Where big bass abound on a lake where every angler has a shot to win. The WON BASS California Open fishes beautiful Clear Lake, California April 10-12, 2019
LAKEPORT, CALIFORNIA — Bass anglers from around the west will converge on bountiful Clear Lake, California for the seventh annual WON BASS California Open April 10-12, 2019, and the bags are sure to be big. The tournament record winning 3-day weight is 85.60 pounds, set by Wayne Breazeale in 2016. Clear Lake gives up the goods.
The WON BASS California Open is a shared-weight, PRO/AM event with over 100 percent payback. Based on 100 boats, $150,000 is at stake. The Pro Division winner will take home a new Bass Cat Sabre FTD outfitted with a Mercury Pro XS 175 valued at more than $42,500, plus additional prize money.
“It’s an outstanding event. We can’t wait. Conditions should be great. The prespawn situation should be in full swing with big girls on the move and the males up in the shallows. Fishing conditions should be just about every type of bait you can imagine, frogging, spinnerbaiting, dropshot, big baits, everything’s going to be working,” WON BASS Tournament Director Billy Egan says.
Tournament headquarters is at the beautiful Konocti Vista Casino and Marina, where a lodging discount is available for WON BASS anglers through March 8. Bass Cat will offer test rides from 10-4 at the Konocti Vista Marina on Tuesday April 9, registration and mandatory pairing meeting day. The competition kicks off the next day, April 10, with the presentation of the national anthem at 6 a.m.
The first three years of the Cal Open saw travelers to the lake take the trophy, with Howard Hughes (2013 69.70 pounds) of Redding, Calif. as the first ever Pro Division champ. He was followed by Matt Shura (2014 – 79.80) and Justin Kerr (2015 – 70) — both Arizona anglers — in years two and three. The next two years, Clear Lake local Wayne Breazeale put in impressive back-to-back wins (2016 – 85.60; 2017 – 76.14). Most recently, 2018 champion Doug Mcka of Corning, Calif., another visiting angler, weighed in with 73.04 pounds.
WON BASS offers three shared-weight PRO/AM Open tournaments every year, the Arizona Open on Lake Havasu, the California Open at Clear Lake, and the legendary U.S. Open on Lake Mead. For more information or to register for a WON BASS tournament, visit wonbass.com or dial (949) 366-0248.
THE 2018 CAL OPEN CHAMP Doug Mcka poses with his trophy and new Bass Cat Sabre FTD with his wife and WON BASS Tournament Director Billy Egan.
