SAN DIEGO BASSMASTERSPage 1January 2013
September 2013
SAN DIEGO BASSMASTERSPage 1SEPTEMBER 2013
Presidents Corner:
I firmly believe that writing this article is the toughest part of holding this office. If there was any justice in the world I could simply leave a blank page with a heading “insert your favorite article here”, but, no such luck.
It’s Saturday morning, the morning after our Otay tournament. It has just turned 10 o’clock and here I am, still stretched out watching Saturday Morning Western Theater, helping Gene Autry, Jimmy Durante and Ann Miller save “Melody Ranch” from a bunch of low down dirty polecats. As it turns out I seem to be much better at that than fishing.
Otay can be tough, that lake is on many peoples list and for some it’s not the good list. We know the lake is chock full of bass and they all eat from time to time. With the help of an unusual ability to focus and concentrate I was able to avoid most of them throughout the night. It took a frantic flying bat zooming by from time to time, to test my cat like reactions and keep me tuned up in case of the real thing. I broke off a couple on set that had to be thirty pounds apiece or so and was only able to bring a couple of surprised little guys to the dock to meet Ed and the crew.
I am grateful for the opportunity to fish City Lakes at night, for me it is a real treat to enjoy the lake without the company of all the other water sport folks. The noise and busy nature of those sports are certainly not missed during my attack on a moonlit bank in the middle of the night. My friend, a friend of many and certainly a friend and hero to our fishing community was responsible for our original access to City Lakes at night. Kevin Mineo, past long time, many term, president of the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs and president of the San Diego Bassmasters was responsible for many things that benefited our fishing community and I thought we could remember him here and say thanks again.
Having misplaced my notes I will offer a word or two on Council news to the best of my recollection. Last month I was less than optimistic in reporting a proposed event being considered by the Council as a third annual tournament. The “Elite Three” would be added to the Council schedule that includes “Top Six” and Tournament of Champions. The Elite Three format has not been presented in concrete so it is still being put together and the author Alan Tatum is encouraging suggestions from all. This event would not be mandatory; a club could fish their current top three, three people by popular vote or whatever. I think this would be fun and I am for it. I am looking forward to your input that I can take back and report your opinion and ideas to the Council.
Respectfully
Ron Overman
Vice President~ Ryan Test
Congratulations to Jason, Inder, and Josh. Thank you to Bud and Donalea for hosting the Bunko. Thank you to everyone else that helped out. Congrats to Jen for winning best dish. All is in line for the banquet.
Treasurer ~ Joe DeSalvo
Hope you all had fun at Otay Night tournament fishing for skinny & short fish, I guess
that’s why the “Big Baits” I threw all night did not produce. I had the agility of arhinoceros in heat and could not get a good hook set or keep fish on to save my life.
I completely entertained Vickie Becker from falling asleep at the rod and enable her
to catch a limit. My backseaters always do well, it must be me?????
Congratulations to Jason Wilson, Inder Lopez and Josh Rhodes for doing what had to be done.
Special thanks to Bud and Donalea Brant for opening their home to the SDBM Annual Bunco night under very tough circumstances and enabling the club to raise an amazing $525 dollars. It was an eclectic mix of leaders and helpers including Donalea and Bud Brant, Jennifer Luis, Wendy Baird and Vickie Becker, Denise Desalvo, Terry Chenoweth and Cheryl Byrd. It all came together somehow and it was a magical night. Keep your prayers going Loralea Lewis for a 100% recovery.
Also the El Capitan Night Tournament started out like we would break even for just permits and lakes fees and with an outstanding last minute turnout of Bassmasters with friends, we made $167 dollars for our club. Thank all of your for participating in this epic event.
Treasury Report as of August 26, 2013Big Fish Fund / Fund Raising / Expense’s
$50 / $65 / $1644
Progressive Big Fish Fund
$50 / August Raffle $55
Bunco $525
El Cap Night Tournament $167 / July Raffle Awards $51
Class A Trophies $89
Meeting Room Rental $300
Otay Night Tournament $750
SDBM Hats $117
Top 6 Shirts $468
(Major expenses listed, not all)
Projected 2013 Balance based on Income and Expenses to date is $8991.31
(Excludes Big Fish Fund of $50)
Reminder, all SDBM are responsible to ensure your dues are up to date and at the 3 month limit you flirty with extinction, so I will send a handful of you reminders via E-mail to square up before our on next meeting. I was one of these offenders, but do not tell anyone. As always if you cannot make the meeting, please send your checks to SDBM and mail to my address 1958 Alderbrook Pl., Chula Vista, CA 91913. ()
TOURNAMENT NEWS – Ed Byrd
There was a great turnout for the second El Cap Team Night tournament on the 16th of August. Twenty teams participated, with everyone getting fish. There was not only a good payout for the top three, but the club got a little money too. The only negative was that there wasn't an initial on plane run, so the people that wanted to run to the back off plane. Even so, most, if not all the teams at the top made the run to the back.
