LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Fishing Club hosted its first open tournament on Sunday at Konocti Vista Casino and Marina. A total of 15 teams from as far away as Turlock went head to head with each other in the varsity division while also battling the near triple-digit heat.
Another nine fishermen participated in the junior division.
In the high school division, first place went to the Lower Lake High School team of Tate Smith and Hadyn Evans with 17.44 pounds. Cooper Goff of Mountain Vista Middle School and Sheldon Reese of Clear Lake High School teamed up to finish second with 16.09 pounds while third place went to the Kelseyville High School duo of Nathan Phillips and Jason Gentle with 15.32 pounds.
Phillips won big-fish honors by bringing in a 6-pounder.
In the junior division, Matthew Gamora of Mountain Vista Middle School caught the big fish of 4.76 pounds. The winner for total weight was Joey Mendonca of Mountain Vista Middle School with 8.30 pounds followed by Gamora at 6.88 pounds and Devin Cole of Mountain Vista Middle School with 6.29 pounds.
The tournament was sponsored by Foods Etc., Shop Smart, Disney’s Trophies & Awards, Clear Lake Outdoors, Barrick Snacks, Clearlake Bait & Tackle, Clearlake Bassmasters, the Kelseyville Fire Department and Konocti Vista Casino & Marina.
Donating their boats and time were Scott Strugnell, Lucas Cole, Bob Transano, Sig Taylor, Steve Phillips, Brandon DeLapo, Dan Izzac, Lyle Valador, Jim Totten, George Hill, Roger Tarin, Jackson Juarez, Matt Thibodeaux and Jeremy Van Winkle,
