Thanks a ton guys!

It has been an awesome 2007 to say the least. I want to personally thank all my bass-n-tubes friends for the phone calls and texts you sent during the FLW events throughout the year. I really appreciate the support!

Ya know, back when I picked up my big boat in August of '06 I was fired up knowing I had graduated to the next level. I remember the first few times taking the Triton out all I wanted to do is go fast and cover water. I have a day job that keeps me locked down Monday-Thursday from 8am-8pm. But I didn't let that stop me from fishing. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday I was on the water(mostly Coyote,Calero,Anderson) learning how to operate and manuever my new boat. It didn't take long for me to "comfortably" learn how to cover water and power fish with big reaction baits. I was stoked discovering this "new" style of bass fishing, but, I knew I couldn't forget my go-to techniques I learned in the kickboat. For example, pulling up on a 30-foot tule berm and flipping a 1/2 oz black and red flippin jig 30 times, one foot apart. Or, tucking my body low towards the water, spotting a 6 inch opening in a Middle River tree, skip-casting a white frog past the limbs onto the levee, and walking it out. Or even dragging a wacky rigged senko over a lake point is a go-to technique I learned from a kickboat and apply in tournaments when conditions are right.

Anyhow, When FLW announced this new 2007 National Guard Series (Pro/Am style - $3,500 entry for a Pro - Guaranteed to fish for 3 days, top ten fish final day - Winner guaranteed $100,000 - etc..)
I was all in! I made sure that when Febuary 1st, 2007 came around, I would be cocked, locked and ready to rock with the best in the West at Lake Havasu, AZ. But, I had to save up some $ to make it happen. No more parting and girl-chasing like the rest of my friends were doing at the time. At this level, being a rookie, it gets really expensive really fast: Gas, entry fee, food, hotel, I even had to rent a truck to pull my boat for the 10 hour drive! I put in work and got rewarded for it. I earned a top-ten finish and $16,000+. On the final day of competition, I remember thinking "holy crap, today I'm fishing against Jay Yelas and Gary Dobyns!" I caught my only keeper that day shortly after on a Staycee rip bait. It was an un-describable experience on stage and it was a 9th place finish I will never forget. On the long drive home, I knew I was set financially to finish the rest of the FLW Series. Sweeet.

Spring came around and so did the Delta event. I finished below 100th place but held onto the positive expierences and let go of the woulda, shoulda, coulda's. Delta, Look out in 2008, I'll be ready for you!

My next tournament wasn't until the fall and I had all summer to work on techniques. I would go out to Calero and Anderson and often times, bring one rod. I would force myself to learn how to fish certain lures I felt I had to improve on. From Silver buddies and Tail-spinners to 9-inch Lunker Punkers and Tripple Trouts, I was testing them all.

September meant smallies at the Columbia River, WA. The Columbia River in the Tri-cities area was a unique river system with clear water, rocky shoals, and dam locks. Guys were locking through dams and running more than 60 miles from the launch site. On the first day of practice I pull up to spot number one and a 3.5 pound smallie chokes my popper on my second cast! Not 10 casts later, a double hookup(two 3 lbers.) on a Lucky Craft Pointer! I was smiling ear to ear! I had 2 great days of practice and 2 so-so days of practice. Man, when that wind gets up and blows against the current flow and through the gorges, Its like crab fishing on the Discovery channel! Those rollers were nothing like I've ever seen before. This tournament was definately the quickest-paced tourny this year. I was burning the bank, trolling motor on high all day, ripping a pointer as fast as I physically could. Watching these big, dark Smallmouth bass come from 15 ft. of water to "trainwreck" the ripbait was awesome! The faster I worked the bait, the more violent the strikes were. I lost about 5-7 pounds over the course of that tournament(on the waist, not fish!)I ended up in 18th place, $10,000+ and a new favorite Smallmouth factory.

Then the most recent Tournament on Clear Lake: What a blast! Clear Lake in the fall is my absolute favorite time and place to be. It suits my style of fishing to the T. 6-8 inch swimbaits were my primary tools on main, rocky points near deep water. I found the most productive structure on the second day of practice when I caught a 9+ on a ripbait, on lava-rock point. On day three of practice I pulled out the swimbaits and ran points and caught 20+ lbs. in under 3 hours. I felt very good about the weather as it was to remain stable throughout the week. On the last day of practice I went out and checked 2 spots, caught nothing, and headed back to the hotel for maintenance on my equipment. On day 1, I weighed 22 lbs. On day 2, I weighed 25 lbs. and took the lead. On day 3, I weighed 21 lbs. and kept the lead. 13 of those fish were caught on swimbaits while 2 of them were caught heavy-flippin. The night before the final day, we(top-ten)had our meeting with FLW and the FSN crew. They hooked me up with the mic, hat-cam, and cameraman. It was sick!(This event airs on FSN on Dec. 30 at 9 a.m.)On the last day I got some cool footage of a 5er on a swimbait that I hope they air despite the fact I'm fishing out of a Triton(Ranger sponsors FLW and they are strict on showing brand names, etc..) Too bad that 5 lber was the only good fish I hooked all day. I fished my butt off and only had 16 lbs. I was absolutely loving every moment of that day, Yea, I didn't take it home, but I can honestly say it didn't bother me. I have no regrets, excuses, and not one "I lost a big fish" story. I know that to win at this level, everything has to line up and go right. All you can do is get as many things going in your favor as possible. Bobby Barrack calls them "controlables", and it is so true. So, when the show was over, I was more than happy to net 3rd place and $39,078! I also got some great exposure over the net and shook hands with a ton of new people.

I was also lucky enough to pick up some help from Gary Dobyns, I am now on the Dobyns Rod pro staff and I am really excited about it. I told myself I would only represent company's products I believe in %100. Dobyns Rods are the deal! If you're in the market for a new rod, I highly recommend you pick up and feel any of the 50+ technique-specific rods, you'll like 'em. For you San Jose guys, go see Denise at Coyote Bait and Tackle and tell her I sent you. She will set you up. Or, come check out some of the outdoor shows this winter in San Mateo or Sacramento, they always have new stuff worth peeking at.

To end the longest post of the year: For my rookie season, I ended up with 2 top-tens, 9th overall in points, and earned $64,988 for the 2007 year. I am really fired up for the upcoming 2008 FLW Series beginning in February at Lake Amistad, Texas. I just want to let you all know if you ever have any questions or just wanna BS, hit me up at czaldain@gmail.com or call me at 408-476-9863. I hope to make it out to at least one BNT event next year, possibly the CL Open.

Anyway, thanks again guys. hope to see some of you soon!