HBC- 5 Set for the California Delta on Friday, August 14, 2009 June 23, 2009
Angler and VTO Entries Begin July 13th at 8:00 AM (PDT) 
It was only a matter of time before the HBC made its way to one of the premiere trophy bass fisheries in the entire country. Heavyweight Bass Classic, LLC is pleased to announce that HBC-5 will be held at the extremely popular California Delta on Friday, August 14, 2009.
“Anyone who has spent any time on the Delta knows how great this fishery is and how addicting it can be,” notes HBC director Ron Cervenka. “The thing that I remember most about my very first trip to the Delta was that it ALL looked good. There are so many trophy-sized bass on the Delta and there are so many different ways to catch them. HBC-5 is unquestionably going to be the best HBC event yet,” Cervenka adds.
“Everybody knows how great the frog fishing can be at the Delta,” says HBC co-founder Ken Huddleston. “But the truth be known, it is also one of the best swimbait fisheries in the country. HBC-5 is going to be an outright war between some of the best ‘Delta Rats’ and some of the best swimbait fishermen in the world,” adds Huddleston.
HBC-5 will be staged out of Russo’s Marina on Bethel Island. Russo’s Marina is by far the most popular and most tournament-friendly marina on the entire Delta. In addition to an outstanding launch ramp, Russo’s also features covered slips with electrical hook-ups. Russo’s is also home to “Hook, Line, & Sinker-2”, a full service on-the-water tackle store, complete with gas docks. Those familiar with “The Hook” (as it is affectionately called) know that it is owned and operated by long-time professional tournament angler and fishing guide Gene Buchholz.
“The fishing is going to be awesome for HBC-5,” notes Buchholz. “Because of the unusual and unsettled weather that we’ve had up here this year, the bass will be in a full-blown summer pattern during the HBC event. The big bass will be relating to current and will be feeding up. Look for a great frog, buzzbait, and topwater bite in the morning, and a swimbait bite later in the day. I expect to see several ten pounders weighed in and maybe even a teen fish or two,” Buchholz adds.
“Russo’s Marina is by far the most popular and most tournament- friendly marina on the entire Delta.”
The Angler entry fee into HBC-5 is $250 and the event will again feature a One Fish, Big Fish, Winner-Takes-All format; with the winner receiving $10,000 - based on a full 50-Angler field. The winner will also receive a custom, hand-crafted HBC-5 Champion’s belt.
Kent Brown of Roseville, CA hoists his custom, hand-crafted HBC-4 Champion’s belt. A similar belt will be awarded to the winner of HBC-5, along with $10,000. (Photo by Scott Harvey)
As in the past, HBC-5 will again utilize non-fishing Volunteer Tournament Officials (VTOs), who will see to it that their respective Anglers follow all of the rules. They will also be asked to film their Anglers in action, with the VTO shooting the most footage receiving a special award. There is no entry fee for VTOs and each will receive a tackle pack loaded with great products from HBC sponsors.
HBC-5 will again offer a $50 “Gas Money Option” for Anglers and a $20 “Lucky Dog Option” for VTOs. The Gas Money Option will be paid back to the three highest finishing Anglers entered in the option (at 50%, 30%, and 20%). Each VTO entering the Lucky Dog Option will draw the name of an HBC-5 Angler out of a hat. The three VTOs drawing the names of the three highest finishing Anglers will win the Lucky Dog Option (at 50%, 30%, and 20%). Entry into the Gas Money Option and the Lucky Dog Option will take place during check-in on the morning of the event.
Priority Entry status into HBC-5 is offered to the Top-20 Anglers in the HBC point standings and to the Top-10 Anglers from HBC-4, held last March at Lake Don Pedro. Although the weights at HBC-4 were extremely low, every Angler who weighed in a keeper bass guaranteed them self a Priority Entry slot into HBC-5. A list of the Top-20 Anglers in the HBC point standings and the Top-10 Anglers from HBC-4 can be found under the “Results” tab on the HBC website at www.heavyweightbassclassic.com.
Priority Entries into HBC-5 will begin on Monday morning, June 29, 2009 at 8:00 AM PDT and will run for two weeks, concluding on Sunday night, July 12, 2009 at 11:59 PM PDT. Priority Entry anglers who have not entered HBC-5 by the Priority Entry deadline will forfeit their slot to the Open Entry slots.
Open entries into HBC-5 will begin on Monday morning, July 13, 2009 at 8:00 AM PDT and will continue until the 50-Angler field is filled. Once the Angler field is filled, an Angler waiting list will be established in the order in which the Angler waiting list entries are received (by date and time).
Volunteer Tournament Official (VTO) entries into HBC-5 will also begin on Monday morning, July 13, 2009 at 8:00 AM PDT and will continue until the 50-VTO field is filled. Once the VTO field is filled, a VTO waiting list will be established in the order in which the VTO waiting list entries are received (by date and time).
Angler and VTO entries into HBC-5 will only be accepted on-line via the HBC website. The entire $250 Angler entry fee is due at the time of entry. No deposits, no partial payments, and no mail-in or phone-in entries will be accepted.
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