LAS VEGAS, NV - Joe Uribe, a 22-year-old "rookie" on the WON BASS Bass Fishing Pro Tour, scored a win at Lake Mead over the weekend in only his third Pro event.
The Anglers Marine tackle department manager scored one of the only two-day double-digit catches seen at the tournament as 236 anglers competed for more than $80,000 in cash and prizes.
"I had an exceptional weekend on the water," said the elated Uribe at the awards presentation at Callville Bay Marina. "It's a dream come true for me. I caught all of my fish in the two days by flipping shallow waters with a watermelon/red flake colored Brush Hog in the Muddy River area of the lake." For his efforts, Uribe won the top Pro prize of a Ranger 519 boat and trailer, Mercury 175 Optimax outboard, Trojan batteries, Lowrance electronics and MotorGuide trolling motor. Including option money, he went home with $37,450. Uribe scored 11.98 and 10.81 pounds on the two days for a 22.79-pound total and a 2.07-pound margin over second place.
The fishing at Lake Mead actually was better than expected in numbers with 1,023 bass weighed, but the fish averaged only 1 1/2 pounds with the largest just barely over 4 pounds. Most of the anglers scored many fish each day, some reporting as many as 20 bass, but they had to "scratch" for keepers over the 13-inch minimum. There were 96 limits weighed in the 122 boats on the first round, but only half that on the second day. A total of 1,023 bass were weighed in with 1,018 released alive --- a 99.5 release rate.
The Mead contest was the third on the South Region division of the Tour, with the final event in the South due at Lake Havasu on Oct. 4-5. The next tournament on the schedule for WON BASS will be the fourth and final North Region event at Clear Lake on June 14-15. Entries must be received by June 10 at WON BASS, 185 La Pata, San Clemente, CA 92673; by telephone at (949) 366-0030, ext. 38.
In second place was another mid-20s angler, Gabe Bolivar of Ramona, who had days of 10.55 and 10.17 pounds, for a total of 20.72 pounds. His prize money totaled $7,000. "I was fishing topwater plugs and dropshot worms, but I really got help from my AAA anglers when my topwater bite died," said Bolivar.
Third place was taken by former Lake Mead champion, Dave Nollar of Redlands, who started with 11.59 pounds on Saturday and followed up 8.74 pounds on Sunday for a 20.33-pound total. The retired high school vice-principal and history teacher went home with a payday of $5,400.
Another former Mead champion, Art Berry of Ramona, finished in fourth place with 20.15 pounds and winnings of $4,260.
The AAA division was won by local angler Tim Myers of Henderson, who compiled 20.94 pounds with his two Pro anglers, winning $2,900 in the process. He helped his Pro with a 3.83 pounder among several other fish. Another Henderson angler, Bryan Lutz, placed second with 19.56 pounds to win slightly more with options running his total of $2,865.
Third in the AAA went to Cliff Wright of Bullhead City, AZ with 19.40 pounds and he went home with $1,775. Fourth and a total of $2,200 including options went to Don Anderson of Brigham City, UT, with 18.46 pounds.
The big fish of the tournament was taken by AAA John Miller of Tucson, AZ, with the 4.01 pounder worth $1,500 in Saturday's Miller High Life Daily Double. Second place and $500 went to AAA Mike Kurosaki of Torrance with a 3.91 pounder.
On Sunday, the two largest bass came from the same boat as AAA Don Anderson of Brigham City, UT, had a 3.62 pounder for the $1,500, while Clifford Pirch of Payson, AZ, had a 3.25 pounder worth $500.