Dobyns Scores 9th Win On WON BASS Tour
OROVILLE (March 17, 2003) - Last Saturday morning at about 5:30 a.m., the start of the Lake Oroville Invitational was in doubt as a rain squall and 30-40 mph winds buffeted the lake and kept 332 anglers off the lake. By daylight, the winds and rains stopped and WON BASS director Mike Kennedy allowed the 166 boats to be launched. By 7:45 a.m. the start was underway. Although the start had been delayed more than an hour, the anglers still found great fishing as the skies cleared while rainstorms hit most of the rest of northern California all day.
At the end of the first day, the all-time tournament winner on the circuit, Gary Dobyns of Yuba City, had a three pound lead in search of his ninth tour victory, as he posted a catch of 14.44 pounds.
"I owe a lot to my partner, Glenda Jackson of Las Vegas, who caught 8 of our first 10 bass, and had a 3.38 pounder, our third largest of the day," said Dobyns. Both anglers were throwing spinnerbaits. "I had her throwing chartreuse and white blades, while I worked white ones."
Bob Boyd of Clovis held down second spot as he and AAA partner Mike Hitomi of Suisun City tallied 12.64 pounds. In third spot was local pro Don Reighley of Oroville with 11.55 pounds, and AAA Rob Tette of Dixon. As expected by most anglers, Dobyns maintained his lead on the second round and collected the tournament's top prize, a Ranger 519VX boat and trailer, Mercury outboard, MotorGuide trolling motor, Trojan batteries and Lowrance electronics. He also won nearly $6,000 in cash in the option pools. "I really got what I wanted with rains," said Dobyns. "I had a tough pre-fish, and each night I was doing a rain dance as I knew my fish would turn on with rough weather conditions. I prayed a lot for the rain and I guess it worked."
Jumping into second place was Danny Miller of Orangevale, who finished with a total of 22.47 pounds and winnings of $10,280 cash. Third place went to Dick Graue of Acampo, who had 22.15 pounds to win $5,500 cash. Reighley slipped to fourth place with 21.95 pounds and won $4,320. Russ Snyders of San Mateo had 21.67 pounds and won a total of $4,500 in fifth place, including $1,500 for the tournament's largest bass, 5.19 pounds on Sunday. AAA Patrick Monday of Oroville had the day's second largest bass, 5.14 pounds, to win $500.
Brian Nollar of Homer, Alaska (formerly of Redlands, CA), placed sixth with 20.64 to win $2,000, while his father, Dave, collected $600 by finishing in 24th place with 18.64 pounds.
On Saturday, Dobyns included the day's biggest fish in his catch, at 3.82 pounds, to win the $1,500 prize. AAA Chris Zimmerman of Orland won $500 for a 3.57 pounder.
In the final AAA standings, the top spot was taken by Scott Mullins of Salinas with 21.26 pounds to win $2,000. Second place went to Mike Minkiewicz of Campbell with 21.06 pounds to win $1,250, while third and $2,425 with options went to Mike Hitomi of Suisun City.
The money winners for the tournament included:
PRO STANDINGS, LAKE OROVILLE
Place, Name Hometown Fish Big Fish Total Money 1 Gary Dobyns Yuba City CA 10 3.82 25.37 $42,100 2 Danny Miller Orangevale CA 10 3.19 22.47 10,280 3 Dick Graue Acampo CA 10 2.75 22.15 5,500 4 Don Reighley Oroville CA 10 21.95 4,320 5 Russ Snyders San Mateo CA 10 5.19 21.67 4,500 6 Brian Nollar Redlands CA 10 20.64 2,000 7 Bob Boyd Clovis CA 10 20.44 2,000 8 Eric Parra Sacramento CA 10 20.31 2,000 9 Dub LaShot Walterville OR 10 2.15 20.04 2,000 10 Wayne Breazeale Kelseyville CA 10 2.88 20.00 2,000 11 Dave Rush Palermo CA 10 19.92 1,000 12 Walt Austin Fresno CA 10 19.76 1,000 13 David Mayo Sacramento CA 10 19.67 1,000 14 Bill Adams Exeter CA 10 19.12 1,000 15 Richard Forhan Oroville CA 10 2.52 19.10 1,000 16 Dave Carrick Rio Oso CA 10 19.09 700 17 Zack Thompson Orinda CA 10 2.45 18.84 700 18 Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff CA 10 18.80 700 18 Tom Jolin Lakeport CA 10 18.80 700 20 Cris VanClef Mountain View CA 10 18.78 700 21 Rock Douglass Willows CA 10 4.57 18.77 600 21 Mike Hanson Oroville CA 10 18.77 600 23 Steven Yee Sacramento CA 10 18.75 600 24 Dave Nollar Redlands CA 9 4.50 18.64 600 25 Michael J. Bennett Grass Valley CA 10 18.57 600 26 Pete Jenson Roseville CA 10 18.53 500 26 James R. Taylor San Jose CA 10 18.53 500 28 Kevin Davis Elverta CA 10 18.52 500 29 Ed Arledge San Diego CA 10 18.51 500 30 Jim Logue Oroville CA 10 2.54 18.33 500 31 Sabin Holm Galt CA 10 18.29 500 32 Bernie Gaunt W. Sacramento CA 10 18.27 500 33 Stephen Lee Battle Ground WA 10 18.26 500
AAA STANDINGS - LAKE OROVILLE
Place, Name Hometown Fish Big Fish Total Money 1 Scott Mullins Salinas CA 10 21.26 $2,000 2 Mike Minkiewicz Campbell CA 10 2.85 21.06 1,250 3 Mike Hitomi Suisun City CA 10 20.78 2,425 4 Rob Tette Dixon CA 10 20.65 700 5 Camryn Wiggins Dublin CA 10 20.55 550 6 Stephen Penrod Salinas CA 10 20.25 4,325 7 Chris Zimmerman Orland CA 10 3.57 19.90 1,000 8 Patrick Monday Oroville CA 9 5.14 19.85 950 9 Jim Tatum Bishop CA 10 19.79 1,840 10 Mark Schroeder Red Bluff CA 10 19.76 1,360 11 Tom Ehmen Livermore CA 10 19.74 300 12 Bill Harrison Sacramento CA 10 19.50 300 13 John Inwood Reno NV 10 19.43 300 14 Rick Tankersley Fremont CA 10 19.33 300 15 Frank Coronado Citrus Heights CA 10 19.26 300 16 Gary Walters II Alameda CA 10 19.23 275 17 Cahoone Yuen Jr. Sacramento CA 10 19.07 275 18 Bill Leitelt San Jose CA 10 18.87 275 19 Phil Brown Tulelake CA 10 18.74 275 20 Izz Byrd San Jose CA 10 18.62 275 20 Curtis Caldwell Clovis CA 10 18.62 275 22 Jack Christensen Springfield OR 10 18.60 250 23 Jason Borofka Salinas CA 10 18.59 250 24 Don Spencer Orange CA 10 18.54 250 25 Chad Hulbert Gilroy CA 10 18.47 250 26 Jesse Brunk Anderson CA 10 18.42 225 27 Joe Martarano San Jose CA 10 18.39 225 28 Pete Pinkerton Lakehead CA 10 2.77 18.37 225 29 Richard Smith Santa Clarita CA 10 18.32 225 30 Paul Beyer Willows CA 10 18.08 200 30 Victor Hershberger Sacramento CA 10 18.08 200 30 Rick Shaver Turlock CA 10 18.08 200 33 Jerry Woodward Orland CA 10 17.98 200
