Arizona Bassmaster Elite Series pro Clifford Pirch became the third angler to win the WON Bass U.S. Open three times on Wednesday as he caught an 8.19-pound sack from Lake Mead to complete a wire-to-wire victory with a 3-day total of 31.26.
"I'm speechless right now, especially after being so close the last 2 years," said Pirch, who joined Bass Fishing Hall-of-Famer Mike Folkestad and reigning Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year Aaron Martens as three-time winners of the derby. "I really didn't think that I had produced enough weight to hold on, but it feels great to pull through and I'm especially blessed to have been so fortunate to win this event three times; I'm completely humbled right now."
Pirch, who compiled nearly half of his total on day 1 when he brought a 15 1/2-pound bag to the scale, made a long run to the back of the Overton Arm on day 3 to target dirty runoff and debris that had resulted from upstream monsoons and flash floods. It was an area that he had saved for the final day and it took a while for his bite to develop, but he connected with fish that had moved downstream and caught more than 25 keepers.
He employed three different techniques during the event – dropshotting, cranking and flipping a 1/2-ounce jig (full details of his winning pattern will be published Friday).
"It was a tournament where I had to do a lot of different things to produce the right bites; I had to change with the conditions," he said. "I really wasn't sure how it was going to turn out today, but I'm blessed and honored to have won this event."
A trio of Californians claimed the three spots directly behind Pirch, as Todd Woods was 2nd with 28.70, Gabe Boliver 3rd with 28.49 and Brett Leber 4th with 26.54. Veteran tour pro John Murray, a two-time U.S. Open winner, completed the Top 5 with 25.80.
Here are the final totals for the Top 12:
1. Clifford Pirch: 31.26
2. Todd Woods: 28.70
3. Gabe Bolivar: 28.46
4. Brett Leber: 26.54
5. John Murray: 25.80
6. Tony Lain: 25.33
7. Scott Davis: 25.25
8. Joe Uribe Jr.: 24.67
9. Pete Marino: 24.66
10. Luke Clausen: 24.59
11. Randy Blaukat: 24.54
12. Chris Bozarth: 24.13
For complete final standings, click here.
