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