Yuma Pro Am 2006 Draw Team Schedule is Out

[Bob La Londe]

Yuma Pro Am is a draw team fishing format tournament club. Membership is cheap. Entry is cheap. The only difference between a Pro and an Amateur for this series is if you own a boat or not.

Draw for partners is on Fridays and the tournaments are on Sundays. I hope we can get our boats out there and help put some people on the water.

Here is the schedule.

Yuma Pro Am 2006 Schedule

Opener Date Changed
Draw January 20th 2006 - Sportsmen's Hide-A-Way
Season Opening Tournament January 22th 2006 - Fisher's Landing

Draw February 24th 2006
Tournament February 26th 2006 - Mittry Lake
Draw March 24th 2006
Tournament March 26th 2006 - Mittry Lake
Draw April 28th 2006
Tournament April 30th 2006 - Fisher's Landing
Draw May 19th 2006
Tournament May 21st 2006 - Fisher's Landing

JUNE Dates also changed
Draw June 16th 2006
Tournament June 18th 2006 - Fisher's Landing

Draw July 28th 2006
Tournament July 30th 2006 - Fisher's Landing
Draw August 25th 2006
Tournament August 27th 2006 - Fisher's Landing
Draw September 22nd 2006
Tournament September 24th 2006 - Fisher's Landing
Draw October 20th 2006
Tournament October 22nd 2006 - Mittry Lake
Draw November 10th 2006
Tournament November 12th 2006 - Fisher's Landing
Draw December 8th 2006
Tournament December 10th 2006 - Fisher's Landing

Awards Barbeque/Banquet/Ceremony will be in January of 2007. Time and Place to be Announced

For rules information etc visit www.YumaProAm.com

[Bob La Londe]

We had the draw for the first Yuma Pro Am tonight. We could have put five more amateurs on the water.

[Bob La Londe]

We had our 1st tournament and it went well. We could have put more amateurs on the water than we did, but I was happy with it. We did put three guys on the water with our six pros who signed up. We also had one amateur sign up as 'with boat.' Since there were enough back seats he didn't need to bring his boat.

The bite was tough, but we weighed in a limit. 5 fish weighed in total amoung six boats. LOL.

Hammer (Kwame Kuanda) took first place PRO and because he did not draw an amateur he didn't have to share the glory. He also had big fish honors.

2nd place Pro and 1st place Amteur went to the team of David Willhide - Pro (of Goin Fishin Productions Guide Service) and Mat Yates - Am (USMC)

I took 3rd place pro thanks to the determination and steady grind of my amateur angler Jeff Dyle.

I would also like to add my special thanks to a couple of top local anglers who came out to watch our weigh in and show their support. Kelly Leigh and Jimmy Waits.

[Bob La Londe]

I fished Yuma Bassmasters yesterday. The bite has picked up a little bit, but we aren't into the prespawn yet.

I also had two more guys mention that they would be fishing some of the Yuma Pro Am tournaments in the future. Good anglers. Both I consider to be a lot better than me, and I know they have mroe years experience on the water here than I do.

I hope we see you guys on the water in February.

[Bob La Londe]

I just received an e-mail from Tom Burger with some very good and reasonable questions regarding their first tournament with Yuma Pro Am. I thought it was so good that I posted the questions and answers below.

Hi Bob,


If you would like me to post this for all to see let me know and I'll post in the tournament section.

I'm looking good for Sunday's tournament. Hopefully I'll make the draw as I have to call in.
I need to plan a bit so I have some questions:

** I hope we get to fish with you.

Am I assuming corecctly that Yuma is Mountain Time zone, and the draw, tournament times, etc are all mountain time(i'm in San Diego hour early)?

** Yes, Mountain standard (no daylight savings).

What time is the draw, when should I call in, or is it better to provide my number and I can be called when all present have completed the pairings?

** Sign up is from 5:15 to 6:15 pm Arizona Time. You should call during that time to get into the draw. The draw is at 6:15 pm or as soon thereafter as everybody present is done signing up. Then call back after 6:45 to see if you drew a partner for the day.

