Due to extreme winds out of the north buffeting the surface of Nevada's Lake Mead, WON Bass tournament officials were forced to cancel the first day of the 2018 WON Bass U.S. Open due to unsafe conditions. Sustained winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour, with projected gusts to 50, created a situation in which participant safety became paramount.
The event will commence on Tuesday with takeoff from Calville Bay Marina. It will become a two-day tournament, as opposed to the standard three-day format.
The 224-boat field gathered for takeoff on day 1 and tournament officials conducted boat checks, but staged the field in the parking lot to allow officials to decide what the best option for the day was. After safe light, tournament director Bill Egan took a ride into the main basin outside of Calville Bay and returned to make the announcement that the day was called off.
“Once we got outside of the marina, it became obvious that safety was a concern,” said Egan. “It was a really tough decision, but our anglers and friends are the most important part of what we do, so the decision was made to cancel the first day of the event. We will resume tomorrow with the same boat order as was planned for today.”
Rick Pierce, president of Bass Cat Boats, said he agreed with the decision.
“Our customers are our friends, and we want to make sure everyone is safe,” said Pierce. “This is a unique event, and when you factor in the triple-A anglers who have to go along for the ride, we are wholeheartedly in support of the decision.”
