Business becomes friendship for fishermen from Grover Beach, King City

Winners of the third stop on the Best Bass Coastal Region schedule made a colossal rebound into the winner’s circle.

Lake Nacimiento has been the site for all three BBT competitions, but last Saturday’s competition had a much more pleasing outcome for Danny Conatser and partner Dan Dostal.

After finishing 30th and 46th in the first two tests, the “Danny Boys” bounced all the way to the head of the class that had 36 other tandems enrolled in this bass exam on the water.

Dostal, a steel salesman from Grover Beach, employed a drop shot about noon to connect with a 4.73 pound bass that was the “big fish” of the event by a long shot. (Second best was 2.69 pounds, which was reeled in by a duo who shared 12th place.)

But, what was it? A largemouth, which are almost a rarity, or a plump spotted bass?

Conatser said, “I didn’t look at it closely when I deposited it in my live well.”

Other participants interviewed by phone were unable to shine a defining opinion on the subject.

A few yesterdays ago, a business conversation between Dostal, the salesman, and Conatser, owner of a welding and machine shop in King City that bears his name, digressed. The two men learned they shared a love of fishing. At the time, Conatser was scaling back his participation in tournament bass fishing.

“Once upon a time, I fished WON Bass, American Bass, 100 Percent Bass and Angler’s Choice, to name a few.”

“Dostal was taking money out of my pocket as a salesman,” Conatser quipped.

Currently, both men compete only in Best Bass events. This is their fifth season together. It’s also the total existence of BBT.

Best Bass Coastal (All 5-fish limits)

1. Danny Conaster, King City, Dan Dostal, Grover Beach, 12.03 pounds, $1,950

2. Jason Lazzerini, Moss Landing, Geno Lazzerini, Prunedale, 10.45 pounds, $930

3. Chase Austin, Jeramie Dyer, Templeton, 10.39 pounds, $735

4. Brian Duncan, Chris Martinez, 9.71 pounds, $470

5. Graham Grove, Mark Scribner, Pismo Beach, 9.09 pounds, $235

6. Kenneth Cleveland, Clayton Rogerson, 9.06 $220

7. Erik Zillig, John Zillig, Jr., Paso Robles 9.05 pounds

8. Glenn Wolfgang, Larry Zepeda, Nipomo, 8.59 pounds

9. (Tie) Jim Keeney, Tom Ryan, Paso Robles, 8.55 pounds; Mike & Rick Gohr, 8.55 pounds.

1st Big Fish: 4.73 pounds, Conaster & Dostal; 2nd Big Fish, 2.69 pounds, *Ryan Borba & Dallas Parish.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 3:38 PM with the headline "Business becomes friendship for fishermen from Grover Beach, King City."