YUMA DIVISION Volume 2014/2015, Issue #1 October 2014

Picking right up from where they left off last year, the team of

John Turner and Jim Waits, dominate our first event of the

year with 17.67 lbs. Father & son team, Bob Voss and Chad

Voss edge out fish-off champions, Tim Price and Lynn Domby

for second place.

Mittry Lake Event #1 Recap

As each team in those weighing in early made their way to the

scales it seemed Mittry Lake was once again going to earn that

reputation as “Mystery lake” or as some would call it “Misery

lake”. The bite had been tough, with a lake that was full of

grass and weeds almost from top to bottom and a recent turn

sending everything green floating to the surface. For many

teams, the bite was still tough and weigh in could have been

anytime, it really wouldn’t have mattered much for their day.

But then it happened, as it so often does when you have such a

great field of fishermen, someone always finds a way to open

Mittry’s vault of big fish. The team of Greg Gilbert and Candy

Rojas came up with the first bag topping 15 lbs. at 15.50 lbs.

Given that was almost 5 lbs. larger then the next team you had

to think they would be taking home a nice paycheck. Oh, but

wait! Continued on page 2,

Sonora NISSAN of Yuma Signs on as Title Sponsor for the

Yuma Regional Fish-Off Championship

The most unique format in Championship events is

back and will be significantly expanded due to the

generosity of Sonora NISSAN of Yuma

After summer long discussions with Ted Hook of Sonora Nissan of Yuma, we are pleased to announce Arizona’s Top Ranked Nissan Dealer is now the Title Sponsor for ABA’s Yuma Division Regional Fish-off Championship. The tournament, already considered to have one of the most unique formats ever, will also now be a leader in terms of angler paybacks in all the Western States. The Sonora sponsorship will allow the Division to expand payouts in each of the 3 individual sessions, places in overall session finishes and the total places paid for cumulative weight for all three sessions. Designed to test an angler’s skill, the tournament also challenges angler’s to manage their time and develop a winning strategy that is more than just finding a winning pattern. This one day, invitation only, tournament will be held May 31st 2015 at Fisher’s Landing. Thank you, Ted

Hook & Sonora NISSAN of Yuma!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE -

Pg.

1 Mittry Lake Event #1 Recap

1 Yuma Championship Title Sponsor

2 Calendar of Events

2 8 Lb. Pot Gets Bigger

3 Sponsor News

4 Mittry Lake Complete Results

5 Big Fish Radar

6 Thank You Sponsors

Below: Jim Waits with a Mittry pig and more

Shortly after Gilbert and Rojas, the father/son team, of Bob Voss and Chad Voss, showed up with a bag pushing 16 pounds at 15.99 lbs. and our first big fish over 5 lbs. at 5.51 lbs. Our new leaders, feeling confident, knew they still had two big threats waiting behind them to weigh in. Up first was the defending, two-time, Team of the Year, John Turner and Jim Waits. It was clear the most consistent team in the Division was on them again. It was also clear when Jim Waits pulled the 6.71 lb. largemouth from his sack that the leader board was going to change once again. Anchored by the events new big fish, the team of Turner and Waits weighed in a whopping 17.67 lbs. It might have been the start of a new year, but Turner and Waits were making sure everyone knew why they had won back to back, “Team of the Year” titles. Last to weigh in however, was our defending fish-off Champions, Tim Price and Lynn Domby. They too, appeared to pick up right where they left off last year and everyone was holding their breath as another Mittry giant came out of Lynn Domby’s bag. Would Tim and Lynn’s giant and bag of quality fish overtake Turner and Waits? Lynn’s big fish at 6.55 lbs. would fall just short, but it was our fourth straight bag of fish that would top 15 lbs. At 15.79 lbs. it would only be good for third place. In the end it was another win for the team of John Turner and Jim Waits and the kind of start a team looking for a third straight Team of the Year title could have hoped for, but it looks like several teams are thinking they just might get in their way this year! Here’s how they finished; Turner and Waits in first, collecting a total of $1,425 for their efforts, Voss and Voss cashing $740 for second place, Price and Domby in third place taking home $495 in cash and, also our lucky winners of the Powell Rod raffle for an additional $260 in prizes totaling $755, Greg Gilbert and Candy Rojas, Keith Lute and Jacob Lute, taking fourth and fifth, respectively. According to the top teams it was a fairly consistent pattern, rattle traps and cranks early, then a lot of flipping to coax the bigger fish to bite. There were some senko fish caught, but it looks like most of the big fish came on the flip bite. The complete list of results is on page 4 of this newsletter

Tournament recap, continued from page 1

YUMA DIVISION CALENDAR

YUMA TOURNAMENT # 2

PLACE FISHER’S LANDING

DATE NOVENBER 22, 2014

YUMA TOURNAMENT # 3

PLACE FISHER’S LANDING

DATE JANUARY 31, 2015

YUMA TOURNAMENT # 4

PLACE MITTRY LAKE

DATE FEBRUARY 21, 2015

YUMA TOURNAMENT # 5

PLACE FISHER’S LANDING

DATE APRIL 11, 2015

YUMA TOURNAMENT # 6

PLACE FISHER’S LANDING

DATE MAY 9, 2015

NOTE - 8 LB OPTION POT IS ACTIVE, ALL EVENTS ;

NOW AT $1,510 IN CASH AND PRIZES

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8 LB POT KEEPS GROWING!

