2019 WON US Open on Lake Mead Day 2: Salvucci Scores Lead; Kerr 2nd

Double digit limits difficult

WON PRESS RELEASE

Nick Salvucci leads with 22.54lbs (Photo: WON) 

While rough conditions can make it hard on the anglers at the WON Bass U.S. Open, Lake Mead’s black bass population thrives in the wind. The problem for the field at the 2019 edition of the West’s most prestigious event, is that there has been very little to speak of. Those conditions mean that there will be a limited morning bite, then a grind for the rest of the day.

After finishing day one in second place with 11.35 pounds, Nick Salvucci proved to be the most consistent angler on day two when he brought 11.19 pounds to the Calville Bay scales to bring his total weight to 22.54 pounds, enough to take the lead heading into the final day. Salvucci and day one leader Justin Kerr swapped places when Kerr slipped, producing 8.05 pounds on day two, falling to second place with a total weight of 19.72 pounds.

That 2.82-pound differential can be massive on a body of water like Lake Mead. That margin, and one more day of fishing stand between Salvucci and the title he has wanted so badly for the past two years.

Despite the strong lead, Salvucci said he is anything but comfortable. “I really don’t know what to expect tomorrow,” he said. “I am covering as much water as I can, but when I’m getting six or seven bites a day, anything can happen.”

Salvucci reported being able to pare down the collection of rods on his deck, but that junk fishing remained the name of the game on day two. “I probably had 10 rods on the deck instead of 20, but I still caught fish on four different baits,” he said. “I have to get out there and see how it goes; but anything could still happen.”

Kerr said that his day boiled down to one word – imperfection. “I know that there’s still a chance, but I have to land everything that bites,” he said. “My partner and I both lost fish today, and you can’t win if that happens. My whole career has been about execution, and I’ll need to be perfect tomorrow to have a chance.”

The third place pro, Jim Moynagh, brought in 11.08 pounds on day two, a huge leap from his day one, 6.98-pound performance to bring his total weight to 18.64 pounds. He is followed by two-time U.S. Open Champion John Murray, who added 8.97 pounds today to bring his total weight to 18.55 pounds, enough to leap from 10^th place to fourth. Randy Estrada M.D. rounded out the top five by bringing 9.50 pounds to the scales to finish the day with 17.60 pounds.

2019 WON US Open on Lake Mead Day 1: Justin Kerr Snags Lead

Wind whipped Mead fishing tough

WON PRESS RELEASE

Kerr and Bo McNelly net 11.67lbs for lead.
(Photo: WON)

In the days leading up to the 2019 WON Bass US Open on Lake Mead, the weather did anything but cooperate. Strong winds kept the field of 254 pro anglers and their AAA partners confined to areas that weren’t pounded by the resultant waves. On the eve of the 37^th edition of the event, the wind laid down.

 

When those conditions present themselves to tournament anglers, the immediate thought is that it the fishing is going to be tough. While the results showed that much of the field found the fishing to be difficult, someone will always find a way to put together a bite. 

 

On the first day of the 2019 WON Bass U.S. Open, that proved to be former U.S. Open champion Justin Kerr, and his partner Bo McNeely. Their 11.67 pound limit put Kerr in position to claim his second U.S. Open victory. Nick Salvucci, who has been close to winning the past two years, and his AAA partner Brandon Smith came in with 11.35 pounds to end the day in second place. 

 

Kerr, the Lake Havasu City, Arizona pro said that he just took what Lake Mead gave him. “We had an early draw today, and it took a while for the bit to get going, but when it did, we were able to put it together,” he said. “There were a lot of boats in the area, so we had to kind of lock down in one spot and do what we could; everything just kind of worked out.”

 

Kerr said that his partner helped the cause. “These events become a team event for the day, and my partner caught a three pounder that really helped,” said Kerr. “I don’t know how tomorrow will go, but I’ll go out there and see what I can put together tomorrow.”

 

Salvucci said that he used a variety of techniques, in the mid-lake area to sack his day’s weight. “I used about 20 different rods today to catch my fish; it was a junk fishing day,” he said. “I never really knew what I was going to get bit on, so I just picked something up and culled as many times as I could. I’ve been close the past two years, and I’m ready to see if I can make it happen this year.” He

Matt Herren Wins the TTBC with 51-12 pounds!

It's Herren's time at TTBC
By Andrew Canulette
BASS PRESS RELEASE

When the final day of the 10th annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic began, Matt Herren held a slim 12-ounce lead over Bryan Thrift.

When the day was done, Thrift had closed the gap – but not enough to win.

Junk fishing his way to victory. (Photo: BASS)

Herren, an Elite Series pro from Alabama, had a three-day total of 51 pounds, 12ounces, which was eight ounces more than Thrift. The victory netted Herren a $100,000 cash prize, a Nitro Z20 boat with dual Power-Poles, and bragging rights in one of the most prestigious bass fishing tournaments.

But most importantly, it got Herren his first professional level win in nine years (he previously won an FLW stop in 2007.) He has never won a B.A.S.S. Elite Series event.

“Man, it’s incredible,” Herren said, after weighing a 17-4 limit on Sunday. “A lot of hard work goes into this, and there’s a lot of people who pay a big price to let me do what I do. They all know who they are … It’s amazing. You always wonder every day when you get up; you finish second, you finish third. It’s like ‘When? When is my time?’”