Shane Edgar Leads Day One of WON Bass Lake Mead Open

Las Vegas, Nev. – September 18, 2024 –– There was talk in the weeks leading up to the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury that the limits the field would bring to the scales would be heavier than usual for Lake Mead.  Following two years of light fishing pressure because of low water levels, the word was that not only have the fish had a chance to grow in relative peace, but they hadn’t seen a lure during that time, so they may be aggressive.

As day one of the event approached, the weather conditions that had been hot and predicted for heavy winds subsided and the temperatures dipped, and the wind forecast eased meaning anglers could go where they wanted and fish how they wanted.  The result was a perfect set of circumstances that ended with Shane Edgar of Surprise, Ariz. fishing by himself due to a AAA angler not arriving at the last minute but weighing 16.33 pounds to take the day one lead. 

Tom Lowery of Lakeside, Calif. and his AAA partner Tyer Bolin of Valley Springs, Calif. suffered a half pound penalty but stood in second place after day one with 15.93 pounds.  Third place went to Las Vegas, Nev. pro Cody Steckel and his AAA partner Todd Holverson of San Diego, Calif. landed in third place for the opening round with 15.08 pounds.  Fourth place on the first day went to Grand Junction, Colorado’s Bill Brown and his partner Eric Hammer from Peoria, Ariz. with 14.38 and past U.S. Open Champion Josh Bertrand from San Tan Valley, Ariz. and his AAA partner Larry Llanes from Madera, Calif. rounded out the top five with 14.29 pounds.

Edgar said he had a slightly better day than he expected to open the event.  “I had around 15 pounds on one of my practice days, but I didn’t expect to see 16 pounds leading the event,” he said.  “I found an area that I had to myself, and I fished hard in there.  I had a limit that weighed a little more than 15 pounds at seven thirty this morning and laid off my area to start practicing; I culled one time later in the day to move up to 16.33, and I’m happy with the day.”

The day one leader declined to state what area of the lake he is fishing, but said he was fishing aggressively to get strikes.  “I’m definitely fishing a reaction technique, but I don’t know what to expect tomorrow; they could leave the area,” he said.  “It’s Lake Mead, and when their forage moves, they will follow them.  I’m going to start there tomorrow and see if they’re there.  I could catch another good bag, or come in with 8 pounds; it’s Lake Mead, you never know.”

Lowery reported catching numbers of Lake Mead bass on reaction baits himself but was a little concerned that he had leaned on his areas a little too hard.  “I’m rotating through four areas that have a lot of bait in them, and probably caught 20 fish today,” he said.  “I left for a little while, but felt like I needed one more good fish, so I returned at one o’clock and culled once more, I just hope that I can locate them in there tomorrow and keep making a run at this event.”

Altogether 103 boats ventured out onto the surface of Lake Mead on day one of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury.  The top 10 anglers in each division are listed below, for complete standings visit: https://wonbassevents.com/pages/lake-mead-open-pairings-and-results 

The winner of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open will earn the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat, 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.

There are currently 110 pro anglers, and 104 AAA partners signed up for the event - signups remain open until September 13, 2024.

The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada moves next to the Lake Mead Open September 18 to 20, 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 – Austin Bonjour – 83.28 pounds

May 15-17, Lake Havasu – Joe Uribe Jr. – 57.31 pounds

Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead

Oct. 14-16, 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 2024 WON Bass Northern California Lake Mead 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, DD26 Fishing, SOG Knives, Cold Steel Knives, Gamma Line, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine and Signature Gates.

Local presenting sponsors are Callville Bay Marina, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce and Boulder City Tackle