The Delta, CA – The 2012 California SAF State Championship was held on the famed California Delta following the conclusion of a FLW Outdoors Everstart Series Event. The competition was tight with nearly half of the field bringing in healthy limits. After all teams had weighed in, it took over 20lbs to decide the title of 2012 California High School State Champions. Tyler Bounds and Andrew Loberg from Woodcreek High School caught a five bass limit weighing 20lbs 5ounces giving them a two pound margin of victory.
The pair targeted rip rap banks and tullies in Taylor Slough most of the day. The original game plan was for one of the anglers to use finesse tactics in search of a limit while the other “power-fished” for a big bass kicker. They caught a few keepers early by throwing a shallow-running crankbait up against rip rap banks. Loberg then caught a few fish on a brown and purple jig tipped with a Reaction Innovations Beaver. He cast the jig deep into the tullies and popped it out for a few reaction strikes. “We went back to the first stretch of bank we caught fish on in the morning and threw the drop shot right up against the tullies,” Loberg said. “My partner caught a nice three pounder, and then I caught a six!” Bounds caught a nice seven pounder on a windy point with the drop shot rig using a 6” MM3 colored Roboworm. That’s when both teammates decided the drop shot could lead them to victory. “The key was having a really short 5-6” leader on that drop shot rig.”
Both anglers utilized Daiwa Advantage and Fuego reels and a variety of Dobyns Champion Extreme Series rods to get their fish out of heavy cover and into the livewell.
Kasey Slick & Hunter Dejesus from the Delta Teen Team finished in second place with three fish that weighed 18lbs. Averaging about six pounds per fish, their bag was anchored by a 10lb 13ounce Delta monster, which is unofficially the biggest bass ever weighed in at an SAF Event!
Travis Ortman and Zach Cuttshaw, representing the Heritage Patriots, finished in third with five bass weighing 14lbs 12ounces. In fourth, Cory Kerber & Nick Flores from the Kerman High School Lion Club earned the honor of highest finishing SAF Certified team with four fish weighing 10lbs 1ounce.
Both FLW Outdoors and the California Bass Federation provided the volunteer manpower for the event, and every participant got to weigh-in their fish on the FLW Outdoors Everstart Series stage, just like the pros!
Final Standings
- Tyler Bounds/Andrew Loberg Woodcreek High School 20-5
- Kasey Slick/Hunter Dejesus Delta Teen Team 18-0
- Travis Ortman/Zach Cuttshaw Heritage High School 14-12
- Manuel Munoz/Chris Fenk San Benito High School 10-12
- Adam Roberts/Sean Jesus Freedom High School 10-8
- Cory Kerber/Nick Flores Kerman High School 10-1
- Jared Mitchell/Jared Harris Gregori High School 10-0
- Travis Bounds/Kasey Levine Woodcreek High School 9-5
- Tanner Sterud/Cody Bybee Deer Valley High School 8-6
- Gabriel Snyder/Spencer Butler Delta Teen Team 4-13
- Garret Dayton/Jon Heath Union Mine High School 4-2
- Linsey Almassey/Kelsey Almassey Freedom High School 0-0
- Nicholas Trinh/Chris Chung Santa Teresa High School DQ
The winners will also advance on to compete in the High School Western Conference competition, which will take place next fall in conjunction with the FLW College Conference Championship series. The winners there will advance to the High School National Championship sponsored by The Bass Federation and FLW Outdoors.
The SAF State Championship series continues its trek across America with the South Carolina High School State Championship next weekend. The 2012 High School Fishing World Finals will return to Russellville, Ark., July 15-21. Registration is open to ALL SAF members. It’s a no entry-fee event, SAF members can go online at www.highschoolfishing.org to register.
For information on how to join the new and exciting sport of high school bass fishing, visit www.HighSchoolFishing.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hsfishing or follow us on Twitter @hs_fishing.
