OAKLEY, Calif. (October 28, 2008) - The fourth and final FLW Series National Guard Western tournament was moved from Lake Shasta to the California Delta, and 120 anglers fished the California waters October 8 - 11. After being plagued by heavy winds reaching 40 MPH, Lucky Craft's Brent Ehrler finished 51st, ahead of more than half the field.

It wasn't easy for the Redlands, California resident. Not only were the winds difficult to endure, but Ehrler had never fished the Delta this time of year. The fish didn't act the way they do in the spring.

"The fish relate to cover very differently this time of year, and they are concentrated in different areas," Ehrler said. "I've never seen it like that before. I honestly never caught them that well this week. I was catching a lot of fish but never had the big bites."

Ehrler had two main areas he fished during his three tournament days - edges of canals and Frank's Track, a lake on the Delta. He was throwing the Lucky Craft Flat CB DR and the Lucky Craft LV-500.

"The Delta has a lot of canals, and there are usually islands in those canals with deep water at the ledges," Ehrler explained. "The toulies grow on the edges, and I would have to make long casts with the Flat CB DR to get right up next to them. The toulies grow in about 2 feet of water, but then it drops off to about 15 or 20 feet. The fish like to suspend right there, and that's where I could catch them."

The weather made it difficult for Ehrler to reach his primary area. The strong wind forced him to fish the protected side of the islands, which made casting to the toulies a challenge. Ehrler was fishing the Flat CB DR on 12-pound fluorocarbon and cranking it back at a medium retrieve.

"Usually those toulies are standing straight up and you can make a good cast," Ehrler continued. "This week, the wind was blowing so hard, the toulies were sideways, and I couldn't get a good cast in the exact spot I needed. It made it really hard to fish. I was catching them a lot better in practice."

Ehrler's other main area, Frank's Track, was almost impossible to fish during the tournament as the wind brought 4-foot waves with it. However, Ehrler did manage a few good fish, and one giant, in that area on day one fishing the LV-500.

"The grass grows in the middle of Frank's Track, and I found some areas where the fish were grouped together," Ehrler said. "I was fishing the LV-500 on heavy line [20-pound fluorocarbon] because of all the grass. It has low stretch, so it was good to use because, as I got tangled in the grass, I could jerk it free and keep on winding back to the boat."

Although this pattern ended early for Ehrler due to the wind, he was able to catch a 7-pounder in the area on day one using the LV-500.

After a three-day total of 27 pounds, 13 ounces, Ehrler admitted he was disappointed about the way things turned out. From the outside looking in, 51st doesn't seem bad with 120 competitors. But with Ehrler's track record in the west, he wasn't pleased after his showing on the Delta.

"I tend to do well in the western tournaments, but this is actually the first time I haven't made a check in the west since 2001," Ehrler said. "The lures worked great, but I just couldn't get myself around enough big fish."