2023 U.S. Open Champion Kyle Grover places Second, Peter Messenger leads AAA Division,Tournament will now be a 2-day Championship
Laughlin, Nev. – After examining the National Weather Service forecasted conditions this morning, WON Bass officials were forced to make a decision to cancel the second day of the 2025 Ranger Boats WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Mercury, creating a two-day championship.
The N.O.A.A. forecast for Tuesday called for sustained north winds from 15 to 20 miles per hour with gusts to 29 miles per hour, creating potentially unsafe conditions for the competitors.
WON Bass Tournament Director Bill Egan said that in light of the Federal Government cessation of funding, Park Service Officials were not available to make the call. However, he applied the tools at his disposal, and the guidelines they would use in making the decision. “This is something that we would never want to do at any event, let alone one with the importance of the U.S. Open,” said Egan. “However, these anglers are our customers and friends, and their safety is our utmost priority.
“The full field will fish tomorrow when the N.O.A.A. forecast is for much more pleasant conditions, and we will decide our 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Champion.”
One change that will now occur to the payout is that the Daily Big Bass prizes – $1,000 for each of the top five big fish in each division daily, totaling $30,000 for the event – will now be divided evenly over the 10 anglers in each division who post the Daily Big Bass in the two-days of competition.
The final day of the 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open begins tomorrow from Katherine Landing at safe light with the final weigh-in beginning at 3:00PM.
Sean Coffey Takes Day 1 lead
Laughlin, Nev. – The 2025 Ranger Boats WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Mercury began today and as can happen on desert fisheries along the Colorado River, the wind came up and made for lumpy conditions. Along with the wind, the temperatures began to cool with overnight lows in the mid 60’s and highs in the upper 80’s.
The wind created less than ideal conditions for those looking to target offshore bass with precise presentations and their Forward Facing Sonar units. While those precision tactics get more difficult in the stiff winds, power fishing techniques typically shine because the wind breaks up the water’s surface making the fish easier to fool.
As the field came to the scales at Katherine landing, the lighter weights due to the wind was commonly spoken, however pro angler Sean Coffey of Mesa, Ariz. reported being able to maintain positioning enough to capitalize on his Forward Facing Sonar presentations, but also utilized moving baits to take the day one lead with his day one AAA partner Peter Messenger from Australia to take the day one lead with 20.12 pounds.
Hot on his heels is 2023 U.S. Open Champion Kyle Grover of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. who shared the boat with his AAA partner Nievar of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. with 19.96 pounds. They are followed in third place by Patrick Touey of Santa Maria, Calif. and his partner David Shearrer from Trabuco Canyon, Calif. who weighed 19.72 pounds. Fourth place went to pro Spencer Shuffield from Hot Springs, Ark. and AAA Travis Smith of Canyon Lake, Calif. who posted 19.69 pounds and pro Ben Milliken of New Caney, Tex. and his AAA partner Larry Bonjour of Santa Maria, Calif. rounded out the top five with 19.46 pounds.
Coffey reported starting slow, as a late boat number didn’t allow him to start on his primary areas. “It took me a while to get going, and I had to locate new water to start getting bites,” he said. “I used my knowledge of my primary pattern to locate new spots and started catching fish. Two of the areas I caught fish in were totally new today.”
He reported using both “casting and winding and ‘Scoping” to produce his final weight. “A couple of my bigger fish came on winding baits, but most of my keepers were caught with the minnow,” he said. “We caught 15 to 18 fish today, and I had to cover the lake from Cottonwood to The Bowl to do it, but I’m happy with the start and feel like I have a chance.”
Grover, from WON Bass partner Anglers Marine said that he caught around a dozen fish, and that his Lowrance Active Target 2 was key. “I covered a lot of this lake today and was able to find good quality,” he said. “It wasn’t too far off what I had hoped, but it seems like all of the weights are down, so I feel like I can catch enough to give myself a chance to be there on the final day.”
The second day of the 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open begins tomorrow from Katherine Landing at safe light with the final weigh-in beginning at 3:00PM.
The winner of the 2025 Ranger Boats WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Mercury will earn the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat provided by Bass Pro Shops and cash prizes bringing the total winner’s purse to well over $100,000.
Each of the pros and AAA anglers who finish in the top five will also earn a Golden Ticket berth into the 2026 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Championship for a chance to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic
The daily livestream of the weigh-ins air on the WON Bass Facebook page, located at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.
The top 10 in each division are posted below: for complete standings, visit – https://wonbassevents.com/pages/lake-mead-open-pairings-and-results.
2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Day One – Pro Standings
| Place | Angler | Hometown | Fish | B/B | Total |
| 1 | Sean Coffey | Mesa AZ | 5-5 | 5.04 | 20.12 |
| 2 | Kyle Grover | Rancho Santa Margarita CA | 5-5 | 4.18 | 19.96 |
| 3 | Patrick Touey | Santa Maria CA | 5-5 | 4.19 | 19.72 |
| 4 | Spencer Shuffield | Hot Springs AR | 5-5 | 4.15 | 19.69 |
| 5 | Ben Milliken | New Caney TX | 5-5 | 19.46 | |
| 6 | Josh Bertrand | San Tan Valley AZ | 5-5 | 18.55 | |
| 7 | Ty Manterola | Pacso WA | 5-5 | 18.47 | |
| 8 | Cody Crist | Ramona CA | 5-5 | 3.88 | 18.16 |
| 9 | Bryant Smith | Roseville CA | 5-5 | 17.95 | |
| 10 | Scott Hellesen | Paso Robles CA | 5-5 | 4.37 | 17.92 |
2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Day One – AAA Standings
| Place | Angler | Hometown | Fish | B/B | Total |
| 1 | Peter Messenger | Australia | 5-5 | 20.12 | |
| 2 | Russ Nievar | Lake Havasu City AZ | 5-5 | 19.96 | |
| 3 | David Shearrer | Trabuco Canyon CA | 5-5 | 4.53 | 19.72 |
| 4 | Travis Smith | Canyon Lake CA | 5-5 | 4.09 | 19.69 |
| 5 | Larry Bonjour | Santa Maria CA | 5-5 | 19.46 | |
| 6 | Logan Maltese | Lake Havasu City AZ | 5-5 | 18.55 | |
| 7 | Chuck Kavros | Grass Valley CA | 5-5 | 18.47 | |
| 8 | Myron Bruffett | Branson MO | 5-5 | 18.16 | |
| 9 | Danny Snyder | Annandale VA | 5-5 | 17.95 | |
| 10 | Mike Hawkins | Boulder City NV | 5-5 | 17.92 |
For complete details to register for future events, or to find results, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2025 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.
The 2025 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada, culminating this week with the 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave. The five event dates are as follows:
Feb. 5 to 7, 2025 – Lake Shasta – Champion Joe Uribe
April 9 to 11, 2025 – Clear Lake – Champion John Pearl
May 7 to 9, 2025 – Lake Havasu – Champion Roy Hawk
Sept. 10 to 12, 2025 – Lake Mead – Champion Dylan Denny
Oct. 6 to 8, 2025 – U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.
The 2025 WON Bass Lake Mead Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Volta Power Lithium, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Fenwick Rods, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine, Signature Gates, DD26 Fishing, Bad Ass Bearings, Cipher Fishing, Megaware Keelguard and GRatt.
Local presenting sponsors are Visit Laughlin, Laughlin Tourism Commission and Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina
