Huddleston Deluxe Unveils New Website A year in the making, HBC’s platinum sponsor Huddleston Deluxe, Inc. is pleased to announce the unveiling of its all-new interactive website. The new site, called HuddBaits.com, not only shows all of the great products created and offered by expert lure designer Ken Huddleston, but also offers informational “How To” videos, up to date articles, photographs, and many other great features for trophy bass enthusiasts.
“HuddBaits.com has been a long time in the making and we’re really excited about it,” says Ken Huddleston. “We wanted to make sure that everything was just right before going live with it. We’re very pleased with the finished product and believe that our new site offers a great deal of information to trophy bass anglers across the country and around the world.” “We are extremely honored to be associated with Ken Huddleston and HuddBaits.com,” notes HBC co-founder Ron Cervenka. “Without Ken and his tremendous support, there would be no HBC. Even though there are many Huddleston look-a-like baits out there today, there is absolutely no substitute for original Huddleston products. HuddBaits.com not only allows trophy bass enthusiasts an opportunity to watch videos and read articles from some of the best trophy bass anglers in the country, it also allows them the opportunity to post their own comments.”
The new HuddBaits.com website was designed by professional web designer and big bass angler Steve Adams of 316 Design. Adams, a former HBC participant himself, will manage the site and keep it up to date with the latest trophy bass news, videos, and articles.
“JDub” Wins HBC-6 at DVL |
Ken Huddleston and Stan Vanderburg present John Wick with his HBC-6 Champion’s belt and $10,000 (Photo by Ron Cervenka) |
John Wick of San Diego, California topped a field of 42 Anglers to capture the title of HBC-6 Champion at Diamond Valley Lake on Friday, March 19, 2010. Wick’s chunky 6.16 pound bass was the largest weighed in at the one-fish, big-fish, winner-takes-all event and netted him a check for $10,000.
“It was a great day of fishing for me,” said an obviously excited Wick. “I caught 13 fish during the day and would have had around 24 pounds if it had been a five-fish limit. I caught a 5 1/2 pounder early in the day, but I couldn’t catch anything bigger. Around 2:30 PM, I pulled up on a point that had several other boats on it. They were all fishing one way, so I turned around and fished the other way. I got bit on my first or second cast and it was a six pounder. I didn’t really think it was big enough to win, but it was,” he added.
Wick caught his winning fish on a Texas rigged 9-inch chocolate/blue colored Upton’s Worm fished on 10 lb Toray fishing line. The Dobyns Rod pro-staffer used a Dobyns DX 784 ML jig rod, his rod of choice when fishing big worms. In addition to the $10,000 winner’s check and the coveted HBC-6 Champion’s belt, Wick added another $600 in option money, bringing his total winnings to $10,600 - a new HBC record.
Although Wick’s winning fish wasn’t the monster DVL fish that many predicted it would take to win HBC-6, it was big enough to edge out the 5.96 pounder caught by Manas Malikian of Huntington Beach, California by a mere .20 of a pound. Malikian had the excruciating pleasure of sitting in the HBC “Hot Seat” for most of the hour-long weigh-in while being taunted by Rod & Reel Radio host Stan Vanderburg and Huddleston Deluxe president Ken Huddleston. Adding to Malikian’s anguish was the fact that Wick was the second-to-last angler to weigh-in. But being the classy angler that he is, Malikian graciously (but painfully) gave up the Hot Seat to Wick.
But even Wick had to experience a little Hot Seat pressure himself. The final angler to weigh in was Robert Flaata of Palmdale, California and the word was that Flaata also had a good fish. But when the scales finally settled, Flaata’s bass weighed 5.93 pounds, thus securing the victory for “JDub”, as Wick’s friends affectionately call him. To his credit, Flaata showed a great deal of heart as he was forced to fish the entire tournament on his trolling motor after discovering that his cranking battery was completely dead at blast-off, yet he still managed a third place finish.
Legendary trophy bass expert Butch Brown of Castaic, California finished fourth with his 5.90 pound bass, and fifth place went to Rod Wynn of Bellflower, California with a 5.65 pounder. Malikian and Wynn picked up $360 and $240 respectively in option money winnings.
The HBC wishes to thank their great sponsors for making HBC-6 a big success. They are: Huddleston Deluxe, Inc., Roboworm, Dobyns Rods, Sure Life Laboratories, Sign-a-Rama Ventura, Top Stick Tour, Scott Harvey Photography, CaliforniaFishingForums.com, and The Trolling Motor Doctor. Thanks also to DVL lake manager Dave Neitzke and the rest of the DVL staff for their assistance with HBC-6. And extra special thanks to all of the Volunteer Tournament Officials who participated in HBC-6. Without the VTOs there would be no HBC
HBC Mourns the Loss of "Orso Dave" RobersonThe entire trophy bass fishing community is mourning the loss of HBC Angler Dave Roberson, who died suddenly of an apparent heart attack at his Texas home late Sunday evening, December 27th. Roberson, designer of the extremely popular Orso swimbaits and owner of Orso Swimbait Company, was only 34 years old.
"We are absolutely devastated by Dave's sudden passing," said HBC director Ron Cervenka upon learning of Roberson's death. "He was one of those guys that you always loved being around. He was always cheerful and very funny, as evidenced by his crazy hat-cam videos. Dave was an accomplished trophy bass angler and a die-hard big bait specialist. He finished ninth at HBC-1 at Lake Casitas and eighth at HBC-2 at Clear Lake. It will be difficult for me to throw a swimbait from now on without thinking of Dave Roberson and his passion for the sport. He will truly be missed," added Cervenka.
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| Photo by Steve Norton | Photo by Sean James |
Roberson was an officer in the U.S. Air Force and an Iraq War veteran. He moved to Texas from Southern California in 2008.