14 Nov 6 , 2020 MAP FEATURE VOL . 39 • ISS . 23
Raymond Morales of Stockton won first place in the NorCal Trout
Anglers Challenge ( NTAC ) event at Lake Pardee on Saturday , October 10 with his
4.94 lb . rainbow trout , taking home $ 400 and a beautiful trophy . Although rain was originally in the forecast , it was a bright and beautiful autumn day on the Mother Lode reservoir located on the Mokelumne River . It was an extra-special day for Morales , since it was the first time he had ever fished Pardee - and the first time that he had ever entered a fish tournament . “ I hooked the fish by the spillway while throwing out a Kastmaster lure ,” said Morales ,” he said . “ I heard about the event from my
Lake Pardee features great shoreline access for anglers in pursuit of rainbow trout , channel catfish , black bass and panfish . Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
Stockton Anglers Bag First Place Trout in NTAC Event
friend , Larry Valderrama of Stockton , who won the NTAC tournament at Amador last year .” John Moua placed second with his 3.93 lb . lightning trout that he caught while jigging from shore in the Main Recreation Area . Andy Vang finished third with his 3.53 lb . trout also landed from shore . Matthew Fernandez placed fourth with his 3.02 lb . lightning trout , while Jay Xiong finished fifth with his 3 lb . fish . Both of them were also fishing from the bank . Fifteen-year-old Kayla Townley of
Stockton won first place in the youth division with her 2.21 lb . lightning trout . She used PowerBait from shore to catch her fish . She fished with James Townley , Karma Vetter , Kaleigh Cox , and Kelsie Vetter of Stockton during the event . The group caught one other trout in addition to Kayla ’ s winning fish . Mason Cetinich won second place in the youth
division with his 2.21 lb . trout , while Mateo Martinez finished third with a 1.43 lb . trout . John Bender placed fourth with his 1.3 lb . trout , while Stormie Bender finished fifth with her 1.3 lb . trout . A total of 140 anglers , including 125 adults and 15 youth , participated in the event . “ The turnout for this event was unbelievable ,” said Vince Harris , president of Anglers Press Outdoors , the creator of the NorCal Trout Anglers Challenge series . “ The attendance set a new record for this particular venue at Pardee , which we expected , mostly because folks have been waiting to get out into the fresh air , wet their line and compete . We expect the turnout at our next event on November 7 and 8 at Collins Lake ( dubbed the Fall Trout Spectacular ) to be even bigger .” “ The beauty of this series is that most people that do well in these events are fishing from the shore , and not a boat ,” emphasized Harris . The NTAC is presented by Angler ’ s Press Outdoors and hosted by Gone Fishin ’
Sheldon Bright of the Fish Sniffer and the youth division winners of the NTAC tournament at Lake Pardee show off their prizes .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
Marine , Lasher Elk Grove , the Fish Sniffer magazine and Daiwa . Sponsors include Silver Horde , Mack ’ s Lures , Yakima Baits . Fisherman ’ s Warehouse , Will Fish Tackle , Sunny ’ s Electric Marine , Apex Lures . Berkley Fishing , Yo-Zuri , Thomas Fishing Lures , Turner ’ s Outdoorsman , Luhr Jensen ., Rapala and Dick Nite . Lake Pardee closed for a couple of months during this year because of the COVID 19 pandemic , but anglers expe-
Kayla Townley of Stockton won first place in the youth division of the NTAC event at Lake Pardee on October 10 with this 2.21 lb . lightning trout .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .
John Moua placed second with his 3.93 lb . lightning trout that he caught while jigging from shore in the Main Recreation Area .
Photo by DAN BACHER , Fish Sniffer Staff .