Keith Lusher 01.27.26
After holding regular in second place by way of the opening two days, Garrett Ellenson made his transfer when it mattered most, capturing the Professional Championship on the WON BASS Winter Open on Clear Lake.
Ellenson, who hails from 9 Mile Falls, Washington, closed the three day occasion with a 32.53-pound remaining day restrict to complete with an enormous 98.37-pound whole. The efficiency earned him a brand new Ranger Z518 powered by a Mercury 150 ProXS, a prize bundle valued at $55,000, together with $3,000 in money and a $500 Huge Bass bonus from Day 3.
Consistency outlined Ellenson’s week. He opened the match with 32.08 kilos to take a seat simply over two kilos behind first-day chief Mark Cobey, then adopted with 33.76 kilos on Day 2 to stay in second. Heading into the ultimate day, Ellenson trailed chief Vance Hayes by lower than two kilos and knew a robust bag could be required to assert the title.
By the point Ellenson reached the scales, the lead had modified fingers a number of occasions. Phillip Makin had simply edged previous Joe Uribe Jr. for the recent seat, setting the bar at 26.55 kilos. Ellenson cleared it comfortably, anchored by an 8.98-pound kicker that helped seal the win.
Regardless of the regular weights, Ellenson mentioned every day required a distinct method. Circumstances and timing shifted each day, however one factor remained fixed all through the occasion.
Ellenson relied completely on 6-inch Z-Man Jerk Shadz rigged on a 3/16-ounce ballhead for all three days, adjusting places and timing reasonably than altering baits. Fishing Clear Lake competitively for less than the second time and for the primary time in winter, he leaned on flexibility reasonably than locking right into a single space.
The ultimate weigh-in featured dramatic swings on the leaderboard as warming temperatures opened a robust feeding window. 9 anglers weighed luggage exceeding 30 kilos on the ultimate day.
Mason McAbee delivered the heaviest bag of the match, a 37.73-pound restrict that earned Heavy Stringer honors. Uribe mounted a outstanding comeback after beginning the occasion in twenty sixth place, posting back-to-back monster limits and weighing a 9.71-pound big on the ultimate day to assert Huge Bass honors.
Native anglers Nathan Phillips and John Pearl additionally surged on the ultimate day with 30-plus pound limits to complete inside the highest 5.
Though Ellenson got here up simply wanting the coveted 100-pound Century Belt, his wire-to-wire consistency stood out in a stacked discipline. The subsequent alternative to chase that mark comes quickly, because the WON BASS Cal Open returns to Clear Lakefrom April 16–18.
For full standings and outcomes, go to wonbassevents.com.
