Mark Crutcher, who has two Top-5 finishes in previous Clear Lake Rayovac Series events, caught a massive 29-09 stringer to kick things off today in the season finale of the Western Division of the Rayovac Series at Clear Lake.
Crutcher, a native of Lakeport, Calif., will take more than a 5-pound lead into day 2 of the competition, which features a modest 87-boat field after the tournament was rescheduled because of wildfires last month in northern California.
Matt Newman, another California native and owner of iRod Fishing Rods, is 2nd with 24-05 while Joe Uribe, Jr., the division points leader after two events, is 3rd with 23-11. Kyle Grover, with 22-12, is 4th and Jim Hawkes sits in 5th with 22-08.
Here’s a look at the Top after Day 1:
1. Mark Crutcher: 29-09
2. Matt Newman: 24-05
3. Joe Uribe Jr: 23-11
4. Kyle Grover: 22-12
5. Jim Hawkes: 22-08
6. Bryant Smith: 22-07
7. Jimmy Reese: 21-13
8. Jason Borofka: 21-09
9. Thomas Kanemoto: 21-05
10. Ricky Shabazz: 21-03
