The Rayovac FLW Series is headed to the California Delta May 15-17 for a tournament presented by Mercury when as many as 300 pros and co-anglers take to the water for the second stop of 2014 in the Western Division.
“My favorite thing about the Delta is that there are so many giant fish there,” said Ish Monroe, Hughson, Calif., resident and three time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “You can catch a double-digit bass any day, and it probably has more 3- to 5-pounders than 99 percent of the lakes in the country.
“Guys will be catching them every which way,” Monroe explained. “California didn’t have a late spring, so the bass will be in full-blown spawn and postspawn phases.
“The tournament will be won on a big swimbait, a big topwater, a topwater frog or punching mats with a jig,” added Monroe. “You can always catch them on a squarebill crankbait on the Delta, but it’s hard to win and stay consistent with that. A big swimbait or big topwater can also be inconsistent, but at least then you still have a chance at a really big bag.
“I think it will take between 72 to 78 pounds to win this event,” said Monroe. “The fishing should be great.”
Anglers will take off from Russo’s Marina located at 3995 Willow Road in Bethel Island, Calif., at 6 a.m. daily. Weigh-ins will be held at the launch site beginning at 2 p.m. each day. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Pros will fish for a top award of $40,000 plus a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard if Ranger Cup guidelines are met. Co-anglers will cast for a top award consisting of a Ranger Z117 with 90-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $5,000 if Ranger Cup guidelines are met.
The Rayovac FLW Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the Rayovac FLW Series Championship. The 2014 Rayovac FLW Series Championship is being held Oct. 30-Nov. 1 on Wheeler Lake in Rogersville, Ala.
The Rayovac FLW Series tournament on the California Delta is being hosted by Hook Line & Sinker, Sugar Barge RV Resort & Marina, Providence Eatery, Black Bear Restaurant and Russo’s Marina.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWOutdoors.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Rayovac FLW Series on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Logo courtesy FLW Outdoors
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