LAKEPORT >> Wayne’s world is a pretty good place.
Wayne Breazeale of Kelseyville, who one other fisherman watching Friday’s weigh-in at Konocti Vista Casino, Resort and Marina described as “lethal on Clear Lake,” defended his title by winning the pro division in the WON BASS fifth annual California Open at Clear Lake. His winning weight was 76.14 pounds.
The three-day pro-am tournament opened Wednesday with Breazeale bringing 30.70 pounds to the scales to take a lead he would never relinquish. Things got a bit tight on Thursday when he weighed in 18.27 pounds and watched his lead trimmed to 2.66 pounds over Miles Howe of San Juan Capistrano, but Breazeale came back strong on Friday with a five-fish limit of 27.17 pounds.
Breazeale also caught the big fish of the tournament, a 10.83-pounder that was part of his Wednesday total.
For his win, Breazeale receives a new bass boat valued at more than $30,000 and approximately $4,000 in cash.
Second place went to Garrett Dixon of Durham with 69.92 pounds. Howe ended up third with 64.75 pounds.
Also finishing in the top 10 were Lake County fishermen Carl Keller of Hidden Valley Lake, who was seventh overall with 54.95 pounds, and John Pearl of Upper Lake, ninth overall with 53.67 pounds. Among other Lake County fishermen in the field, the highest placers were Garry Collins of Upper Lake, 11th with 51.06 pounds; Mark Crutcher of Lakeport, 16th with 49.36 pounds; and Jared Stone of Kelseyville, 17th with 48.66 pounds.
James Bunker of Martinez won the amateur division with 61.93 pounds. Geoff Peterson from Huntington Beach edged out Zach Ricahrd of Suisun for second place with 56.73 pounds to Richard’s 56.53.
Eighty-six boats were entered in the tournament, each holding a pro and an amateur.
