TEAM USA WINS 4TH ANNUAL
INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE CUP ON
LAKE GUERRERO, MEXICO!
 

 Story::

The 4th annual USA vs. Mexico Tournament is now officially in the books.  The event was held the past weekend August 9^th & 11^th on Mexico’s Lake Guerrero.  Once again the 24 Bass Champs anglers brought the International Cup Trophy back to Texas. 

The event started off with everyone meeting in Reynosa, TX at 10:30 AM on Wednesday.  The caravan crossed the border at approximately 2:30 PM.  The team arrived at the famous Lake Guerrero Big Bass lodge around 6:00 PM.  After everyone unloaded all their gear into their room it was time for dinner and a team meeting.  The team meeting started off with Chad Potts, President of Bass Champs, introducing everyone on the team, and saying a few words about the itinerary for the weekend.  

Mr. Potts, stated,  “Although the USA team won this event the past two years in a row on Sugar Lake, Mexico with over 70 lbs to spare,  this year we are on a completely different lake (Guerrero) which is where the Mexican team won the 1^st annual challenge event.  It will be even more important for our team to work together and help us retain the cup for another year.” Potts continued, “The lake is fishing really tough right now with the recent hurricanes and rise in the water level.  We have two full days of practice this year, so hopefully a few of our teams can figure out a pattern and be able to share successful techniques with the rest of team.”  The team agreed to meet Thursday night after dinner to discuss day one of practice.   

As expected the lake was extremely tough.  Over 110 degree temperatures, very high winds, and miles of flooded brush to navigate made for a long day of fishing.  Most everyone on the team caught plenty of fish, but only a few quality bites were reported.  Since everyone was trying different patterns, depths, speeds, etc, it was difficult for anyone to pinpoint a specific winning pattern.  The team agreed to go back out on Friday with a specific goal in mind, figure out locations where it would be easy to get limits and then try and go for a “kicker bite”.

Friday night the teams got together for the introductions, rules, the pennant exchange, and dinner. Both teams from enjoyed another incredible meal provided by the Lake Guerrero Lodge.  After the meeting, photo’s and interviews the team met for a brief meeting and made sure everyone had a solid plan for day one of the competition.  

The tournament began Saturday morning at 7:00 AM with the playing of both teams National Anthems. After the National Anthems the teams began leaving the take off area in numerical order, the first team from the USA then the first team from Mexico and continued that way until the last boat was called.   Weigh-in was at 4:00 PM on Saturday.  As teams brought their fish to the scales it was becoming clear that this was going to be a tight race between the two teams.  By the end of day one, the weights were tight with the USA team holding a slim 10 pound lead over team Mexico.  

The team of Delores Robles (team captain) and Felipe De La Garza seemed to have a pattern figured out in practice so the Bass Champs camera crews stayed with them during the first day of competition.  The team had a great day and managed to bring over 15 lbs to the scales using small crankbaits in flooded brush near deep water.  

In addition, a second Bass Champs camera stayed in the boat of the Mexico team captains Ismael Valdes and Victor Manuel Morales. This team also had a great day bringing in over 22 lbs on day one and over 30 lbs for the event, eventually proving to be the overall winners.

Following the day one weigh-in, both teams met for dinner around 6:30 PM and watched previous episodes of the Bass Champs TV show featuring the International challenge. After dinner everyone stayed in the pavilion area for the customary gift exchange between each team. Each team was presented with great gifts from their competitors.   The USA team provided each team member from Mexico with a new Abu Garcia REVO reel from Pure Fishing, along with baits and line from Berkley.  The Mexico team provided a bottle of Mexico’s finest tequila to each USA team member.

Going into day two with only a few pounds to spare both teams were anxious to get going and do the best they could do for their country.  Day two was a “short” day. Take-off began at 7:00 AM but the scales closed at 12:00 PM.   As one could imagine August in Mexico is extremely hot.  The temperatures both competition days exceeded 110 degrees but the wind was gusting up to 35 miles per hour. Lake Guerrero is a very large body of water, and one that gets extremely rough with even a small wind.  But, each team member knew what was on the line and continued to fish as hard as they possibly could. Everyone knew that every single cast was an important one.   

By the time the scales closed on Sunday, everyone was anxious to see what the final outcome would be.  Everyone was asking each other what they had for the day and if they noticed any of the Mexico teams weighing in.  Just by what was seen being weighed in, it looked like Mexico was going to make it a real close finish. However, after all of the results were totaled and posted.  The Team from the USA had done it again, and won the event by over 50 pounds. 

 Jeff Welch, Vice President of Bass Champs stated, “This event is great for our sport and both of our countries.  It shows that regardless of what the news says about border issues, or what we read in the papers, there is a still a way to find some commonalities between our countries.   The anglers from Mexico are some of the most gracious and appreciative anglers anywhere, and we respect them for everything that they represent.  This event truly brings two countries and a lot of anglers together for one cause.”   

Pedro Sors of the Cana y Carete Mexico Tournament Trail, announced that both organizations are already in discussions about the 2009 International cup event, and the details will be announced soon.    

"We are definitely looking forward to next year’s event.  Win or lose everyone has had a great time in this Texas-Mexico International challenge every year.  It was an honor to be able to compete against the team from Mexico; they are class act, all of them.  I am confident they will come next year ready to compete. We were represented well with the skilled anglers that went with us.  Congratulations to Team USA" - Chad Potts, President/Bass Champs