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Sierra Nevada Bass Club Topaz Open results; next open July 13 at Lake Almanor
The Sierra Nevada Bass Club sponsored the Topaz Open over Father's Day Weekend (June 15-16) at Topaz Landing/Marina and Lodge/Casino. With four boats and 7 anglers making the trip and all but one managed to catch legal fish to bring to the scale during the two day event.
Temperatures were in the mid eighties, but seemed closer to 100 while competing over two relatively calm, near windless days of fishing. The Smallmouth were definitely moving into a post-spawn pattern, but were aggressive enough to fall victim to crank baits, umbrella rigs, and a variety of topwater lures (in the AM) Fish were holding off points in as little as 1' of water, submerged rockpiles and even along sany flats. If you could spot a Bass, it was more probable than not that one could then catch it. Fan casting was effective and so too was sight fishing for late spawners.
Day 1 started off a bit slow, with about half of our Anglers catching 13" or better fish. Jeffro Roberts came to the scale with a 2-02. He was followed by Ried Bridges with three weighing 5-09 and Vince Huff with a better three, weighing 7-07.
The Tourney lasted for 6-hours each day, from 6AM to Noon. Day 2 began with a faster hook up rate than the prior day as our Anglers had narrowed their patters and looked to repeat what worked previously. Vince our leader started the day with his brother Lucas and they caught three fish with Zara Spooks as the sun crested the hills. Lucas had a 1-07 and his only fish.
Vince added a few more pounds to finish with 11-05 and in 2nd Place. Ted Doyal, who had gone without a keeper the day prior managed to find a dandy: a 3-04 which qualified him for the Tourney Big Bass and put him squarely in 3rd Place. Christine Spurrell caught a 2-11, but that was it. Finally, Ried added four more Smallies and took the win with 13-08.
All fish were weighed at the Marina, and released alive to fight again next year (and make more Smallmouth Bass)! While Topaz may not be widely known as a Bass fishery, our Club would like it to be. A few nice Largemouth were also observed, but could not be lured to strike --one estimated at 6-pounds!
The Club will host another Open to the public at Lake Almanor on July 13th and has five more Club Tourneys scheduled which include Stampede, Clear Lake, Shasta, and Oroville. For more information about the upcoming Almanor Open, or the Club, please go to www.nvbass.com or contact Ried at ried.g.bridges@charter.net or(775)443-5728. Club meetings are held at Scheels in Sparks Marina typically on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7PM. The next Club meeting is, however, on July 11th due to Independence Day. Members range from professiona to recreational. What you don't know --we'll help instruct!