OROVILLE, Calif. – Ken Mah from Elk Grove, California, reaffirmed his prowess on the BAM Pro Tour with an impressive win at Thermalito Afterbay. On Championship Sunday, Mah brought in a five-fish limit that tipped the scales at 29.82 pounds, securing a victory margin of over 12 pounds against his closest competitor. This remarkable performance not only gifted him a prize of $12,073 but also marked his second significant triumph at this location.
"Today was crazy," said Mah, reflecting on the experience. "I’m humbled, I’m blessed, and I’m thankful. It’s so hard to win even one of these multi-day events. It’s crazy to win anywhere, even once, but to win here again – I’m speechless."
Strategically approaching the day, Mah entered Championship Sunday with a cumulative weight of 32.69 pounds from the previous rounds, placing him in second just prior to the reset. This reset allowed him to capitalize on the fresh start completely.
"The first day I fished a Chatter with a Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon trailer," Mah explained. "It wasn’t easy, but I caught ‘em fairly early, and once I hit my target weight, I was able to fish loose."
On the final day, Mah adjusted his tactics to secure his winning haul, relying on a River2Sea Phat Mat Daddy frog along with his favored flippin’ setup. "I glued a 1-ounce weight and 80-pound Sunline braid on a 7’11” Loomis flippin’ stick and went to work," he noted.
Bill O’Shinn from Auburn, California, finished in second place, weighing in a limit at 17.10 pounds. O’Shinn garnered a total of $5,644 for his dedication and ability to adapt his strategy throughout the tournament.
"Today was slow," O’Shinn shared. "I was getting one fish every hour or two, but mid-day, I figured out something else about where they were positioning, and I was able to get a few key bites, which gave me the bag that catapulted me into second."
Meanwhile, Ish Monroe from Oakdale, California, who dominated the earlier stages of the tournament with a two-day total of 41 pounds, finished third with a Day-Three weight of 16.79 pounds, earning $4,715. Monroe reflected on his experiences, saying, "It was a good tournament, leading the first two days with 20 pounds. The best thing was being able to catch ‘em froggin’ and flippin’, especially when you’re catching good ones doing it."
Despite falling short on the final day, Monroe acknowledged the challenges posed by fluctuations in water temperatures, which impacted his previously effective shallow water strategies.
Colby Pearson from Central Point, Oregon, celebrated a standout season as he earned the inaugural Angler of the Year (AOY) title. Prior to the event at Thermalito Afterbay, Pearson maintained a narrow seven-point lead over Monroe in the AOY standings.
"If Ish would’ve won, we would’ve tied for AOY unless I got 9th or better," Pearson explained. "I had four top-10s this season, and the fact that there was any Angler of the Year race after that is amazing. Props to Ish. We’ve been duking it out all year."
Pearson’s impressive run included four top-10 finishes, highlighted by consecutive victories at Lake Martinez and Lake Almanor.
**Final Results of the 2024 BAM Pro Tour at Thermalito Afterbay:**
| Place | Angler | Day 3 Weight | Total Payout | |-------|-----------------|---------------|---------------| | 1 | Ken Mah | 29.82 | $12,073 | | 2 | Bill O’Shinn | 17.10 | $5,644 | | 3 | Ish Monroe | 16.79 | $4,715 | | 4 | Nicholas Cloutier| 15.84 | $4,286 | | 5 | Luke Johns | 15.45 | $3,858 |
The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT) serves as an elite platform for western anglers, showcasing their fishing prowess while providing sponsors vital exposure through various media outlets. The event's mix includes the BAM Pro Tour alongside Pro-Am and Kayak tournaments, fostering an environmentally conscious and competitive framework.
As the season progresses, anglers look forward to more opportunities to demonstrate their skills and compete for titles in future BAM events.