Baker back on top

Late day kicker seals the co-angler win

STOCKTON, Calif. – Obviously, Kyle Baker was pretty fond of the co-angler lead he earned on day one, because after losing it for a day, he stormed back to win his division in the EverStart Western Division event on the Cal Delta.

Hailing from Lancaster, Calif., Baker opened with a division-leading weight of 16-13, but slipped to third on day two with his 11-pound, 3-ounce catch. Today, he sacked up 13-14 – the heaviest co-angler weight – and won with a three day total of 41-14. His final round weight included a kicker of 6-plus pounds.

Baker threw a wacky-rigged 5-inch green pumpkin Senko on a 1/0 hook. In the thickest of cover, he punched a Sweet Beaver in the sprayed grass color with a 1 ¼-ounce weight.

“I was watching where my pro threw and trying not to throw where he threw because we were fishing in some tight cover,” Baker said. “I got the bites I needed and executed when I had to. My big fish was the last fish I caught.”

Albury improves to second place

Lester Albury, of Temecula, Calif., started the final round in seventh place and gained five notches to finish second with 39-0. On days one and two, Albury caught most of his fish on dropshots. Today, he used the same bait, along with Senkos. Baits in green color schemes worked best.

“I had a fun week; I had great partners who put me on the fish,” Albury said.

Big memory for third place Morris

Gary Morris, of Tracy, Calif. also moved up the standings by improving three spots from his sixth place finish on the second day to close out in third with 37-12. He caught all of his fish dropshotting a morning dawn Robo Worm.

Morris’ day two catch included the event’s largest bass – an 11-pound, 6-ounce fish that left a lasting impression.

“I caught the fish of my lifetime yesterday – I haven’t been able to sleep, thinking about it,” Morris said. “It was kind of a dramatic catch. (My pro) Mike Folkestad had a hook in his shoe, so I had to jump over him. I fought the fish through the weeds and by that time, he had the net up there and we got her in the boat.”

Steven Cook, of Phoenix, Ariz. placed fourth with 37-10 and Phil Risnes, of Hartford, S.D. was fifth with 37-2.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top-10 co-angler leaders at the EverStart Series Cal Delta event:

6th: Greig Sniffen, of Saratoga, Calif., 35-11

7th: Jared Frantzich, of Sacramento, Calif., 35-4

8th: Hideki Maeda, 33-0

9th: Christopher Irigoyen, of Henderson, Nev., 31-7

10th: Mike Chen, of Stockton, Calif., was fifth at 29-9