LAKEPORT >> The 75 bass pros competing in the fourth annual WON BASS California Open pro/am found the conditions a bit tough on Wednesday as the first round of three-day tournament took place under sunny skies on Clear Lake.
While there certainly were exceptions, most of the fishermen weighed in less than 15 pounds on day one. One of those exceptions was Bakersfield’s Jason Newby, who is atop the pro leader board with 31.37 pounds. Local angler Paul Bailey of Kelseyville is close behind with 30.40 pounds.
The 75 pros are paired with 75 amateurs. The pros draw a different amateur each day and a team’s total weight is shared — as an example, Newby’s amateur partner on Wednesday, Chris Pena of Bakersfield, is also credited with 31.37 pounds. Pena leads the amateur division after round one.
The top prize for the winning pro fisherman is a bass boat valued at $50,000.
Big fish on Wednesday was 10.43 pounds.
Weigh-ins take place at Konocti Vista Casino and Marina in Lakeport. They begin at 3 p.m. each day.
Other first-round leaders in the pro division are Tuan Nguyen (26.02), Kevin Norlin (25.11), Jim Elliott (24.87), Keith Bryan (24.66), John McGrath (23.96), Justin Hanold (22.79), John Pearl (22.63) and Carl Keller (21.71).
Jason Kerr of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, won last year’s pro title at Clear Lake with 70 pounds even.
