The annual WON BASS Clear Lake Open bass tournament gets underway at daylight Wednesday and the tournament should produce some large weights. Clear Lake has come under criticism recently for only producing small bass and a number of factors are being blamed, ranging from too much algae in the water to the fish die-off last summer. The three-day tournament features some of the top bass tournament fishermen in the West and if they can’t catch big fish no one can.
The winning pro receives a new bass boat worth $35,000 and up to $10,000 in cash, depending on the number of entries. As of Monday there were 78 pros and 78 amateurs signed up. The entry fee is $1,000 for a pro and $400 for an amateur. The tournament uses a pro/am format. The pros and amateurs share the weight and each boat is allowed to weigh in a maximum of five bass. Each pro has a different amateur partner each day. The tournament goes out of Konocti Vista Casino in Lakeport. Weigh-in time is 3 p.m.
Wayne Breazeale of Kelseyville won the tournament last year with a three-day weight of 76.14 pounds. He also caught the big fish of the tournament, a 10.33-pounder. Breazeale also won the tournament in 2016 and is the only repeat winner of the Open in WON BASS history.
Without question Breazeale is one of the favorites again this year. In fact, Breazeale is considered to be one of the top bass pros in California and the West. He almost always finishes in the top five places in the tournaments he enters. His favorite lake is Clear Lake and he knows just about every nook and corner of the lake. Unlike other so-called bass pros who want to make fishing a full-time profession, Breazeale has a regular job and fishing is considered his hobby. That’s not to say he is any less competitive. Breazeale has that instinct about where the fish are located and how to catch them. His two favorite fishing styles are ripping a jerkbait and drop-shotting a plastic worm. He is also deadly on “sight” fishing for bass during the spawning season, which could open at any time.
Even though Breazeale is considered one of the top pros you rarely ever hear him brag about his successes. In fact, he is normally shy about his bass fishing expertise. He has been tournament fishing for more than 20 years
Other local fishermen entered in the tournament are Mark Crutcher of Lakeport and Jackson Juarez of Kelseyville. Both are experienced tournament anglers who have a good chance of ending up high on the leader board.
Weather will play a major role in the tournament. The forecast is for cloudy weather with rain showers. That could change the fishing conditions dramatically. The fishing was good during the official prefishing days, which were Saturday through Monday. Many of the fishermen reported catching from 10-30 fish per day and there were reports of several bass weighing more than 8 pounds being caught.
On Monday evening the tournament fishermen enjoyed a free barbecue hosted by David Burress at the Clear Lake Outdoors Tackle Shop in Lakeport.
The WON BASS Clear Lake Open kicks off the spring tournament season on Clear Lake. Just about every weekend through the month of June will feature at least one tournament. Fishing is an important part of the tourist industry for the county.
