Joe Mariani Goes Wire-to-Wire in BAM Championship at Berryessa
Mark White Claims Co-Angler Title in Wire-to-Wire Win
By Jody Only
NAPA, Calif. – Joe Mariani of Winters, Calif., put on a masterclass performance at the 2024 BAM Pro/Am Tournament of Champions (TOC) on Lake Berryessa. Leading from start to finish, Mariani secured the victory with a three-day total of 64.56 pounds, over six pounds ahead of his nearest competitor. His efforts earned him the grand prize of a new Bass Cat Boat, Mercury, Garmin, Eternal Lithium package
“I’m super-stoked right now,” said Mariani after lifting the championship trophy. “Three days is tough, and the weather changes made it a very interesting event.”
Despite the fluctuating weather conditions, Mariani averaged over 21 pounds per day.
- Day One: Cold Morning and a Strong Start
The opening day of the BAM Championship presented a chilly morning, but Joe Mariani capitalized on the conditions early. With a solid bag of 22.38 pounds, he immediately established himself as the angler to beat. His focus was on fishing a seven-inch swimbait, meticulously bottom-bouncing it with a slow retrieve to trigger bites. The fish were slurping up the bait, and Mariani’s patience paid off in spades.“It was cold, but the fish were there,” Mariani said. “I just slowed down my presentation and made sure every cast counted.”His success on Day One gave him a significant lead, setting the tone for the rest of the event.
Day Two: Windy and Unpredictable Weather
The second day brought a drastic change in conditions with temperatures hovering around 40 degrees and gusting winds creating challenging fishing conditions. Despite the weather, Mariani managed to bring in another impressive bag weighing 19.87 pounds.“The wind made positioning tricky, but I stuck to my plan,” he shared. “The swimbait was still working, and I kept grinding.”
Mariani’s consistency kept him ahead of the pack, maintaining his lead as other anglers struggled to adjust to the tougher conditions.
Day Three: Fog and Cloud Cover for Championship Sunday
The final day greeted anglers with heavy fog and overcast skies, adding another layer of complexity to the tournament. Mariani switched tactics, relying on a Neko-rigged Yamamoto Senko in Green Pumpkin/Purple Green Flake with a 3/16 oz weight.“I adjusted based on the conditions,” he explained. “The Neko rig was key for those weigh fish on Day Three. I fished my spots based on how I felt the fish were positioning and focused on salvaging the day.”
With the biggest bag of the day at 22.31 pounds, Mariani left no doubt about his dominance, pushing his tournament total to 64.56 pounds and securing a wire-to-wire victory by over six pounds.
Mariani adapted to each day, relying on a strategic approach to maximize his catches.
“I kind of hit my stops depending on how I felt,” he shared. “I tried to salvage every day as best as I could.”
Winning Baits and Tactics
Mariani credited a Neko-rigged Yamamoto Senko in Green Pumpkin/Purple Green Flake with a 3/16 oz weight for his final-day success.
- Day One and Two: A seven-inch swimbait was his go-to, which he fished slow, bouncing it off the bottom.
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Mark White Secures Co-Angler Victory
In the co-angler division, Mark White of Napa, Calif., mirrored Mariani’s dominance, clinching the win with a three-day total of 46.89 pounds. White outpaced his nearest competitor by 2.5 pounds and walked away with cash prizes and a $3,500 Garmin LiveScope Electronics package.
Day One: Strong Start with Local Knowledge
Mark White, a Napa native, started the tournament with a bang, landing 19.36 pounds on Day One. His deep understanding of Lake Berryessa played a pivotal role as he focused on big fish behavior.
“I knew trout and crawdads were the main forage,” said White. “The jig was the right bait for the conditions, and I committed to it.”
His local expertise and confidence in his lure selection put him in a commanding position from the start.
Day Two: Maintaining the Lead
On Day Two, White added 18.16 pounds to his total, extending his lead with another consistent performance. The jig remained his weapon of choice, and he focused on uphill retrieves to target key areas of the lake.
“I knew where the fish were and how they were reacting,” he shared. “The uphill retrieve was the ticket, and I stuck with it.”
His second-day success widened the gap between him and the rest of the co-angler field, giving him a seven-pound cushion heading into the final day.
Day Three: Adjustments for Championship Sunday
The final day brought new challenges as White had to adapt his approach. The fog and cloud cover forced him to switch to downhill retrieves with his jig, resulting in a smaller bag of 9.37 pounds. However, his prior lead was more than enough to secure the win with a total of 46.89 pounds.
“Today was tough,” he admitted. “I couldn’t fish the same way I had been, but I stayed confident with the jig and made it work.”
White’s Winning Jig Setup
- Jig: Brown/Green Twin Tail Trailer
- Line: 14-pound test
- Technique: Focused on directional retrieves, adapting to uphill and downhill presentations
White’s consistency over three days and a decisive seven-pound lead on Day Two sealed his victory.
BAM Pro/Am Series Closes the 2024 Season
The 2024 BAM Pro/Am Tournament Series wrapped up with a thrilling championship. The series will kick off the 2025 season at Lake Shasta in January.
