Big Smallmouth Creel Takes

C.A.S.T. Charity Tournament

Hickey-Rodriguez Team Wins $25,000

Triton bass boat rig by .79-of-a-pound on

Columbia River…

RICHLAND, Washington – The first annual C.A.S.T. for Kids Charity Bass Tournament on the Columbia River established several high-water marks for future tourney entrants to shoot at.  Or more appropriately to cast at. 

Here are the marks:

The overall winning weigh of 31.82-pounds.
Top one-day creel of 21.44-pounds.
And, the big fish, 6.14-pound smallmouth, a true heavyweight
for the Columbia-Snake River area.

Credit all three marks to the team of Jason Hickey of Weiser, Idaho and his partner Marco Rodriguez of Nyssa, Oregon.

Over seven-pounds behind after the day-one weigh-in, Hickey and Rodriguez charged from 21^st place to win by the narrowest of margin – a difference of .79-of-a-pound.  Seemingly, Dave Settle and Allen Weinert had the tournament locked up with a two-day total of 31.03-pounds after weighing 16.93-pounds the leading catch of day two.

Then, the six-bass creel belonging to Hickey-Rodriguez headed to the scales.  “Get your cameras ready folks,” announced special weighmaster Ray Scott.  “This is going to be a Kodak moment.”

“I’ve heard a lot of talk about the great smallmouth bass fishery here in the Columbia River,” said Scott, the founder of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), “but, the proof’s in the creel.  And, these boys broke the code.”

The six-bass tournament creel anchored by the six-pound plus smallmouth rocketed the pair into first place.  A fishing feat worth the $25,000 fully-rigged Triton 186 bass rig powered by Mercury’s 150 horsepower Optimax outboard and equipped with MotorGuide trolling motor.  The championship prize was presented by Jeff Priester of the Nixon’s Marine located in Walla Walla, Washington, a Triton dealer.

The big winner of the charity tournament is the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, a national non-profit organization based in Renton, Washington, dedicated to helping disadvantaged and special children.  The C.A.S.T. organization conducts fishing outings across the country for kids.

The 144 anglers fishing as two-man teams paid a $250 entry fee donation to the C.A.S.T. program.  “We’re encouraged by the turnout,” said Jim Owens, C.A.S.T. director, “and, we appreciate the support of our national sponsors.  Without the support of Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Zebco, Eagle Claw, Plano Tackle System, and Nixon’s Marine and Apollo, this fund raiser would not have been possible.”

Started as a one-time outing nine years ago by Jim Owens and a few bass fishing club members in Washington state, C.A.S.T. events are being planned in over 30 states this year.

“The acronym C.A.S.T. stands for ‘Catch A Special Thrill’,” explains Owens, “and that’s what we do.  To thrill a child with his or her’s first fish.  Watch a parent see a child freed from a wheelchair for a few hours of unfettered fun.  The volunteer, who sees a handicapped kid smile, ear-to-ear over catching a fish.  That’s C.A.S.T. in action…catching a special thrill.”

For information on future C.A.S.T. events, write: C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, 296 SW 43^rd Street, Renton, WA  98055 or telephone (425) 251-3214 or e-mail to jowens@castforkids.org.

Mother Nature smiled on the C.A.S.T. anglers.  The winds were unusually calm.  Gusts blowing 30 to 50 miles per hour are common with 6 to 10-foot waves to battle.

For the two days, September 23-24, the Columbia River resembled a quite mill pond.  Slick surface.  Bass boaters were free to roam.

Getting to the fishing locations was no problem, but locating the smallmouth wasn’t so easy.  “We searched several spots, then found them ganged up in one area,” said Marco Rodriguez.

With overnight temperatures dropping into the 36-40 degree range, the smallmouth are on the move.  “They’ll be more concentrated on their fall pattern with fishing improving over the next several days,” predicted Jason Hickey.

Both members of the winning team were tight-lipped as to where or “how deep” they located the smallmouth.

“There’s a big B.A.S.S. Invitational coming here in early-October,” explained Rodriguez.  “We’re hoping we can show the bass pros a thing or two about fishing the Columbia.  I’m excited about fishing that tournament, now.”

The final standings:  (1) Jason Hickey-Marco Rodriguez, 31.82-pounds; (2) Dave Settle-Allen Weinert, 31.03-pounds; (3) Jeff Boyer-Shane Lee, 26-pounds; (4) Sean Minderman-Eric Smith, 24.70-pounds; (5) Paul Hall-Brian Worden, 24.56-pounds; (6) Luke Clausen-Marc Lippincott, 24.47-pounds; (7) Wayne Leigh-Hal Zimmerman, 23.80-pounds; (8) Paul Nixon-Lew Sprengel, 23.48-pounds; (9) James Halka-Tim Harding, 23.03-pounds; (10) Bruce Ratchford-Mike Mahan, 22.99-pounds.  

CATCH A SPECIAL THRILL – The team of Jason Hickey and Marco Rodriguez display the final-round creel of six smallmouth bass that won the first annual C.A.S.T. for Kids Charity Tournament at the Columbia River.  C.A.S.T. director Jim Owens is pictured at right.

BRAGGING SIZE BASS – Ray Scott, special weighmaster for the C.A.S.T. for Kids Charity Tournament, holds the 6.14-pound smallmouth bass boated by Jason Hickey, the tournament’s big fish winner.

THE WINNER’S BIG CATCH – A fully rigged Triton 186 bass boat powered with a 150 horsepower Mercury Optimax, a $25,000 first-place award, goes to the team of Jason Hickey and Marco Rodriquez.  Weighmaster Ray Scott and Jeff Priester of Nixon’s Marine congratulate the winners of the first annual C.A.S.T. for Kids Charity Tournament.  The September 23-24 event was fished out of Columbia Point Marina at Richland, Washington on the Columbia River.