La Grange, Calif. – As the only pro to break the 50-pound mark, Christian Ostrander of Turlock, Calif. overcame nearly a seven-pound Day One deficit, with his five-fish limit of 15.81 by adding a Day Two sack at 18.60 that boosted him not only into first place but to the top with a two-day total close to three-pounds over his nearest competitor.
Ostrander maintained the number one position on Championship Sunday with a final day’s weight of 16.61, sealing the deal on his second BAM Pro/Am win with a three-day total of 51.07. His victory at the Don Pedro event earned $9,665.00.
“It feels killer,” he exclaimed. “But my main goal is to get AOY.”
Ostrander felt his difference-maker was the time and travel he put in during practice.
“I went to every section (of the lake) twice in practice, different times each day,” he explained. “Each day, I burned $165 in gas. I ran around a bunch. I checked each area at different times and that matters big time in the spring like this.”
Although many felt the event would be won with a swimbait, Ostrander’s time on the water sent him on a different route.
“This lake can be really good with big baits, but that can also mess your head up,” he explained. “I caught em all doin’ stuff I don’t normally do on this lake. It was definitely a tougher bite.”
Ostrander reported fishing a wacky dropshot and a weightless Yamamoto Senko, sprinkling in a light jerkbait.
“I caught ‘em all on a spinning rod,” he shared.
Ostrander hopes to ride the momentum of his win, as he is heading from weigh-in to the airport, off to another event.
“I’m hoppin’ on a plane tonight to Kentucky Lake,” he concluded.
Vinson Finds His Way to First for the Co-Anglers
Climbing the leaderboard each day of the competition, Thaddius Vinson moved from 6th on Day One with 12.75 to 4th on Day Two adding 13.43 with a 4.18 Big Bass, and finally into the top-spot at close of scales on Championship Sunday with a tournament total of 40.29.
Vinson made his way from his hometown of Medford, Ore. to Pedro without any prior fishing experience at the lake.
“I came the night before the tournament and I just brought a few bags of worms I like to throw,” he shared.
He credited his pro draws for keeping him around good fish. “On Day One, it was a spot that was really convenient for a co-angler, and I got a pretty decent bag,” Vinson said.
He described his Day Two pro being focused on a “similar spot”.
“He knew I was doing well, he was a very accommodating pro, and kept me around fish,” he added. “I was able to catch ‘em pretty good on a worm moved and up to 4th place.”
Conditions changed for Vinson on the final day and only long casts were productive.
“I was around ‘em pretty good, but I noticed the bigger ones weren’t biting near the boat for whatever reason,” he said.
Even though he repeated a 14-pound sack, Vinson didn’t think it would be enough to pull out the “W”.
“Being here, usually, every day somebody catches a big one – a five or six-pounder; but nobody did, and I got pretty lucky to win,” he remarked.
Vinson attributed his weigh-fish to a green pumpkin/red Flick Shake worm on a Neko-rig and a dropshot fished on a Dobyns Extreme 741 paired to a Daiwa Certate reel spooled with six-pound Seaguar Tatsu.
“Those are a couple baits that do good everywhere,” he commented. “You can them take to any lake. I didn’t think I would be able to compete for a win; but I thought I could use a dropshot and get some points. It ended up being the right bait.”
Vinson banked $3,750 as a BAM backseater.
The Best of The Rest
Pro Top-10
1 Christian Ostrander 15.86 18.60 16.61 51.07
2 Adam Deakin 22.12 09.42 17.58 49.12
3 Chad Sweitzer 14.67 16.49 17.2cc0 48.36
4 Billy Hines 12.28 17.41 13.55 43.24
5 Nick Cloutier 12.24 17.67 12.90 42.81
6 Jason Crone 14.39 16.12 11.63 42.14
7 Brennan Osborn 13.74 15.49 12.62 41.85
8 AJ Azevedo 14.77 14.29 12.22 41.28
9 Alex Niapas 14.59 12.84 12.89 40.32
10 Matt Miley 16.161 1.2 11.92 39.28
Co Top-10
1 Thaddeus Vinson 12.75 13.43 14.11 40.29
2 Jodie White 13.59 11.24 11.54 36.37
3 Troy Mays 15.2 11.1 7.75 34.05
4 Curtis Thornhill 16.35 8.44 8.86 33.65
5 Ugene Downing 13.21 14.51 5.73 33.45
6 Jeffrey Slayter 12.22 1 4.06 6.68 32.96
7 Shawn Nash 9.98 12.12 32.22 10.12
8 Tommy Rice 15.15 6.98 9.56 31.69
9 Andy Stilly 18.08 4.03 9.03 31.14
10 Rocky Ward 10.04 13.33 7.53 30.9
The next BAM Pro/Am will blast off on May 30 at the California Delta. Registration is underway.
By Jody Only
About the BAM Tournament Trail
The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM Trail) offers an elite platform for anglers while providing exceptional media exposure for sponsors. The BAM Trail receives extensive coverage across:
- Print and digital magazines – Featured in Bass Angler Magazine
- Web and social media – Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more
- Podcasts and TV coverage – Exclusive content on Outdoor Action TV
BAM Tournament Series
- BAM Pro Tour – The West’s premier professional-level circuit
- Pro-Am Series – Competitive fishing at the highest level
- Scholastic Series – Supporting young anglers and future pros
- Kayak Series – Expanding the competition to grassroots anglers
Proud Partners of BAM Tournament Trail:
- Bass Boat Technologies
- Tackle Warehouse
- Bass Cat Boats
- Boardman Chamber
- Chicken Ranch Casino
- StorQuest
- Ford Fairfield
- Power-Pole
- Dakota Lithium
- Mercury Outboards
- Bob’s Machine
- Sticky Graphics
- Jean Deleonardi Real Estate
- Valley Outdoors
- Fisherman’s Warehouse
Tourism Partners
· Choose Redding
- Boardman Chamber
- City of Oakley
- Lake Almanor Chamber
- Feather River Tourism Association
- Lake Don Pedro
For more information, visit www.bamtrail.com.
Follow BAM Tournament Trail on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram for live updates!
#bamtrail #bassanglermag #bamprotour #DonPedroProAm #bassfishingtournament
Discover the ultimate resource for bass fishing enthusiasts with Bass Angler Magazine! Packed with expert tips, the latest cutting-edge techniques, and in-depth articles, our magazine is your go-to guide for mastering the art of bass fishing. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, Bass Angler Magazine delivers the insights and inspiration you need to reel in the big ones. Subscribe today and elevate your angling game!
