Danville Native To Compete In YETI FLW College Fishing Tournament

BETHEL ISLAND, CA — A Danville native will be among seven teams to compete this month in the 2018 YETI FLW College Fishing on the California Delta Tournament. Danville resident Tyler Firebaugh will team up with fellow California State University-Chico student Austin Crane during the tournament, which is hosted by Russo’s Marina and the Sugar Barge RV Resort.

“My advice to the college anglers at the Delta is to cover a lot of water with a reaction bait and once you find something, slow down,” said Yamamoto Baits pro Jimmy Reese of Witter Springs, California, a two-time Forrest Wood Cup qualifier. “A ton of the grass has been killed off and the Delta is fishing a little differently, but the normal Delta-type of fishing is still there – flipping, crankbaits, ChatterBaits and spinnerbaits will all catch fish.”

Winners will receive a $2,000 club scholarship and an invitation to compete in the 2019 College Fishing National Championship, according to FLW. Full-time college students who are members of a college fishing club recognized by their school may enter the competition for free.

The competition takes place on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 a.m. at Russo’s Marina in Bethel Island. Teams will weigh in at 2 p.m.

Schools currently registered to compete in the California Delta tournament include:

• Arizona State University – Ryan Slivkoff, Tempe, Ariz., and Hayden Frey, San Tan Valley, Ariz.
• California State University-Chico – Austin Crane, Oroville, Calif., and Tyler Firebaugh, Danville, Calif.
• California State University-Chico – Shawn Fields, Nevada City, Calif., and Joshua Cutler, Chico, Calif.
• California State University-Chico – Matthew Pusateri, Grand Terrace, Calif., and Chad Sweitzer, Chico, Calif.
• California State University-Chico – Travis Gonsalves, Modesto, Calif., and Thomas Avilla, Escalon, Calif.
• Oregon State University – Eric Kennedy, Woodland, Calif., and Casey Hoff, Corvallis, Ore.
• University of California-Merced – Herbie LeBlanc, Gilroy, Calif., and Tshu Xiong, Merced, Calif.
• Utah Valley University – Ben Levie, Salem, Utah, and Skyler Hooks, Highland, Utah

Photo via Shutterstock