The winners of the 25th Annual Paul Jadro Memorial Bass Tournament hosted by Company 2 of the Fortuna Fire Department achieved a rare accomplishment with only one of the team members ever fishing the lake in the past and then only one time. The team of Joel Chin and Brodi Garber managed an impressive win with a total weight of 19.74 pounds and in doing so they also captured both 1st and 3rd big fish awards for total winnings of $1,147.00.
Separating 1st and 2nd place was a mere 33/100ths of a pound with the always consistent team of Brian Barthman and Tom Helberg weighing in a limit of solid keepers for a total weight of 19.41 pounds. Finishing in 3rd place was the Father-Son duo of Steve and Garrett Frick with 5 fish weighing in at 17.18 pounds. Congratulations to Garret and his high school fishing partner Grant on qualifying for the High School National Championship later this month in Alabama.
On the Youth Angler side of the field, Payton Markie and grandfather Dave Saunderson brought in a 5 fish limit weighing 9.78 pounds. Payton earned the Youth angler award for the tournament which included $50.00 from Umpqua Bank (destined to go directly into Payton’s college savings account?), a rod-reel combo from Fortuna Ace Hardware and a very nice tackle bag and baits donated by Company 4 of the Fortuna Fire Department. Payton also did pretty well in the raffle winning two of the four $50.00 RMI gift cards, not bad for a day on the back of the boat.
And of course there was the “smallest limit” award of $50.00 donated by A-1 Radiator of Fortuna. The team of Jeff Mason and Joe Mora claimed the prize with a 5 fish limit weighing 7.40 pounds. Joe’s Uncle PJ “Paul Jadro” no doubt was looking down and grinning ear to ear over their efforts and accomplishment.
In all we had a lower number of boats than expected with 21 registered but only 19 actually on the water. Even so, fun was had by all with a total catch of 77 fish; all released alive and well.
As always, the members of Fortuna Fire Co. 2 would like to thank all the contestants for coming out and supporting the tournament as well as our many sponsors:
Major tournament sponsors
Gale & Nielsen Attorneys
Fortuna Police Employees Association
Plaque sponsor
Ponci’s Diesel Center
Youth Angler sponsors
S & H Auto Machine Umpqua Bank Fortuna Fire Co. 4 Grundmans Sport and Cycle
Fortuna Ace Hardware Unhooked Bass Anglers
Smallest Limit
A-1 Radiator
Boat Inspections
Reynolds RV Repair
Raffle sponsors
RMI Outdoors Snap-on Tools Englund Marine Hummel Tire
Pacific Outfitters Springville Safety and Supply Dave’s Auto Electric
Les Schwab – Fortuna Sequoia Gas RWS Services NAPA Auto Parts – Fortuna
Humboldt Petroleum West Coast Coffee Lithia Chrysler-Dodge
Spotlight Video Tornado Dave’s Del Reka Distributors Interstate Battery
Renner Petroleum O’Riley’s Auto Parts – Fortuna Shelton’s Auto Lube