All agree trophy bass are still in play
BY MIKE STEVENS
LAKEPORT – California’s Clear Lake and its tendency to produce trophy bass and monster bags in a competitive setting is no secret, and it really came as no surprise when it was named the top bass lake in America by Bassmaster back in July.
Just a few months prior to that announcement, WON BASS pro John Pearl set a WON BASS record when he weight in a 3-day total of 102.81 pounds en route to winning the WON BASS Clear Lake Open in April. The well-known local guide took over the lead on Day 2 of the event with a total weight of 67.31 pounds and added 35.50 pounds on the final day.
That was undoubtedly a factor when the list was being finalized. While bass anglers all over the country (if not internationally) are aware of what Clear Lake is capable of, some “basic bassers” might lazily point to the Clear Lake Open being held in spring as to why it’s so well-known for giant bass and bigger bags, but it’s absolutely a year-round trophy bass fishery. That being said, western bass pros who are most familiar with Clear Lake are expecting hefty if not record-breaking bags at the new WON BASS Winter Open at Clear Lake (January 8-10).
“If the stars align like it looks like they should, we are going to see giant bags years,” said Okuma pro, Todd Kline. “In years past, January always produced the biggest bags of the year, and this year we will have a shot at that.”
Austin Bonjour won the 2024 WON BASS Clear Lake Open in April, and while the Southern California-based angler doesn’t get many non-competitive reps on Clear Lake, he thinks a January tournament at the legendary fishery might propel pros with a particular skillset to the top of the leaderboard.
“I think it’s going tighten the field up,” said Bonjour. “I believe with the time of the year, the colder water, water clarity and the technology nowadays, it’s going to put a lot of the field in a” forward-facing” battle.”
While big bass will still be a big part of the equation, that’s not to say anglers won’t be adjusting their Clear Lake playbook when attacking it in winter.
“Wintertime on Clear Lake is easily one of my favorite times to be out on the water,” said WON BASS Pro Luke Lipanovich, who is very familiar with this particular fishery. “The fish are as big as they will ever be, but tricky as well. As the water gets down into the 40s, those fish tend to get really tight in groups with each other and more times than not tight to cover as well.”
In a conversation with Western Outdoor News at the end of the 2025 WON BASS season, pro angler Patrick Touey said he’s “stoked WON BASS will be going to Clear Lake twice,” expecting huge bags, and he suggested a triple-digit weight total being needed to win is very possible.”
WON BASS pro Scott Hellesen has long considered Clear Lake “the best bass fishery on the West Coast” and agrees with Kline that January is the time to catch the biggest bass of the year there. While the big-bag expectation remains the same, Hellesen likes the idea of a new tourney at Clear Lake at a different time of year.
“As a new event, almost everyone is on a level playing field again,” he said. “It’s almost like a new lake, and that’s an exciting aspect it.”
Joe Uribe Jr. is a WON BASS pro of Surprise, Arizona excels on the desert lakes in his region, but he told WON Clear Lake is his all-time favorite. He’s never fished Clear Lake in January, but he expects to see at least one 40-pound bag brought to scale at the WON BASS Winter Open. While Uribe Jr. shines on desert waters, he will still be a threat on Clear Lake in January.
“That lake is amazing, and the fish are only getting bigger,” said Uribe. “I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
In February of 2025, he powered through wind, rain and even snow in winning the WON BASS Lake Shasta Open in wire-to-wire fashion.
When Bassmaster unveiled its 100 Best Bass Lakes in America list in July of 2025, the report read, California’s Clear Lake takes the crown as the best bass fishery in the country, edging out some of the sport’s most celebrated waters. Topping Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list in 2020, the 43,785-acre natural lake in northern California continues to churn out double-digit largemouth like clockwork — including a staggering 102.81-pound, 15-bass total landed by John Pearl in the WON Bass Open this spring. Biologists and anglers alike agree: despite heavy pressure, Clear Lake is a big-bass factory like no other.
“This fishery has endured decades of tournament traffic and still produces monsters year-round,” said B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland after the top-100 list was published. “It’s a testament to both the ecosystem’s productivity and sound fisheries management.”
Right around this time, Northern California angler Kent Brown of the Ultimate Bass Radio Show stated, “During our tournament jamboree meeting on July 11, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported the average size of a fish weighed in during tournaments this year was over 4 pounds.”
For WON BASS Tournament Director, Billy Egan, this event has been a long time coming.
“The Winter Open at Clear Lake has been an event I’ve wanted to bring to the anglers for many years,” said Egan. “Yes, it can be cold, but the fishing is unbelievable in January, and we most likely will be handing out a few more Century Belts at this year’s Winter Open. Don’t sleep on this one, guys!”
For more information, visit WONBASSevents.com