Top Ten – Pro Division
| Rank | Angler | # of Fish | Big Fish (lbs) | Day 1 (lbs) | Day 2 (lbs) | Day 3 (lbs) | Total (lbs) | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Mariani | 5 | 5.71 | 22.38 | 19.87 | 22.31 | 64.56 | $60,000 Bass Cat / Mercury + $250 BBT Cash |
| 2 | Ryan Hall | 6 | 6.28 | 18.60 | 21.44 | 18.19 | 58.23 | $2,000 Cash + $300 Costa Sunglasses |
| 3 | Chris Parks | 5 | 5.27 | 15.74 | 18.31 | 19.71 | 53.76 | $1,000 Cash + $300 Costa Sunglasses |
| 4 | Mark Crutcher | – | – | 16.33 | 13.26 | 21.18 | 50.77 | $750 Cash |
| 5 | Asher Haynes | 5 | 5.65 | 20.74 | 15.12 | 10.88 | 46.74 | $750 Cash |
| 6 | Steve Hoover | – | – | 18.03 | 15.70 | 10.64 | 44.37 | $750 Cash |
| 7 | William Ponting | 5 | 5.60 | 16.53 | 11.94 | 15.86 | 44.33 | $750 Cash |
| 8 | Kenneth Cleveland | – | – | 14.95 | 13.35 | 15.94 | 44.24 | $750 Cash |
| 9 | Antonio Gold | 5 | 5.82 | 10.04 | 21.26 | 11.56 | 42.86 | $750 Cash |
| 10 | Gregory Troughton | – | – | 16.22 | 11.67 | 11.70 | 39.59 | $750 Cash |
Top Ten – Co-Angler Division
| Rank | Angler | # of Fish | Big Fish (lbs) | Day 1 (lbs) | Day 2 (lbs) | Day 3 (lbs) | Total (lbs) | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark White | 6 | 6.40 | 19.36 | 18.16 | 9.37 | 46.89 | $1,000 Cash + $3,500 Garmin LiveScope package |
| 2 | Dante Ray | 5 | 5.18 | 18.85 | 11.95 | 13.31 | 44.11 | $1,066 Okuma X Series Rod / Reel package + $500 Cash + $250 Tackle Warehouse |
| 3 | Chris Trumbull | 6 | 6.99 | 19.08 | 9.74 | 13.77 | 42.59 | $650 Cash + $300 Costa Sunglasses |
| 4 | Ugene Downing | – | – | 13.17 | 13.30 | 14.04 | 40.51 | $350 Cash |
| 5 | Kirk Marshall | 5 | 4.94 | 17.11 | 11.88 | 10.90 | 39.89 | $350 Cash |
| 6 | Randy Marshall | 5 | 5.02 | 11.55 | 14.42 | 13.85 | 39.82 | $350 Cash |
| 7 | Rick O’Callahan | 8 | 8.43 | 17.28 | 13.12 | 8.43 | 38.83 | $350 Cash |
| 8 | Craig Main | – | – | 15.45 | 10.99 | 11.15 | 37.59 | $350 Cash |
| 9 | Joe Cote | – | – | 13.23 | 12.51 | 11.20 | 36.94 | $350 Cash |
| 10 | Will Wyman | – | – | 12.90 | 10.01 | 10.76 | 33.67 | $350 Cash |
Event Details:
- Dates: Nov. 15-17, 2024
- Location: Lake Berryessa, Steele Canyon Park
- Daily Weigh-Ins: 3:00 PM
- Championship Prizes: Bass Cat Boat + Mercury/Garmin/Eternal Lithium package (Pro); Garmin LiveScope package (Co-Angler).
The BAM Pro/Am Championship highlighted thrilling performances and wrapped up the 2024 season. Mark your calendars for the 2025 opener at Lake Shasta this January!
Prize: $650 Cash + $300 Costa certificate
Event Highlights:
- Daily weigh-ins at Steele Canyon Park
- Saturday: Announcements of Tackle Warehouse, Bass Boat Technologies, and Garmin contingency winners
- Sunday: Championship crowning and boat package presentation
Stay tuned for the return of the BAM Trail in 2025!
About BAM Tournament Trail
The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM Trail) is an exclusive west coast pro level tournament circuit. BAM TT delivers multiple opportunities to showcase the talents of western anglers on several professional platforms.
As the BAM Trail continues to evolve it provides a platform of elite events for competitive anglers. The trail creates a logical avenue for sponsors to have direct contact with our West Coast anglers.
The BAM Trail is dedicated to creating a complete package of advertising opportunities including on-site activation, internet/social media, and a YouTube and TV series that reaches a large number of viewers each day.
BAM Trail is honored to be associated with its title sponsor, Bass Boat Technologies, and presenting sponsor, Tackle Warehouse. The trail is also supported by StorQuest, Garmin, Bass Cat Boats, Ford Fairfield, Dish – Accell Marketing, Power Pole, Mercury Outboards, Bob’s Machine, Wood Bros, Sticky Graphics, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate, Valley Outdoors, Eternal Lithium, Alpha Angler Rods, and our conservation sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse.
The BAM TT tourism sponsors: City of Oakley, Lake Almanor Chamber, the Boardman Chamber, and the Feather River Tourism Association.
Tournament events include BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am and a Kayak Tour with a no entry Championship can be viewed on YouTube. Learn more here: BAM TRAIL, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Media / Advertising Contact Mark Lassagne
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