Face-Off at the Wall

Spinner baits were key in helping Keith Michael and Jim Behrens win the top ten Finale’. Keith and Jim weighed 5 bass for 14.86lbs. and also took “Big Fish” honors with a Sand Bass that weighed 3.49lbs. PHOTO:HeeYoung Park

Season Finale’

“Face off at the Wall”

It seems like only yesterday… we gathered in the parking lot at The Dunes launch ramp in Newport for the inaugural “Cabin Fever Reliever” two years ago. And as I think back to that first event… waiting in anticipation, not knowing if anyone would show, both Eric and I were both caught by surprise by the amount of teams that came to participate. Twenty nine teams showed up for that event, roaring and ready to take part in what we had created. It seemed we hit the nail on the head in terms of what the private boating community of Southern California needed… a “Catch and Release” tournament series based on a level playing field. More importantly, a series of tournaments without a hidden agenda, i.e. the need to profit from the people who participate within it. A saltwater Bass fishing series is no new concept and it has been tried before, here in Southern California, with little success to say the least. However the “Race for the Cup” is here to stay for as long as those who participate feel the need to compete within it!

In the beginning both Eric and I wanted to create a platform in which teams could compete on a level playing field while keeping the events diversified and fun to fish. And now after 2 years, based on the level of retention and the overall draw I think we can ALL call it a huge success. I say ALL because I really feel this is a series everyone can call their own! As I’ve continually stated, this is a series that is perpetuated by those who compete in it. By that I mean, and as corny as it may sound, there’s no “Race for the Cup” without those involved in the Race.

Face off at the Wall…

Looking back…it will take a little more than a brief skim through some of the events that took place, not only this season but last season, in order to completely grasp the level of competition that has unfolded to compete in this seasons Finale’.

The competitive level retained from the ‘04 season was more than expected, with such teams as “Wallsout” (Eric Johnson, Darin Lalla) who not only tied for the 2004 points lead but was undisputedly the most consistent team in terms of top finishes, with two 5th place finishes followed by a 4th and a 7th ! They actually tied for 1st in the points chase with team “Tail Chaser” (Norm, Dubois, Dan Schmetzer) who had a great season with all top ten finishes including a 2nd , 3rd, 6th and a 10th.

Another team retained from the 2004 season was “BassOmatic” (David Fong, John Strenk). David and John had two 2nd place finishes and a 6th , which would have blown the field away had it not been for their 20th place finish in Rd. 2 at Dana Point .

They came back this year angling for two separate teams. David paired up with Shimano Pro-staffer John Kuch under the assumed name “BassOholic”, while John Strenk bought a 16′ Hydra Sport and recruited Mike Nguyen and called themselves “Caveman Special”.

The father and son team “Gill Turner” (Eric and Jerry Bent) came back revamped as team “Jeronimo”, named after Jerry’s recently purchased Mako 171. They achieved a 3rd in points last year which included two 1st place finishes, Rd 3 “Ring around the Islands”, and then they took the season finale’ at the Long Beach Breakwall, thereby carving their names into “The Golden Live well” twice in one year.

“Bassjackers” John Gilles and Richard Ragland await the shotgun start for the 2005 season finale’.

Ben Florentino and Eric Neiman, fishing for Shimano and Kicker Jigs, came back with a vengeance from their 4th in points in the 2004 season and won the 2005 points chase with only 2 points to spare over team Jeronimo who secured the runner up spot!!!

With a 2nd place finish and two 5th place finishes for this season, John Gilles and Richard Ragland (Bass Jackers) solidified 3rd in points for the 2005 season despite their 17th place finish in round 1 (The Cabin Fever Reliever). John and Richard weighed the heaviest bass for the ’05 season, a Sand Bass that pulled 8.68lbs on the official scale, caught off of the Long Beach Breakwall during Rd. 3, “The Shelf Bass Special”!

Team Tin Cup ( Keith Michael, Jim Behrens) ended up 5th in points last year and 6th in points this year. Unbeatable in Newport two years running. Keith and Jim followed their win in Newport with a 4th at Dana, which must have more than concerned the rest of the field. But then…“The Shelf Bass Special”… where they barely managed 3 fish for 4.43lbs, placing them 26th on the leader board. But Keith and Jim came back with a more than respectable 9th in Rd. 4, vaulting the two back up to 6th overall in the final standings.

Team Rockhopper (Jack Sowell, Roger Eckhardt) missed the Finale’ last year as a result of not fishing round 1 therefore missing valuable points; however, they still managed to get a 3rd in Dana and a 5th at PV! Not only have they returned this year, but they have fished every event, which includes a win at round 2 in Dana Point and a 2nd at the PV Shootout, earning them a 7th in season points and securing their place in the Finale’.

Along with all of the talent retained from last year’s roster, several new teams signed up for the 2005 series and increased the level of competition 10 fold.

2005 SWBA Anglers of the Year Ben Florentino and Eric Neiman accept their 1st in points trophies during the Finale’ award ceremony.

Dunkem’ and Deckem’ (Jim Decker, Jim Duncan) was one new team that came aboard and practically dominated the season! The two Jims, carrying under their belts many years of experience fishing Southern California ‘s near shore waters almost dominated the rest of the field with a 3rd and two 6th place finishes, but they somehow dropped the ball in Rd. 4 at PV with a 17th . They were locked in a tie for 1st place going into that round with team Jeronimo.

Team Killa (Phil Brown, Gerry Meheiu) applied their knowledge of freshwater tournament bass fishing techniques and crossed over to this year’s program with overall success, securing their spot in the season finale’. Gerry and Phil earned a 9th place finish in Newport where their style of fishing really contributed to their success. Combining that with an 8th in rd. 3 (The Shelf Bass Special) and an 11th in round 4 (The PV Shootout) should have made them a team to be reckoned with if not for the 20th place they took at Dana Point .

Team Rice Rocket (Ivan Lau, Johnny Hwee), who were featured in February’s article “Spotties, Spotties, Spotties, showed up with their game faces and took a 4th in the season opener fishing Ivan’s “like new” 12′ glastron custom. Despite their apparent handicap, being one of the smallest boats in the field-they managed to secure 5th place in points going into the final round, and then to everyone’s amazement, took a DNW (did not weigh) at the end of the day, which pushed them out of the Finale’.

Fisherman’s Connection (John Berner, Eric Grennan) from day-one seemed to be all about business. My first impression of this team was that Eric and John appear to have the tools and the knowledge, almost certainly derived from their years of fishing experience, for success. They ended the season by placing 6th in round 4, which put them in 11th place overall, just out of the Finale’ but then nailed the “Wild Card” spot by catching the “Big Bass” for that event and earning them one more chance to carve their names into “The Golden Live well” for 2005.

In looking back we now have two successful years in the books, and in keeping with our current format, we hope to grow in modest amounts over the course of many years to come. I personally feel that everyone fishing this series has become a part of a growing family of anglers who will remain closely related regardless of the success of the series, and in that respect we can already label the SWBA a huge success! See you all in 2006!!!

By James Shamblin