LAKEPORT — Clear Lake was packed with pro bass fishermen Saturday and Sunday as the Wild West Tournament Trail (WWBT) held tournaments each day in Lakeport.
Sunday
Boater Joe Hinkle and non-boater Glen Lockhart teamed up to win the 2020 Clear Lake Open on Sunday with a five-fish limit of 21.45 pounds for a $4,000 payday. plus four new tires courtesy of General Tire.
Sixty-seven teams took part in the competition and the top 13 finished in the money. Big-fish honors went to the third-place team of Scott Bern and Austin Kennedy with a 5.7-pound catch. They earned $2,000 overall, including $500 for the big fish.
Runner-up team honors went to David Boettger and Jerod Adams with 20.62 pounds ($1,900). Bern and Kennedy had 20.04.
Rounding out the top five teams were Bryan Cox and Kevin Davidsin in fourth place with 18.66 pounds ($1,300), and Chris Martin and Jeff Bitker in fifth place with 18.14 pounds ($1,200).
Saturday
During a WWBT team event Saturday, Garrett Maddex and Scott Burke brought a seven-fish limit to the weigh scales for a winning weight of 27.17 pounds. They also caught the tournament’s big fish at 8.24 pounds to earn a $520 bonus. In all, their tournament winnings came to $6,020.
Second place went to the team of Jason Austin and Ken Mah with a seven-fish limit of 23.72 pounds, including a 6.14-pound bass. Their total winnings came to $3,020.
Third-place honors went to Brian Conder and Eddie Zinda Jr. with a seven-fish total of 23.09 pounds ($2,100). Frank Ono and Mike Nichelini were fourth with 23.07 pounds ($2,420), including a 5.8-pound big fish. Mike Sanders and Matt Lindsey rounded out the top five with 22.98 pounds ($1,700).
The 100-team tournament paid down to 20 places. The runner-up big fish of the tournament was a 8.15-pounder caught by the 15th-place team of Brian Cogburn and Justin Crain. They pocketed $1,220 overall.
Kelseyville’s Wayne Breazeale and fishing partner Mike Menne placed eighth with 22.69 pounds and collected $1,300.
