LAKEPORT — It”s been 10 long years since Texas bass pro Bryon Velvick last won a bass tournament at Clear Lake. On Sunday, he not only won the Bassmaster Elite Series Golden State Shootout, but he crushed his opposition in the process.
Velvick took the tournament title and the $100,000 first-place money with a four-day total weight of 98 pounds, 6 ounces. He led the original field of 94 boats on all four days. It was his second Bassmaster tournament win and his first in the Elite Series.
Velvick, who now lives in Del Rio, Texas, said he caught all his fish on a Rago BV3D swimbait. He said all his fish came from a small area just south of Lakeport, an area the local fishermen call “Swimbait Alley.” Velvick said his secret to success was a super slow retrieve.
In fact, Velvick is credited with starting the swimbait fad back in 2000 when he used one to win a Bassmasters Open at Clear Lake with a national record-setting catch of 83 pounds, 5 ounces for three days.
Finishing second to Velvick in the Golden State Shootout was Bill Lowen of North Bend, Ohio, with 92-9. He spent most of the tournament in Rodman Slough and used jigs and chatterbaits to catch his fish. He collected $25,000.
Third place went to the crowd favorite, 70-year-old Guy Eaker of Cherryville, N.C. Eaker weighed in 90-11 and collected $20,000. He told the large crowd at the weigh-in site at Lakeport”s Library Park that he has been tournament fishing for more than 35 years.
“I was fishing bass tournaments before many of these other guys were even born,” Eaker told a cheering crowd.
He caught most of his fish in Rodman Slough.
Local favorite Skeet Reese of Auburn finished in fifth place with 85-3. He spent most of the tournament casting swimbaits in the Long Tule Point area. His winnings came to $15,000.
The entire field of 94 fishermen competed during the first two days. The field was cut to 47 for Saturday”s third round and to 12 for Sunday”s final round.
The weigh-in on Sunday at Library Park in Lakeport drew more than 1,000 spectators.
The tournament was taped by ESPN for a showing on ESPN2 on April 4 at 6 a.m. and April 17 at 8 a.m.
