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!
Big Fred currently 1 fish out of the $$ at FLW Series event at Lake Champlain
September 5, 2007
I didn’t get a chance to talk with our budding pro basser, Big Fred Contaoi today, but I’ve learned that he weighed in 5 bass for 12 pounds, 11 ounces today at Day 1 of FLW Series team bass tournament at New York’s Lake Champlain.
His sack of fish put him in 100th place, but only 2+pounds out of the top 50. If he has a good day Thursday, he can make up a bunch of ground and get into the hunt for this thing.
Good luck, Big Boy!
Big Fred: Road Warrior (The Year in Review)
August 12, 2007
Big Fred Contaoi, Orange County Choppers‘ pro basser left his Northern California home shortly after Christmas and has been on the road, fishing ever since. The experience has had its share of highs and, of course, the occasional low, but it’s been a great ride so far.
For all of us who would love to fish our way across the country for a living and are vicariously living through Big Fred, here are some of the high points of the 2007 season (in his own words):
Big Fred makes his Orange County Choppers TV debut
July 26, 2007
Well, they didn’t give Big Boy a ton of air time last night, but it was a nice little segment anyway. Thanks to Fred’s mom for calling me and telling me it was on! Check your local cable listings, it’s the Byron Nelson episode.
Big Fred finds the smallies on Day 2 of Chevy Open in Detroit
July 15, 2007
After surviving ocean-like conditions and landing 2 bass for 6 pounds, 6 ounces on the first day of the FLW Tour’s Chevy Open on the Detroit River (in which 12 boats didn’t make it back and 2 sunk), our bassin’ man, Big Fred Contaoi of Orange County Choppers put together a nice sack on Day 2.
He landed 5 fat smallies for a total of 15 pounds, 2 ounces that day. Unfortunately, the effort was too little, too late and he missed the cut. His two-day total of 21 pounds, 8 ounces was about 1 good smalllmouth shy of earning him a paycheck.
Big Fred just happy to be alive after Day 1 of the Chevy Open
July 12, 2007
Day 1 of the FLW Tour’s Chevy Open on the Detroit River brought with it some miserable conditions — howling wind and 4- to 5-foot rollers.
Big Fred Contaoi of Orange County Choppers said that he was simply happy to just make it back in.
“Bass boats just aren’t designed for this kind of weather,” he said. “Guys lost lots of gear today — electronics, trolling motors, etc and there were 12 boats that didn’t make it back, including 2 that sank. I got back in safely and, today, that was a win.”
Big Fred headed for the Land of the Giant Smallies
July 2, 2007
Our pal, Big Fred Contaoi of Orange County Choppers is currently en route to the final regular-season FLW Tour stop of the year, which is to be held on July 12-15 in Detroit.
At first glance, Detroit seems like an odd place for a bass tournament, but the Detroit River and Lake Erie are well-known for producing trophy smallmouth.
Big Fred finds tough going Day 2 of FLW Tour stop on the Potomac
June 17, 2007
Though he felt good about his chances at the FLW Tour’s stop at the Potomac River last week, our man Big Fred Contaoi had a bit of a rough go at it. After Day 1, he was still within 8 pounds of making a check with his 3 fish for 6 pounds, 9 ounces but things got a little tougher the second day and Fred only weighed in 2 bass for 5 pounds, 3 ounces.
I haven’t been able to get in touch with the big fella since then, so I don’t know the whole story but I’m sure he’ll rebound and do well at the next event. Stay tuned!
Bites don’t stick on Day 1 at Potomac for Big Fred
June 15, 2007
On Day 1 of the FLW Tour’s stop at the Potomac River on Thursday, Big Fred Contaoi of Orange County Choppers had enough grabs to post a good sack of fish but they just wouldn’t stick.
“I just couldn’t figure out the bite today,” he said Thursday night. “I had my chances…”
He did manage to get three keeper bass that weighed a total of 6 pounds, 9 ounces, which put him in 163rd place. At this point, he’s about 8 pounds out of the money.
We’ll see what today brings…
Big Fred’s State of the Union Address & how he’s going to go after $125K on the Potomac
June 12, 2007
Our man on the pro bass tour, Big Fred “George Strait” Contaoi, is currently practicing hard for the next event, the FLW Tour’s fifth stop of season which will be held on the Potomac River in Charles County, MD (near D.C.). He and 199 other pros will battle for the $125,000 first prize June 14-17.
Of all the events he’s fished so far, Big Fred feels most at home here because… Read more
