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 2-day trip and all but one managed to catch legal (13″) Bass to bring to the scale during the two day event.
Ried Bridges, President of SNBC gave NOU an excellent overview of the event:
Temperatures were in the mid-eighties, but seemed closer to 100 while competition 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 a variety of crank baits, umbrella rigs, and top water lures (in the AM) Fish were holding off points in as little as 1′ of water, near submerged rock piles and even along sandy 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 first 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 patterns and looked to repeat what worked previously and reinforce their success. Those who didn’t catch fish found baits that worked and in one instance the big Bass of the tourney!
Vince, our leader from Day 1, started the day with his brother Lucas with three fish on top water with Zara Spooks before the sun crested the hills. Lucas had a 1-07 (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 prior day 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 7 Bass weighing 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!
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. Club Members range from professional to recreational anglers. What you don’t know –we’ll help instruct and our goal as a Club is to give you practical experience and knowledge to compete at the next level or quite simply catch more fish!
The Club will host another Open to the public at Lake Almanor on July 13th and has five more Club Tourneys scheduled for the remainder of 2013 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.