<\/p>\n
One 3-plus-pound bass was placed on the scale. Then another. With competitors eagerly looking on, results were tallied. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a tie,\u201d exclaimed Cortez BassMasters\u2019 tournament director Terry Belden. \u201cThree-eleven both ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
What an exciting way to conclude the Cortez BassMasters\u2019 final fishing tournament of the season, held under clear blue skies at McPhee Reservoir on Saturday, Sept. 21. Twelve total fishermen, divided among seven boats, competed.<\/p>\n
Tying for first place in the \u201cbig-fish\u201d competition were local fishermen Lonnie Huff and Steve Lang. Both men managed to land smallmouth bass weighing 3.11 pounds, an impressive feat considering the difficulty of catching large bass in McPhee Reservoir.<\/p>\n
Dolores resident Huff said his \u201cbig-fish\u201d struck at 7:15 a.m. near a number of partially submerged tires located just south of the main boat ramp.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was using a \u2018slow-go\u2019, just bouncing it off the bottom,\u201d said Huff. \u201cIt was my first fish of the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like Huff, Lang landed his \u201cbig fish\u201d early in the morning near some tires that are located just north of the boat ramp near a large island.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the first fish of the morning for me,\u201d said Jordan. \u201cI caught it at about 8:30. I was just using plastic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking of how the recent rain has affected fishing in McPhee, Lang said, \u201cThe fishing is still good. The water has come up. You have to find (the fish), but once you find them, it\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Proving Lang\u2019s point, overall tournament winner Wade Jordan returned to the dock with five bass, which together, weighed a total of 8.34 pounds. As a reward for his catch, Jordon walked away with a $140 prize.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just staying on points and throwing plastic bait,\u201d said Jordan. \u201cThe fishing this summer has been really good. (The low water levels) move the fish to the points and congregate them, so it\u2019s easier to catch them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Placing second overall in the tournament was Mike Carver, who returned to the dock with five bass totaling 6.55 pounds. Carver\u2019s second-place prize totaled $88.<\/p>\n
Ben Ferris finished third with five fish totaling 5.27 pounds.<\/p>\n
Mike McAndrews won the \u201csmall-fish\u201d competition, reeling in a minnow slightly larger than his little finger, while Huff won a raffle for a brand new Denali fishing pole.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in this for the fun,\u201d said Cortez BassMasters\u2019 president Mike McAndrews,\u201d speaking about the tournament, as well as the Cortez BassMasters club. \u201cA lot of people have the idea that they can\u2019t get into this because we are fishing for large amounts of money. It\u2019s not a big-money thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Individuals interested in learning more about the BassMasters or fishing in future tournaments can contact McAndrews at 970-749-2422.<\/p>\n