Hall of Champions

The idea of holding a Tournament of Champions came about in 1982. Allen Tatum of Southland Bass Club proposed the idea to club President David Patrick.  David, also serving as the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs President, presented the idea to the Council.  After much discussion, the council approved the event and scheduled it at Lake Elsinore on December 1st, 1982.

The weather during the tournament was cold and rainy and slowed the fishing considerably.   Allen Tatum caught four small largemouth bass and won the tournament.  Dennis Kolander managed a single keeper and finished second.  All ten of the other competitors came in without a single keeper.  That was the start of the Tournament of Champions.

Year	Lake	Champion	Club	Results
2025	San Vicente		Double Limit Bass Club
2024	San Vicente	Jesse Hinkley	Bass Company
2023	San Vicente	Glenn Morey	San Diego Strokers
2022	El Capitan & Otay	Ryan Cauldren	Hookers Bass Club
2021	El Capitan & Otay		Double Limit Bass Club
2020	El Capitan & Otay
2019	El Capitan & Otay	Ken McClendon	RoadRangers
2018	El Capitan		Bass Club of San Diego
2017	El Capitan	Nick Lerma
2016	El Capitan	Scott Wingo	Hookers Bass Club
2015	El Capitan	Scott Wingo	Hookers Bass Club
2014	El Capitan	Michael McLernon	North County Bass
2013	El Capitan	Allen Tatum	Bass Company
2012
2011	Otay	Larry Henson	Southland Bass Club
2010	Hodges	Larry Henson	Southland Bass Club
2009	Hodges	Bud Grant
2008	San Vicente	Tom Leedom	Bass Company
2007		Jesse Hinkley	Double Limit Bass Club
2006		Bill Gurner	Southland Bass Club
2005	San Vicente
2004		Keith Gunsauls	Bass Company
2003		George Cobb	Inland Empire Bassmasters
2002		Dehron Johnson	Old Pros Bass Club
2001		Allen Wetter	Ramona Bass Anglers
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982	Lake Elsinore	Allen Tatum	Southland Bass Club

​* Please help us fill the gaps in our records.  If you know any of the missing information, please contact the council.