Just out of the top three and earning an honorable mention was the team of Keith Cloward and Scott Welch. They had a nice limit 13.24 pounds for their three fish, topped by a 7.45 pound big fish. So close! Better luck next time. Getting back their entry fee of $100 was the team of Terry Chenowth and Tim Savage. Their limit went 13.76 pounds, topped by a big fish of "only" 5.04 pounds, making all three of their fish riding in individual bags. Great job!
Steve "the Swag Man" Swaggarty and his teammate only known as "Dan" took home $200 for their second place finish. They had a real nice big fish of 8.27 pounds that headed their limit weight of 17.08 pounds. Sweet. One more eight pounder would have done it!
Last, but definitely not least, was the team of Josh Rhodes and Klayton Belden. Their three fish went 20.34 pounds, with a 9.51 pound big fish. WOW! Great going guys!
Overall, I don't know that fishing was quite as good as the last couple of night tournaments at El Cap, but it was still in the awesome category! Sorry no pictures, my cell phone are MIA and the pictures were on that.
Awesome would definitely not a good description for our Otay night points tournament on the 23rd. Fishing was tough for most people, leaving them wondering why we weren’t at El Cap! Not only was the bite tough, but there was chilly breeze most of the night, along with a heavy dew that made it more chilly. Hopefully, the bite will improve before next month’s Otay day tournament.
While only a few people were able to get the bigger fish to bite, one fisherman was able to figure out the pattern. Jason Wilson dominated the tournament, with a three fish bag that went 16.77 pounds. His stringer was topped by a beautiful 8.77 pound big fish. Rumor has it that he got a hot tip that a certain hot bait was working, so he went out and bought the bait. However, at the tournament, he got his fish on something completely different…a worm that he poured himself. Great job, Jason! (Maybe he’ll donate a few worms to the raffle…hint, hint)
Two other people did pretty well also. Inder Lopez’s limit went 9.70 pounds with a 5.06 pound kicker, good enough for second in the tournament. Finally, Josh Rhodes managed a set of three near clone fish that went 9.41 pounds with a 3.51 pound big fish. Good going!
At this time, our October tournament is still scheduled for Lake Alamo. The Corps of Engineers, who are responsible for the maintenance of the dam, are saying that there are no plans to draw extra water out of Alamo, at least until next year. They maintain a regular flow from the dam to keep the water level in the Billy Williams river a constant level. At the meeting, it was decided that if Alamo is unfishable, we will vote at the October meeting where the tournament will be moved to. Lake Havasu and the lower river are the prime candidates. There will be about three weeks between the October meeting and the tournament date, so that should be adequate time to make plans on where to stay, etc.
Last month, the California Fish and Wildlife department held the 2014 event permit scheduling meeting. I was able to secure three permits for El Capitan Lake: February 8, March 29, and September 13th. These permits do not necessarily lock us into those dates. Having these permits does have a couple of advantages. First, no other large tournaments (e.g. WON or El Cajon Ford) will be on El Cap on that date. Second, we can get a variance for the 15 inch size limit. The cost of these permits equates to about a dollar per member, which nearly all the people I have talked with feel is well worth it.
Finally, speaking about cost, we have a new weigh-in table. It is not only larger and more stable, but is much easier to set up and take down. Also, we are in the process of obtaining a back-up for our scale. The one currently have is still working well, but is getting old. For $150, we will be able to get a near-new scale that is warrantied like a new one.
Membership News - Cheryl Byrd
Currently the membership stands at 49 active, 2 in-active, 3 family and 4 lifetime members. Also, there are two prospective members waiting in the wings. Scott Garber and Curtis Arneman both attended the August meeting and submitted their applications. They have been pre-fished by Matt Barksdale and Joe DeSalvo, respectively, and both received a thumbs-up and Board approval to proceed in the membership process. Their next step will be to participate in the Otay tournament in September.
I spoke at the August meeting about starting a mentoring program for new members and the idea was well received. There were 6 volunteers that showed interest in being a mentor. Currently, I am writing the guidelines and duties for the mentors and will have them available for the October meeting.
There are a couple of people behind on their dues. If you do not attend the monthly meeting, please mail your money directly to the Treasurer.
See you in September!
Member Profiles
by Cheryl Byrd
Doris Cook
(Doris did such a great job answering the profile questions, that I decided to use her text with only slight changes.)
I was born in Rutherfordton, North Carolina and moved to Dallas, North Carolina at age 8. At age 9, I developed Rheumatic Fever which affected my heart leaving me with a heart murmur, which I later outgrew. I had to have complete bed rest for about nine months. My doctor recommended my parents take me to a warm, dry climate to prevent a reoccurrence, so we moved to Buckeye, AZ.
