Havasu Open Day 1 – Max Hernandez takes lead with 22.27 pounds

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By Dan O’Sullivan
Photo by Kristopher Stahl

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – May 15, 2024 –– One thing about desert lakes… you never know what you’re gonna get.

With a Colorado River impoundment like Lake Havasu, there are plenty of opportunities to fish however you want.  You can choose power or finesse techniques, and the chances are, you’ll have a chance to be competitive.  If you prefer to fish for largemouth or smallmouth, you’ll still have a shot at placing in the money.

On day one of the 2024 Ranger Boats WON Bass Lake Havasu Open presented by Mercury, the 121-boat field filled with Pro and AAA anglers headed out onto the calm waters of Lake Havasu.  The conditions seemed surreal, as the area was blanketed in an overcast sky that typically means sturdy desert winds, yet there was barely a breath of a breeze.

The conditions alternated throughout the day, yet one thing that did not was the plan that day one leader Max Hernandez of Queen Creek, Ariz. used to post 22.27 pounds and take the lead on day one of the event.  He and his AAA partner for the day, Kadyn Jaramillo used the patterns Hernandez developed in practice to take the day one lead. 

They were followed in second place by Kingman, Ariz pro Micah Jones and his AAA partner Ronnie Orbaker with 20.87 pounds.  Third place for the day went to Desert Hills, Ariz. pro Ian Boehm and AAA Frank One with 20.09 pounds while fourth place was claimed by Wildomar, Calif. pro Rich Vincent and AAA James Feeney III with 19.94 pounds.  Pro Conrad Demecs of Phoenix, Ariz and his AAA partner James Meeks rounded out the day one top five with18.90 pounds.

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Hernandez had limited practice due to his work schedule at Arizona’s Salt River Power Company and his HMR Marine Carpet Restoration Company, so hemade the best use of the time.  “I really had to focus because I only had Monday and Tuesday to practice,” he said.  “I found my primary pattern on Monday and developed something I thought might help on my second day, that really helped.”

Hernandez fished two spots all day and was surprised he was able to get on his first area.  “I was boat 93 today, and I ended up having the area all to myself – I had 14 pounds at 11:00,” he said.  “My afternoon pattern really produced; we culled four of the fish we caught in the morning to get our 22 pounds.”

He is looking forward to the second day of the event.  “I feel really good about what I’ve been doing,” he said.  “I feel like it’s going to get better; it’s a mixture of two different things and I’ll keep rotating through them.”

Jones said that he struck early and was able to save something going into the second day.  “I fished shallow, mostly in the river, but did go out on the lake to do some ‘Scoping (Livescoping),” he said.  “I had most of my weight at around 11:00 today but kept looking around to try and expand things.  I’m fishing for postspawn fish, and If I can locate them tomorrow, I feel really good about what I can do.”

Each of the pros and AAA anglers who finished in the top five have earned a Golden Ticket berth into the 2025 Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Championship for a chance to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic

The top 10 in each division are posted below: for complete standings, visit https://wonbassevents.com/pages/lake-havasu-open-2024-pairings-results

The winner of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Havasu Open earns the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat provided by Bass Pro Shops, and the Golden Tickets to the 2025 Bassmaster BASS Nation National Championship will be awarded to the top five Pro and AAA anglers and will further develop the season long competition to see who will receive guaranteed slots into the 2025 Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers.

The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada moves next to the California Open at Clear Lake April 17 to 19, 2024.  The series will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October.  The full schedule of the five event dates are as follows:

Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta – Champion Nick Wood – 47.42 pounds

April 17-19, Clear Lake – Champion Austin Bonjour – 83.28 pounds

May 15-17, Lake Havasu

Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead

Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave

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 2024season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.

The 2024 WON Bass Lake Havasu Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Phenix Rods, Yamamoto Baits, Bill Lewis Lures, Buckeye Lures, Steel Shad, Bioenno Power, SOG Knives, Cold Steel Knives, Gamma Line, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, DD26 Fishing, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine and Signature Gates.

Local presenting sponsors are Go Lake Havasu, Anderson Toyota and Riviera Marina.  Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins are being conducted at Riviera Marina.

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