average sized tournament we’re seeing being run these days. The 20-40 boat events deliver a perfect sized load for this release boat to handle.
Next time out for the boat was the Western Rookie League Tournament of Champions, also at Clear Lake, an event of nearly 180 teams. In this scenario, the California Live Release Boat served as a backup to the Clearlake Bassmasters live release boat.
The Clearlake Bassmaster Release Boat is an awesome boat. Originally built by American Bass, it’s a larger, bottom-releasing boat with the largest capacity of any of the state’s release boats. But even as big as that boat is, it still wouldn’t be big enough to handle the full field load of this event at one time. So once they were filled up and the weigh-in was still in full force, this back up release boat slipped in to take on fish while the primary boat dumped their initial load and replenished to come back in and finish off the tournament. Between the two boats, a seamless service to the anglers fishing the event was provided. It was a perfect example of when multiple boats need to be in service at the same event.
Both boats again worked the USAC Pro Team Tournamnet of Champions and again at the American Bass Team TOC.
In an effort to keep costs lower for tournament organizations, sponsorship and donations are required to make any live release boat viable in
Issue 4 October 2011
today’s harsh economy. Full sponsorships and advertising on this boat is very much available. As this boat and trailer are built for travel, the impressions gained from having signage on it will be greatly expanded for potential sponsors.
I’m also proud to say that it was a group of dedicated bass anglers that helped make the return of this boat a reality. My sincere thanks and appreciation again goes out to Jody Only, Frank Lozano, Chuck Russo, Ron Howe, Craig Brannon, Steve Moduno, Garry Wilson and Dave Newton.
Tournament Directors can still make decisions that impact how well or not a weigh in goes. But the addition of lots of well-placed water, including systems such as circulating, aerated water tanks and live release boats, can only serve to help make tournaments run more smoothly and efficiently then ever before.
The California Live Release Boat is available for rent to tournament organizations, bass clubs and charities or anyone running an event that requires fish to be re-distributed. Interested parties should contact Tony Stoltz at (925) 642 1481 or via email at ncbftony@pacbell.net.
Lifetime Memories!
Vacations, Weddings, Graduations, Pets, etc. A canvas print makes
a great gift!
Transfer your photo to canvas and turn any moment into a beautiful memory as if it were
hanging in a gallery.
www.visionsoncanvas.com
59
http://www.visionsoncanvas.com