Just as in athletics, where disputes are settled on the field, or in boxing where things are settled in the ring, two of the best teams in the FPT’s central valley region faced off this morning on Lake Tulloch in a dramatic “sudden death” fish off to settle their dispute as to who should be crowned the Future Pro Tour’s 18th pair of Angler’s of the Year and Navionics Cup champions.
Created by the fact that for the first time in the tour’s 18-year history both anglers finished "dead-even" in the Angler of the Year and Navionics Cup races, the FPT’s Tournament Competition Committee decreed that both teams would meet at a neutral body of water and fish for ONLY 6-hours to determine a winner.
- Hung and Mui....with a Tulloch bag!
Each team was only allowed one visit to the lake before the fish-off competition began to ensure an “even playing field” would be provided for both teams.
Mike Beevers, and Russ Pierson (defending FPT AOY/Navionics Cup champions), had located some fish chasing bait during their pre-fish period, and were hoping for a “big bite” on game day, but their bait fish disappeared, resulting in a 2-fish catch that weighed just shy of 5 pounds.
Hung Ho and Mui Luong, one of the tour’s many husband-and-wife teams, had a better story however, and finding sloping, rocky points - within eyesight of the marina, to secure a five-fish limit weighing 12.72 pounds, firmly securing their place in the FPT’s Hall of Fame as it’s 18th pair of Angler of the Year and Navionics Cup champions.
“We didn’t have too run that far” noted Hung, and we caught our better fish (2 nice smallies), on a shad colored R2Sea “Biggie" series crank bait"!
Russ Pierson and Mike Beevers, always good sportsmen to the end, congratulate the new AOY/Navionics champs!
Congratulations to our newest FPT Anglers of the Year and Navionics Cup champions Hung Ho and Mui Luong! Along with the title honors, they will also receive custom trophies, commemorative AOY jackets, and $400 cash!
The race for the FPT's 2021 central valley AOY and Navionics Cup begins on Feb 20th at Lake McClure…so don't miss out...get signed for all of the FPT fun today!