LA GRANGE, Calif. – Bass fishing fans know Greg “Double G” Gutierrez of Red Bluff, Calif., as the first-ever BAM Tournament Trail Pro/Am champion, following his February 2024 win on Lake Shasta. This weekend, Gutierrez once again made history as an inaugural champion, fishing his way to victory with the heaviest single-day five-fish limit of 18.72 pounds at Lake Don Pedro.
The season-opening event of the BAM Tournament Trail’s Super 60 was presented by Bass Boat Technologies, Lake Don Pedro, Chicken Ranch Casino Resort, and Tackle Warehouse, with Fisherman’s Warehouse as Conservation Sponsor. The win brought Gutierrez a $50,000 grand prize, plus an additional $8,500 in contingency bonuses — $500 from Costaand $500 from Bass Boat Technologies and $7500 fromBass Cat Boats— for a $58,500 payday.
By Jody Only
Championship Sunday Decision-Making
Gutierrez originally planned to change his approach for the final day.
“It was one of those things I gambled on,” he said. “I didn’t plan on fishing the same. I was going to throw a swimbait in the wind and see if I could just get the big bites; but I realized if I just made a stop and put a nice easy limit in the boat, I might be more comfortable. So, I started fishing, went through my area, and hooked a big one — and went hmmm. I hooked another one the very next cast.”
That was enough to convince Gutierrez to stick with his original game plan. The result? An estimated 30 fish caught on the final day, including the winning five.
Wind and Fish Behavior Became Factors
Anglers were met with heavy gusts on Don Pedro, forcing changes in presentation. But Gutierrez noted a major shift in bass behavior that played in his favor.
“It made the fish position differently,” he explained. “Before, there were a lot of little fish in my area. We caught a lot of them, and every once in a while, a big one. I knew those big ones were coming in, and I could see them down there; but I think all the boat pressure and traffic pushed them deeper and deeper — to where they were unreachable. On Sunday, without anyone else out there, it was just me. They came up into five or six feet of water and would eat right away. It was amazing.”
The Right Gear for the Job
Gutierrez credited his equipment as a critical component to his win. He fished down baits on a Frenzy Nail and a homemade, custom dart head — each paired with a Tube bait in two specific colors (Pumpkin and Watermelon Candy).
“It was the thing,” he said regarding his IROD Quercus and Sevin Reel setup that was spooled with Gamma 6- and 8-pound line. “I was getting’ my line tore up on some of the bridge pilings. The fish would make long hard runs and the smooth drag, coupled with the sensitivity of the rod and the strength of the line – in a nutshell, that was the key components. Equipment was the ticket.”
What’s Next
As a long-time veteran and decorated angler, Gutierrez is now making space for another BAM trophy and gearing up for the next BAM Super 60 event at Lake Mohave, May 2–4. Anglers and fans can learn more about the Mohave event at bamtrail.com.
