof Open, Lucky Craft Open, Vanity Cup, and Take a Kid Fishing venues. 

For information on the services offered by Anglers Press visit their website.

In conjunction with Anglers Press and Snag Proof, this event was sponsored by Team C & C Marine, Dobyns Rods and Farmers Insurance. 

For a guide trip to learn how you can turn a frog into a toad, contact the best with a Bobby's Perfect, pro angler and Delta guide, Bobby Barrack.

For more information on the Snag Proof Open visit their website.

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