Yesterday’s derby was on Lake Mohave out of Cottonwood Cove.
We had a total of 20 teams show to fish which is good turnout considering that most of the teams had already qualified for the ABA Championship.
There were a few teams that needed to fish at least one more event to qualify and I want to congratulate these teams for qualifying for this year’s championship.
Mike Luiere – Dave Watson
Ray Arbesu – Don Iglinski
Shawn Herring – Jonathan Jackson
Mike Steckel – Cody Steckel
Brent Becker – Jason Fox
Jason Randall – Jason Burchfield
With one more event to be held on June 3rd the below list of teams can still qualify for the year end championship. I hope to see you all at this event.
Jesse Ortega – Adam Cacal
Wayne St. John – Rob Shoessler
Spencer Lazara – Dennis Chavez
Jeff Baird – Todd Calico
The Nevada ABA region Team of the Year has been a close race all year. Coming into yesterday’s event we had two teams at the top separated by only two points. In 1st was the team of Mike Steckel and Cody Steckel, and just behind them was the team of Kyle Richins and Bridger Richens both teams are father and son teams also.
The winner of the Team of Year will receive a paid entry into this year’s championship ($500) and an Eternal Lithium cranking battery (may use as trade up to bigger batter if desired).
At stake as well at yesterday’s derby was Big Bass of year title and Big Stringer of the year title. As of the start of the event yesterday the Big Bass of the year was a 5.80lb smallmouth caught by Mike and Cody Steckel, if this fish holds on to be the biggest of the year Mike and Cody will win $500 cash.
The big stringer of the year is 20.84 by Kyle and Bridger Richins, if this doesn’t get beat next month and Kyle and Bridger fish on June 3rd they will win cash of $500.
In order to qualify for these season ending prizes a team must fish at least 5 events in this division. Kyle and Bridger have only fished 4 events so if they decide not to fish on June 3rd then the next largest stringer goes to Mike & Cody Steckel with a string of 20.69 and they would win $500 if that weight is not beat next month.
Now results from yesterday.
Placing 1st with a weight of 19.70 was the team of Jeff Baird & Todd Calico (Jeff Baird is also on of our sponsors “Baird’s Beard Oil”. They also had the big bass of the event a smallmouth that weighed 5.11. They earned $1275 for 1st, Big Fish Money of $455, Largest Smallmouth limit for $100, Top 5 Money of $150 and Directors Sponsor for $180, Totaling $2160.
Coming in 2nd and extending their lead for Team of Year was Cody & Mike Steckel. They brought it a limit weighing 19.62 with the 3rd biggest fish of day. They earned $675 for 2nd place, Top 5 Money of $115, a Gift certificate to Boulder City Tackle and a Dobyn’s rod ($100) for the 3rd biggest fish. This totaled $990.
In 3rd place was US Open winner and the only Las Vegas fisherman to qualify for the Bass Masters Classic Timmy Klinger and his cousin David Raynor. They had a weight of 18.09 they took home $325 for 3rd place, Top 5 money of $55, and a gift certificate for $100 to Boulder City Tackle. Their total was $480.
4th Place went to Brent Becker and Jason Fox, they had a weight of 17.01 but also had 2nd biggest fish. They took home $300 for 4th place, $305 for 2nd big fish, and Top Money of $40 for a total of $645.
Father and Son team of Dean & Ryan Yamagata placed 5th with a weight 16.94, they earned $200 for first out of the money and an additional $20 for Top 5 Money totaling $220.
Coming in 7th with all largemouth weighing 16.44 they took home $100 for having the largest limit of largemouth.
The $200 for smallest 5 fish limit went to Mike Luiere & Dave Watson they had a weight of 9.92. Mike is also a sponsor of this region Twisted Hemp products. Thank you, Mike, for your sponsorship.
Reminder to all teams that have fished 4 or more events if you want a chance to win $500 for biggest fish or $500 for the biggest stringer of the season come out and fish the last event of the year on June 3rd. Derby will be on Lake Mohave out of Cottonwood Cove.
Team of the year so far Cody & Mike Steckel have increased their lead over the now 2nd place team of Ryland Ogle and Asa Stephenson. Ryland and Asa can still win AOY with a great finish next month and a poor showing by the Steckel’s. With how the Steckel’s have fished this year that is going to be tall task for sure.
Thank you to all of our sponsors for making this season a great season for everyone.