Zack Thompson Camps in Franks to Take Over Lead at BAM Pro Tour Championship
OAKLEY, Calif. – Climbing the leaderboard from the 3rd position, Zack Thompson of Alameda, Calif. weighed in 17.84 on Saturday, for a two-day total of 36.5 and 19 scorable bass, to take over the lead for both the heaviest weight and total keeper count by end of Day Two of the 2024 BAM Pro Tour Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Oakley.
“Today went as planned,” Thompson said. “I stayed out in the middle of Franks Tract and caught as many keepers as I could – not fishing for any of the fish that I expect to fish for (on Sunday).”
For Championship Sunday, Thompson will adjust his pre-planned strategy from quantity to quality.
“I will be swinging for the fence,” he said. “I will have my St. Croix Mojo Bass 7’11” Flippin’ Stick in my hand all day long and go catch big ones.”
Although he limited his flip opportunities so far in the Delta bass battle, Thompson has seen what the technique can yield in this current event.
“I haven’t flipped for two days – other than for five minutes and I caught a six-pounder,” he revealed.
The 6.03 he mentioned was his big bass on Day One and one of only three weighed in as a Big Fish contender from the six-pound class in the past two days on the western tidal water.
The leaderboard will return to zero for Championship Sunday and all 10 anglers will head out for one final five-fish limit with the Delta trophy, the honor as the first-ever BAM Pro Tour TOC champ, and a Bass Cat, Mercury, Garmin, and Eternal Lithium boat package on the line.
“Winning the boat is awesome; but it is more about the title,” Thompson stated. “I would love to be the Champion of the Delta BAM Pro Tour.”
Ken Mah Maintains 2nd Position by Keeper Count
A two-day total of 18 scorable bass kept California pro Ken Mah of Elk Grove in second place on the Keeper Count side. After adding 16.76, anchored by the event’s biggest – a 7.07 – on Day Two, his total limit-weight for the two days went 31.91.
His big fell to a ChatterBait.
“It was my second fish of the day,” he recalled. “It was on kind of a Spring Craw with a Kamikaze Swimon trailer.”
The ChatterBait was only part of his day.
“I’ve thrown a lot of baits, but in the fall, on the Delta, it really comes down to three things – topwater, flippin’/pitchin’/punchin’, and crankbait/ChatterBait,” he said.
Mah’s plan for the final day is more of the same while following the impact of the Delta’s tidal changes.
For Sunday, with the longer low tide in the morning, I am hoping I can (crank and ChatterBait) for longer and after that it will be two things – topwater and flippin’,” he shared.
After the imposed 31 day off-limits, the past two days have given Mah the opportunity to explore the current state of the Delta and home in on his presentations; however, he hasn’t yet narrowed down a solid prediction for the weight that will be needed to win.
“I think someone is going to have to catch at least 17 ½ pounds, and it could take 22 pounds or more,” he speculated.
The anglers will blast off and weigh-in tomorrow at Big Break Marina in Oakley. Join BAM in person or follow your favorite angler at the BAM live stream on YouTube.
Note: BAM Pro Tour anglers are ranked in Pro Tour events by both the heaviest five fish limit (Weight) and numbers of scorable bass caught (Keepers).
First place is held by the angler with the five heaviest bass and second place is the highest keeper count. The standings then continue to alternate by weight/keepers.
Anglers ranked by weight on the leaderboard are denoted with an asterisk.
Anglers add to both of their Day One rankings on Day Two as an accumulated two-day total. Once both days are tallied, the field is cut to the top-10, all results are zero-ed out and the final 10 anglers fish for the five heaviest bass on Day Three to determine the champion.
Place Angler Big Fish D1 Big Fish D2 Day 1 Weight Day 2 Weight Total Weight Total Keeper
1 Zack Thompson 6.03 18.66 17.84 *36.5 19
2 Ken Mah 7.07 15.15 16.76 31.91 *18
3 Nicholas Cloutier 5.62 16.05 16.2 *32.25 16
4 Luke Johns 5.72 14.74 16.36 31.1 *15
5 Greg Gutierrez 5.39 5.39 19.11 11.49 *30.6 13
6 Jake Arbuckle 10.62 7.03 17.65 *14
7 Conrad Demecs 6.53 14.37 10.96 *25.33 12
8 Earl Dalton III 9.87 14.81 24.68 *12
9 Ish Monroe 4.01 13.64 11.54 *25.18 11
10 Beau Joudrey 10.74 11.31 22.05 *12
Full Results 2024 BAM Pro Tour TOC California Delta Day Two
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The Bass Boat Technologies televised BAM Pro Tour at the California Delta is presented by the City of Oakley.
Saturday afternoon we will announce the Bass Boat Technologies and Garmin Contingencies winners.
Sunday afternoon we will crown a champion and give away a brand-new Bass Cat, Mercury, Garmin, Eternal Lithium boat package.
About BAM Tournament Trail
The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT) provides an exceptional platform for both anglers and sponsors. It combines extensive exposure opportunities, celebrating the skills of western bass anglers. The circuit receives broad media coverage across print and online magazines, emails, podcast, websites, videos, television, and multiple social media channels.
Proud Sponsors of the BAM Tournament Trail:
Bass Boat Technologies, Tackle Warehouse, Boardman Chamber, Garmin, Storquest, and, Bass Cat Boats, Ford Fairfield, Dish – Accel Marketing, Power Pole, Mercury Outboards, Bob’s Machine, Wood Bros, Sticky Graphics, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate, Valley Outdoors, Eternal Lithium and, Alpha Angler Rods, and Fisherman’s Warehouse.
BAM’s Esteemed Tourism Sponsors:
The Boardman Chamber, City of Oakley, the Lake Almanor Chamber, and the Feather River Tourism Association.
The BAM Tournament Trail features the BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am, and Kayak events, each designed to test the determination of western anglers in a competitive and environmentally conscious format.
To learn more about the BAM Pro Tour, Pro-Am and Kayak events. Visit: BAM TRAIL, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram
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