My older brother was in the Navy, stationed in San Diego and my parents came over to visit him and my Dad’s brother who lived in Ocean Beach. They came home and told us they bought a house in Ocean Beach and we moved over here when I was in Junior High. I started 7th grade at Dana Junior High School in 1945. I lived in Ocean Beach until 1995 when I moved to La Mesa. (68 years in the San Diego area).
I first started fishing for bass when I was a teenager with some of my friends. We used to go to Lake Wohlford. My two girls and I used to go fishing with their grandmother in the canals in the El Centro area when we visited her. When she came to see us in Ocean Beach, we would go fish on the Ocean Beach or Shelter Island piers. I never fished in a boat until I met Bob Cook when he used to take my girls and I fishing.
My biggest fish I ever caught was a largemouth bass, a 9.8 pounder at Lake Otay. I recently caught an 8.3 at Lake Murray during our Family Tournament. My favorite lake is Otay. I used to love to camp and fish at Lake Morena. I love to fish topwater with Rapalas, and lately enjoy drop-shotting.
I married Winston Yeargin in 1955 and had twin daughters on Halloween, 1957. Donna has two sons, Jason (25) and Brandon (22). Diana has a daughter, Krystle (28). I got a divorce in 1975. I married Bob Cook on Oct. 9, 1976, when I inherited a step-daughter, Carolyne, who lives in Kansas City, and a stepson, Greg, and step granddaughter, Doris. Bob died on July 1, 1995 from esophageal cancer which metastasized to his liver. Jim Putney was Bob’s fishing buddy for 25 plus years and a couple years after Bob’s death, Jim and started fishing together, became a couple and have been together since 1997. Jim and I bought Bud Brant’s 1996 Champion in 2005 or 2006 I also have a “Sweet 16” Bass Tracker which we used in the Bay.
I graduated from Point Loma High School in 1951 and San Diego City College in 1953. My first job was working for Thomas E. Sharp at KFSD, now KOGO radio as a script writer, record librarian and later Traffic Manager where I scheduled all the commercials and programs. My next job was with KFMB Radio as Traffic Manager which I kept until just before my twins were born. I also worked as a secretary for a Remodeling Contractor, Modern Kitchens & Construction Company in La Mesa for 13 years. While working for Oliver Schutte, I received the honor of being chosen the first “Secretary of The Year” for the BCA (Building Contractors Association in early 1970). After Bob and I got married, I started working as his secretary at Beasley Electric Service. We later purchased the business and I got my C-10 Electrical Contractor’s License in August, 1995 and along with my daughter Donna ran the business until 1999 when I sold the inventory and customer list to Fleet Electric in Lemon Grove. I have been enjoying retirement since then.
Besides fishing, I like to camp and go to local casinos to play bingo and video poker. I also enjoy playing games on the computer. I enjoy spending time with my girls and grandchildren.
It is an interesting story as to how I became a member of he Club. Bob went to a San Diego Bassmaster’s meeting the month after we were married and came home and told me he signed me up to join the club. I said I bet those guys are going to like having a woman in the club, as I was the only one at that time. A funny thing, we fished Lake Skinner for a tournament and I was using night crawlers, which were legal at that time and was doing really well. During the tournament a sea plane touched down on the water and took off again. Some of the guys yelled “They are bringing in a fresh supply of night crawlers for Doris”. A young member, David Verdugo beat me out of third place in the tournament and when he received his trophy, I told him he should share it with me as I almost beat him. He said “Yes, that was kinda like beating my own mother”. After that some of the younger guys like Randy Kreiser started calling me “Mom” and he still does. I treasure my membership in the San Diego Bassmasters and appreciate all the help and support I have received since Bob’s passing.
I served as secretary to Kevin Mineo for several years when he was President of the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs. I have been secretary for 10 of the past 12 years, and am currently serving as secretary for President Jim Putney.
Note from Cheryl: Doris joined the club in 1976 as a family member. She was always in the backseat of Bob's boat at tournaments and took our big fish money at El Capitan in 1991. Doris has served on the Board 10 times, twice as Newsletter Editor and eight times as Secretary. Over the years, she has helped with the boutique, raffle and setting up "Night at the Races" to watch Ron Overman race at Cajon Speedway. After Bob's death, the Club wanted to keep Doris as part of the Bassmaster family and created the Lifetime membership status especially for her. Doris was the recipient of the Bassmaster of the Year award in 2007...the Club's highest honor. We thank Doris for her long service to the Club and hope for many more years to come.
Lynn Brown
Lynn Brown is another one of our members that was born and raised in San Diego's east county. He was born at Paradise Valley Hospital, in National City, on December 20, 1951. Lynn's family lived in Casa De Oro, where his mother was a homemaker and his father was a fireman. His only sibling, a brother, passed away in 2012.