The 2nd Annual Ice Fishing Tournament at Lake Davis

The 2nd Annual Ice Fishing Tournament at Lake Davis, which is located in Plumas National Forest in Portola, CA, will be held on February 4th, 2012. The minimal entry fee of $20 will enable you to participate in the tournament and enjoy, what is sure to be, a great of day fishing. All proceeds collected will help support a great cause as they will be donated to the American Cancer Society.


John Pato Sr. has lived in the Portola area for the past twenty years. Knowing there had never been an ice fishing tournament in that area, John had the first tournament at Lake Davis in 2011.


Over the past 5 years, with the help of his good friends, Dave Padilla and Steve Harberts, John has helped bring ice fishing back to Portola. When I spoke to John, he mentioned that it had felt like everyone had forgotten about ice fishing in Lake Davis because not many had done it in quite a while. Of course the poisoning of Lake Davis did not help bring the fishermen there either.


These days, there are approximately twenty to thirty people out on the water daily in search of big rainbows. The DFG stocked the Eagle Lake strain of trout in the lake.


While fishing Lake Davis, most people use a fish finder and as short of a rod as possible since that brings you closer to the hole and ultimately, the fish! John uses a mini ugly stick approximately 2 1/2 to 3 feet long. He uses a Shimano Stradic spinning reel with 4 to 6 pound test line with Power Bait, night crawlers, and Berkeley Gulp pink eggs. You’ll also need an auger to drill a hole in the ice.




Last year, 79 anglers participated in this tournament and approximately $1,900.00 was donated to American Cancer Society.


As with many tournaments, there will be a raffle where you’ll have an opportunity to win a variety of items from fishing rods, reels, golf trips, restaurant coupons, Napa - $100 tool set. Many major fishing and several other retailers will also be donating to the raffle this year.


Keep in mind that the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. Having lost a loved one to cancer, both John and his wife, Kellie, decided to donate the proceeds to the cancer society.


For more information call John at 530-832-9659 or visit his website at
www.420incfishing.com