If I call in what number do I call?

** Call my cell phone. (928) 580-1270. It is my business phone so I will answer with my business name, "The Security Consultant," Just say who you are and that your are calling in to get into the Yuma Pro Am draw.

What is the start/finish times for the tournament?

** Start is "safe light" for all tournaments. You can check sunrise times at a number of online websites. Typically "safe light" is from 20 to 35 minutes before official sunrise. This will vary based on environmental conditions. Fog, rain, or heavy cloud cover may delay safelight. Finish is approximately the next even 1/2 hour after a full 8 hours on the water from the start time. If there are large numbers of boats. Start times and finish times may be staggered. I STRONGLY RECCOMEND THAT YOU GET THERE EARLY. When fishing as a guest in somebody else's boat I like to get there an horu before estimated "safe light" time. This gives me a chance to arrange my gear and meet my partner.

If there is a membership form can you email it to me so I can fill out in advance.

** There is a membership form. You must fill it out and sign it in my presence for liability and insurance reason. You do not have to fill it out before calling in to get in the draw, but it must be completed prior to participating in any Yuma Pro Am event. You can fill it in and sign it the morning of the tournament.

I'll need to pay mebership/tourney fees to you Sunday morning is that OK? Cash or check?

** I would prefer cash. It is a small amount so I don't worry too much about your safety carrying it, but if you simply can not get to the bank or an ATM before a tournament I will accept a personal or business one party check. Checks will be made out to Bob La Londe. Membership is for the calendar year.

Do you happen to know if there are any other out of towners planning on attending?

** There are atleast three guys from the Phoenix area who have contacted me. One will only fish if they draw a backseat, one is bringing his boat to fish as a pro, and one has said he will bring his boat if there are not enough back seats available. There are a couple guys from the SD and LA areas who have inquired, but have not stated for sure if they will be coming or not.

Thanks Tom

** Thank you. Great questions.

Bob La Londe
Yuma Pro Am Tournament Director

[Bob La Londe]

Don't Forget The February And March Tournaments Are At Mittry Lake.

[Bob La Londe]

Lannes Brock and Jeff Dyle weighed in the big fish. A whopping 6.85. Greta fish.

Dave Willhide ( of www.GoinFishin.4t.com guide service ) and Mike Dobbins nailed down 1st place with 17.43 pounds.

Mittry Lake really produced with nobody coming in empty yesterday. Full results and info will be posted over at the Yuma Pro Am website ( www.YumaProAm.com ) by the end of the week.

[Bob La Londe]

Almost forgot. We could still have put one more back seater on the water. We had one amateur who had a boat ready if needed.

We actually had one less boat on the water, but put one additional angler in the tournament.

Next month we can probably add 2 or 3 additional AMs if they call or come down to get in the draw.

A top local angler let me know Saturday that I could call him if we were short of boaters in future tournaments. I also ran into another guy Saturday night when I stopped by one of the stores to pick up some fill in items who said he would be fishing them too. On top of that another top local angler I know said he would fish some of our tournaments but not the ones on Mittry Lake because he doesn't feel he knows that lake well enough. Also, one of our boaters had to drop out just before the draw to take care of a family medical emergency. He should be back for next month.

We had two Ams call from out of town. Both of them got to fish. One fellow drove down from Phoenix and another drove in from San Diego.

Other Winners Were:
Because it was a small turn out everybody who was at the draw won prizes. We gave out six packs of baits from Culprit baits and six packs of Krazy glue donated by the mid west sales rep from Krazy glue.

The free rod given away at the weigh-in went to Brian Chrestenson of Colorado River Boats. (the local SKeeter & G3 dealer)

[Bob La Londe]

The date for the November tournament was the same day as a Yuma Bassmasters tournament.

Because several of our regulars fish both Yuma Pro Am and Yuma Bassmasters I decided to chaged the date for the November tournament to:

Draw: November 3rd
Tournament: November 5th

[Bob La Londe]

Ok, guys. Its time to hitch up and head out. Yuma Pro Am's July tournament is this weekend.