Californian Gutierrez wins Costa FLW Series western opener on Lake Shasta
Category: press release
Feb 21st, 2016 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Feb 21st, 2016 at 12:00 AM
Greg Gutierrez of Red Bluff, California, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 13 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to win the Costa FLW Series Western Division opener on Lake Shasta presented by Minn Kota with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 40 pounds, 7 ounces. For his win, Gutierrez earned $36,376.
“It feels really good to finally get that monkey off of my back and win an FLW event,” said Gutierrez, who earned his first career FLW Series win. “I’ve won a few different tournaments in my life, and I’ve been close here, but the win has eluded me for a few years. I had a blast this week and could not be happier right now.”
Gutierrez said that he found bigger fish on the main lake in practice and decided to concentrate his efforts throughout the week there. He looked for transition areas, either red clay or chunk rock to gravel. He said he would cover water with a Duo Realis Spinbait 90, targeting shallow points. Once he got bit, he would slow down and thoroughly work the area with a ¼-ounce Frenzy Baits NAIL, a shaky-head rig that Gutierrez designed himself, rigged with a green-pumpkin Reaction Innovations Flirt.
“I weighed in a few fish off of a dart head as well, but the majority of my keepers this week came on the Nail. The bites were very light and subtle. I used the heavy ¼-ounce weight because I wanted to maintain bottom contact as I fished the Nail slowly.
“I’ve really learned over the last few years to trust myself and my decision making,” Gutierrez went on to say. “In years past I may have gotten confused and spun out, but I’ve learned to trust my gut and my decisions and I think that is what earned me the win this week.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Shasta were:
1st: Greg Gutierrez, Red Bluff, Calif., 15 bass, 40-7, $36,376
2nd: Richard Dobyns, Marysville, Calif., 15 bass, 35-9, $13,921
3rd: Ken Phillips, Concord, California, 15 bass, 33-15, $10,778
4th: Joe Uribe Jr., Surprise, Ariz., 15 bass, 33-13, $9,082
5th: Bryan Smith, Castro Valley, Calif., 15 bass, 32-15, $8,333
6th: Jeff Michels, Lakehead, Calif., 15 bass, 32-14, $7,185
7th: Miles Howe, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., 15 bass, 32-9, $6,287
8th: Rick Grover, Trabuco Canyon, Calif., 15 bass, 32-5, $5,389
9th: Tommy Cardoza, Redway, Calif., 15 bass, 30-13, $4,491
10th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 15 bass, 29-5, $3,593
Complete results will be posted at FLWFishing.com.