Angler’s – The 8 lb pot will be an active option at

every event this year and we will continue to grow

the pot until someone brings in a fish of at least 8 lbs.

or better. Please take a chance to thank the following sponsors who have made the 8 LB Pot incentive something special:

Ken Howden, Holiday Marine, Phoenix, AZ

Gary Understiller, Burkett Cabinetry, Phoenix, AZ

Ted Hook, Senora Nissan, Yuma, AZ

Rickey Stewart, Stewart & Stewart, Yuma, AZ

Keith Bryan, Powell Rods, Novato, CA

$-

$200.00

$400.00

$600.00

$800.00

$1,000.00

$1,200.00

$1,400.00

$1,600.00

Prize Value

Mittry #1 2014/2015

Option Fees 2013/2014

Cash Sponsorships 2013/2014

Prize Sponsorships 2013/2014Below: Chad and Bob Voss with part of their 2nd

place sack of bass (Someone please teach Bob Voss how to hold a fish so

we actually see it)

DIVISION SPONSOR NEWS We are pleased to announce

Ron Speed Jr.’s Adventures

has joined our list of Fish-off

Sponsors to offer one lucky

Angler a 3 day Mexican bass

fishing trip at one of their

famous lakes, El Salto or the newly opened, Lake Picachos.

The trip includes first class food, lodging and some of the best

bass fishing Mexico has to offer (travel to and from Matzalan,

tips, and taxes not included). This is a Yuma Division

exclusive, Ron Speed Jr.’s representative, our own, Jim Waits,

worked diligently to not only bring one of these fabulous trips

to our Division, but also a trip to each of ABA’s end of year

Championships. The trip will be awarded as part of our year

end fish-off. Make sure you qualify for the fish-off to have a

shot at a once in a lifetime experience.

Powell Rods

E X T E N D S I T S C O M M I T M E N T T O

Y U M A D I V I S I O N P A R T I C I P A N T S

One of the nation's finest rod builder’s, after introducing a new line (3d Max series) in an already impressive collection of bass centric fishing rods, is continuing its current sponsorship for YUMA division participants through a direct buy discount program. The program allows fishermen who have participated in any of the tournament events with ABA held out of the Yuma division an opportunity to purchase directly from Powell an unlimited number of rods at a discount level equal to one of their existing sponsorship levels offered touring pro fishermen. Angler’s can purchased from any of the current Powell lines with a discount based on the class of rod being purchased. Mix and match between lines, select any style of rod and select any number of rods. The sponsor, Powell Rods, and the Director’s reserve the right to modify, change or cancel the program at any time.

U S P R E C I S I O N S H E E T M E T A L

US Precision has agreed to again sponsor a $1,000 bonus to the top finishing Yuma Division qualifying team that participates in the end of year fish-off scheduled for May 31st at Fisher’s Landing.

Congratulations to Keith Bryan of

Novato, Ca., CEO of Powell Rods,

IGFA has recognized Keith’s catch as a

new world record for spotted bass. Keith

bagged a 10.48-pound spot (pic to right)

on New Melones Lake in central

California during the first day of a Pro-

am Tournament.

Above Lynn Domby with another Mittry beauty!

Above: Greg Gilbert and part of his 4th place bag.

Below: Brenton Lute and his $60 3rd big fish, nice!

Above: Powell Rod winners, Dave and Shannon Hilton Below: Greg Gilbert and Candy Rojas

Above: Jeff Rutt with two nice Smallies from his 3rd place bag

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

ABA Yuma Division – Event #1, Mittry Lake

October 25, 2014

Place

Team

# of

Fish

Big

Fish

Total

Weight

Winnings

Winnings

Notes

1 John Turner & Jim Waits 5 6.71 17.67 $ 1,425.00 1st plus options

2 Bob Voss & Chad Voss 5 5.51 15.99 $ 740.00 2nd

plus options

3 Lynn Domby & Tim Price

5 6.55 15.79 $ 755.00

3rd

plus options &

Powell Rods

4 Greg Gilbert & Candy Rojas 5 4.36 15.50

5 Keith Lute & Jacob Lute 5 3.22 12.74

6 Robby Ballew & Tyler Shaddy 5 3.35 10.39

7 Robert Murray & Mike Edwards 4 2.65 9.73

8 Gary Williams & Jim Nemlowill 4 2.97 9.53

9 Brenton Lute & Craig Johnson 2 5.80 6.89 $ 60.00 3rd

Big Fish Option

10 Steve Almquist & Curtis Crecelius 4 2.68 6.64

11 Jeff Woods & Ray Mayo 5 - 6.48

12 Ken Howden & Gary Understiller 4 - 6.32

13 Ed Reeder and John Borghoff 4 1.75 5.66 $ 75.00 Director’s Cash

14 Mac McDermit & Bobbi McDermitt 3 1.91 4.31

15 Ted Hook (DNF) & Ricky Stewart 1 2.55 2.55

61 147.19 $ 3,055.00

Page 4

Congratulations to our: (Left) 1st Place finisher’s, repeat Champions, John Turner and

Jim Waits. (Right) 2nd

place finisher, father and son team, Chad Voss and Bob Voss

Team

Mittry #1 10/25/2014

Mittry #2 11/22/2014

Fishers #3 1/31/2015

Mittry #4 2/21/2015

Fishers #5 4/11/2015

Fishers #6 5/09/2015

Turner/Waits 1st – 6.71 lbs

Domby/Price 2nd – 6.55 lbs

Lute/Johnson 3rd – 5.80 lbs

So my girlfriend the other day told a

friend of hers “ All he ever does is just fish” and I told her “that’s not true, I spend most of my time catching!”

BIG FISH RADAR TRACKER

Are you on the Radar yet?

BIG FISH RADAR SCREEN

Are you on the Radar Yet?

Page 5

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Powell Rod Raffle & Director’s Cash

And our winners are –

TITLE SPONSOR

Sonora NISSAN Yuma, Arizona

DIVISION SPONSORS

Right; 3rd place finisher’s,

Lynn Domby and Tim Price,

sporting a couple of new

Powell “Inferno” Rods won

in the raffle