LAKEPORT >> Justin Kerr of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, hit 70 pounds on the nose to win the three-day WON BASS California Open at Clear Lake, a pro-am tournament that concluded Friday afternoon at the Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina.
Kerr won a $40,000 prize package that included a new bass boat and cash. Four other fishermen brought more than 60 pounds to the scales, including Wayne Breazeale of Kelseyville, third with 65.50 pounds, and Carl Keller of Hidden Valley Lake, fifth with 60.76 pounds.
Ron Bruggeman of Potter Valley edged out Breazeale for runner-up honors with 65.51 pounds. Keith Bryan of Novato was fourth with 63.16 pounds, including the big fish in the pro division on Friday, a 9.11-pounder.
Also cracking the top 10 from Lake County was Kelseyville’s Paul Bailey, who was 10th with 58.99 pounds.
Keller led the tournament after round two on Thursday but dropped four places following Friday’s weigh-in. He caught five-fish limits all three days as did Kerr, Breazeale and Bryan. Breazeale also made a run at big-fish honors on Friday with a 8.62-pound fish.
The top 28 finishers in the pro division all had more than 50 pounds, a testament to the solid fishing conditions during the tournament. Not even triple-digit heat on Friday could slow the bass fishing.
Among other Lake County fishermen in the field, Ryan Lauwers of Kelseyville was 41st with 46.13 pounds, Bryan Lutz of Clearlake Oaks was 52nd with 42.69 pounds, Mark Crutcher of Lakeport was 62nd with 38.64 pounds, Gary Collins of Upper Lake was 67th with 37.64 pounds, and Carl Harris of Clearlake Oaks was 92nd with 23.40 pounds.
There were 98 pros and 98 amateurs entered in the tournament.
Amateurs
Jesus Valdez of Washington, D.C. won the amateur division with 64.60 pounds, barely beating out second-round leader Glenn Wolfgang of Solvang, who finished with 63.65 pounds.
Another close battle for third place had Tim Nguyen of Elk Grove (60.92) edging out Ryan Brewer of Stockton (60.75).
Kevin Tucker of New Plymouth, Idaho, rounded out the top five with 57.14 pounds.
Big-fish honors in the amateur division on Friday went to Daniel Diperna of Mountain View with 7.92 pounds. He finished in a tie for 42nd place with 44.91 pounds.
Ed Legan of Clearlake Oaks was the highest placing Lake County fisherman at 96th place (22.45 pounds) although Lyle Valador of Ukiah finished 18th with 51.40 pounds.
