CHRISTIAN OSTRANDER FISHES HIS WAY TO 2nd BAM PRO/AM VICTORY
Vinson Climbs His Way to Co Win
By Jody Only
La Grange, Calif. – As the only pro to break the 50-pound mark, Christian Ostrander of Turlock, Calif. over came an early 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 DayTwo 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, everyday 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 FlickShake 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 back seater.
The Best of The Rest – see all the results here
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 17.20 48.36
4 Billy Hines
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
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 15.156.98 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.
BAM Don Pedro Scholastic Series: High School & College Champions Crowned
High School Division
Kaiden Dinning secures his second High School Division win with an impressive 23.49-pound limit on Lake Don Pedro! As a two-time Scholastic Series Champion, Dinning is on track to become the first-ever BAM High School Angler of the Year, bringing him closer to earning a $100,000 scholarship to fish for the Simpson University Bass Team.
Right behind him, Tyler Peterson landed in second place with 21.85 pounds, including a 4.82-pound Big Fish. Noah Nguyen of the East County Student Anglers rounded out the Top 3, proving the high-level talent in this growing series.
The BAM High School Scholastic Series is a unique pilot program that allows high school anglers to compete from the back of the boat in BAM Pro/Am events. These young anglers fish the first two days of the Pro/Am, paired with a pro in a random draw, gaining invaluable experience while competing at a high level.
The next High School event takes place at the California Delta on May 30-31. With limited spots (max 15 anglers, based on event availability), now is the time to register!
- Entry Fee: $100
- Scholastic Membership Required: $35
College Division
Brayden Bishop & Payton Lyndall of Simpson University dominated Stop #2 of the BAM College Scholastic Series, securing victory with 14.87 pounds, including a 3.92-pound kicker.
Brandon Huse and Peter Khoury of the Chico State Bass Team have brought consistency to the table. Taking 2nd place at both Lake Shasta and Don Pedro, their knowledge and ability to break down new water is impressive. On the same note, our Lake Shasta Champion finished 3rd in this event with another quality bag and 3.85 Big Fish!
Jordan Harris and Fisher Perkins also cashed in, taking home the Tackle Warehouse Contingency prize.
With teams from across Northern California, the BAM College Series continues to grow into a premier platform for the next generation of competitive anglers. Unlike traditional college circuits, teams do not have to come from the same university, making it even more accessible.
The next College Series event will be held on the California Delta, with future stops planned in the Pacific Northwest.
- Entry Fee: $155
Don’t miss your chance to compete against the best young anglers and build your future in tournament fishing!
Trophies provided by Bridgford Outdoors
