Big Fred finishes strong at Clear Lake
November 2, 2007
Big Fred Contaoi of Orange County Choppers put together quite a day on Clear Lake last Friday at the FLW National Guard Western and finished 15th for the tourney. He also took top honors for big fish with 11-pound, 1 ouncer. (Photo by Brett Carlson)
Big Fred posts solid Day 2 bag at Clear Lake
October 26, 2007
After putting up 14 pounds and change on Day 1 of the FLW National Guard Western at Clear Lake, Big Fred Contaoi bagged over 15 pounds of largemouth on Thursday, the second day of the 4-day event. Today’s going to be huge — another good sack of fish and he should stand to earn some Benjamins.
Weigh-in is late in the afternoon…you can watch it live at flwoutdoors.com. I’ll also keep ya posted!
Big Fred taking aim at Clear Lake
October 25, 2007
For the first time in 11 months, FLW touring pro, Big Fred Contaoi, has returned to California to fish the FLW Western Series’ National Guard Western tourney at Clear Lake. Fred was excited to get back to his home lake but found that it was like fishing a totally new body of water due to the fact that the lake level is down 6 feet from when he last fished here.
In practice, he scrambled to put a game plan together and then on Wednesday, the tournament’s opening round, he turned it on and got on a good area of fish and landed over 30 bass. His best 5 checked in at 14 pounds, 2 ounces. A good start to the event, considering most anglers figured that 13 pounds a day would be enough to get a check.
Stay tuned for more updates from the tournament…
A near-death experience…
October 19, 2007
I just found this pic, buried in the vast catacombs of my computer…it’s a shot of a set of Russian River rapids I named “Pile Driver” after Big Fred tried to kill us there a few years back in a two-man pontoon boat. Somehow, I managed grab the camera — and avoid soiling my waders (sans wading belt) — at the same time. Of course, nobody aboard was wearing a lifejacket…
Speaking of Big Fred Contaoi, he’ll participating in a little more sane of a venture next week when he fishes in his final FLW bass tourney of the season, the National Guard Western, on Clear Lake. Stay tuned for more on that…
Going back to Cali…to Cali…
October 16, 2007
For the first time since December 2006, professional bass angler and all-around Road Warrior, Big Fred Contaoi of Orange County Choppers is headed to his home in Lakeport, CA.
“This is definitely the longest I’ve been away from California,” says the touring pro, who’s been on the road for almost a year straight. “I’m looking forward to getting home and seeing everybody.”
Big Fred’s return home isn’t just about visiting with friends and family — he’s got a mission. He’ll be fishing the final tournament of his rookie campaign, FLW’s National Guard Western at Clear Lake, Oct. 24-27.
It will be an exciting event with a $125,000 purse for first place…but more than that, the tournament marks the first time as a pro that Big Fred will get to fish water that he’s familiar with. This season, he had to be a quick study and learn new lakes all across the southeast. At Clear Lake, however, he’s got some time on the water — though not since last year.
Come on down to Konocti Harbor on Clear Lake next week and root our favorite pro on!
Day 2 at Pickwick tough for Big Fred
October 11, 2007
I didn’t get a chance to talk with Big Fred today after his second day at the FLW Series event at Pickwick Lake in Alabama, but I checked the results and it looks like he found some rough sledding and blanked. I don’t have any more details than that…tomorrow is a new day.
Big Fred in 84th place at Pickwick
October 10, 2007
Just a quickie Big Fred Contaoi update here….after Wednesday’s Day 1 of the FLW Eastern Series event at Pickwick Lake, AL, our man weighed in 2 bass for 5 pounds, 10 ounces and is currently running in 84th place.
He’s just 4 pounds out of the money at the moment, so we’ll have to see how Thursday goes. I’ll report back when I get off the water…
Ever wanted to be a professional bass angler?
September 29, 2007
Come on — you know you’ve always been curious about what life is like on the pro bass tour, right? Well, Big Fred’s the star of a new film called Cast which follows him around during an FLW tour event.
Big Fred to appear on American Chopper TV show on Sept. 27
September 24, 2007
Okay, Big Fred Contaoi fans…here’s your chance to catch our favorite pro basser on TV. This Thursday, Sept. 27, our man will guest star on American Chopper on TLC at 9-11p.m.
In this episode, which is a two parter entitled “EDS/Byron Nelson Championship Bike,” Big Fred travels to New York to meet the Orange County Choppers gang — Paul Teutul Sr. and his two sons Paul Jr. and Mikey. In Part I, he appears towards the end of the show.
In part II, Big Fred introduces Paul Jr. to the world of professional bass fishing as they compete in a FLW tournament on Fort Loudoun-Tellico Lakes in Tennessee.
Check it out!
Big Fred re-signs with Orange County Choppers
September 16, 2007
With his first full season as a pro basser starting to wind down, our bassin’ fool, Big Fred Contaoi (right, with Paulie Jr. and Sr.) got some good news recently after a meeting in New York with the Orange County Choppers guys — it looks like OCC will once again sponsor Big Boy on the FLW Tour in 2008!
I’ll pass along more details when they’re available….until then, way to go!
