Bridgford Foods is prepared to pay any competitor in the U.S. Open next week $50,000 if they catch the Lake Mead record smallmouth bass during the tournament.
The current record for smallmouth caught at the Colorado River impoundment stands at 5 pounds, 7 ounces.
"Smallmouth have really taken over here," said Randy Blaukat, one of five members of the Bridgford fishing team that will be competing (Luke Clausen, Matt Stefan, Joe Uribe, Jr. and Chad Randles are also slated to fish). "(Monday), on my first practice day, I caught about a dozen keepers, and they were all smallmouth."
The 33rd annual U.S. Open runs from Sept. 14-16.
