When the first day of the 2018 WON Bass U.S. Open concluded, Jason Borofka’s 13.84 pounds held little more than a half pound lead over Bub Tosh’s 13.20 pounds. With the first day having been cancelled due to extreme winds causing unsafe conditions, the shortened event became more of a shootout with the anglers competing for two days instead of three.
The stiff winds continued into the following day, and anglers found that they had to adjust to the conditions. As can happen during bass fishing tournaments, the conditions made a complete 180-degree turn, and the final day brought high skies, light winds with very little surface disturbance.
While the conditions didn’t make for a typical power fishing bite, Tosh managed to ride a Double Soft Jerkbait rig in the Vegas Wash and produce enough quality bites to post an 11.74-pound limit to close out the victory in the weather shortened 2018 WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Bass Cat Boats and Mercury Marine with a two-day total weight of 24.94.
Tosh said he employed a method he learned from Lake Mead and Western bass fishing legend Pat Donoho when he was a kid. “I talked to my dad when I came down here and he reminded me of how Pat prepared for this event, and that was to look for bait,” he said. “I spent my whole practice period driving around and looking for clouds of baitfish; and I spent the whole tournament fishing in those few areas.”
He said he caught the primarily on a pair of Yamamoto D Shad soft jerkbaits in shad colors rigged on an 7’ medium heavy IRod AIR Series casting rod. The key was a special swivel that he is developing for Paycheck Baits. “The swivel helps me cast the rig without it getting me tangled, it is a very important part of the rig,” he said. “I threw it around shallow grass and rocks in the Vegas Wash, and the current in the back of it was very important factor as well.”
Tosh takes home a 2018 Bass Cat Puma FTD powered by a Mercury 250ProXS rigged with Lowrance Electronics and MotorGuide Trolling Motor valued at $64,000 and $52,000 cash plus bonuses to bring his total earnings for the event to over $116,000.
Nick Salvucci, who has won on Lake Mead in the past, started day two in 11th place with 11.41 pounds, posted 12.89 to leap all the way to second place with 24.30; his second top five in a row. Salvucci said that he caught his fish in the Overton Arm on bladed jigs and buzz baits. But, he said that he was a little disappointed overall. “I didn’t come here for another top five, I came here to win this event,” he said. “I’m not happy with a second place finish, but I did all I could do, and this is how this sport goes. I wish I could have done a little more, but I’ll take the finish and let it drive me for next year.” Salvucci takes home $21,600 for his efforts.
The AAA Division was won by Oklahoma’s Matt Pangrac; who works for U.S. Open broadcast partner BASSZONE.com. He practiced with fellow Soomer State pro Bradley Hallman, and drew Salvucci and Arizona’s Matt Shura, and thanked them all profusely. “We all meshed really well and got into a rhythm,” he said. “I had a great time, and learned a lot. This is a great event, and because of my Pro partners and my boss Mark Jeffreys who allowed me the time to fish it, I was able to do something I would have never imagined; I can’t believe I won the U.S. Open.” Pangrac earned $10,600 for his tournament.
Complete final standings can be found below.
-Dan O’Sullivan
2018 WON Bass U.S. Open Final Pro Standings
Place
Name
Hometown
Big Fish
Total
1
Steve Tosh, Jr.
Modesto CA
3.91
24.94
2
Nick Salvucci
Paso Robles CA
4.05
24.30
3
Jason Borofka
Salinas CA
3.79
22.68
4
Kurt Dove
Del Rio TX
22.08
5
Scott Helleson
Whittier CA
3.22
21.37
6
Kevin Short
Mayflower AR
4.14
21.14
7
Todd Woods
Los Angeles CA
2.73
20.91
8
Chase Colby
Heber City UT
20.27
9
Kevin Finley
Phoenix AZ
3.13
20.21
10
Randy Blaukat
Joplin MO
3.74
20.05
11
Bill O’Shinn
Bakersfield CA
19.68
12
Michael Crowther
Page AZ
19.67
13
Bill Brown
Grand Junction CO
3.96
19.66
14
Steve Kennedy
Auburn AL
19.63
15
Matt Stefan
Junction City WI
3.41
19.58
16
Kona Borja
Henderson NV
3.60
19.40
16
Chris Zaldain
San Jose CA
2.82
19.40
18
Ricky Shabazz
La Mesa CA
3.22
19.35
19
Bradley Hallman
Norman OK
19.33
20
Tommy Jonovich
Phoenix AZ
3.65
19.31
21
Greg Miser
La Mesa CA
19.24
22
David Kemper
Tempe AZ
18.95
23
Matt Shura
Gilbert AZ
18.47
24
Roy Hawk
Lake Havasu City AZ
3.25
18.40
25
Sean Coffey
Mesa AZ
3.04
18.17
26
Randy Estrada, M.D.
Corona CA
3.32
18.15
27
Justin Hanold
Poway CA
17.98
28
Shannon Abbott
Oceanside CA
3.70
17.88
29
Doug Gaskill
Las Vegas NV
17.80
30
Ken Mah
Elk Grove CA
2.95
17.75
31
Scooter Griffith
Mesa AZ
17.74
31
Rich Vincent
Wildomar CA
2.40
17.74
33
Joe Patz
Surprise AZ
17.69
34
Kyle Grover
Trabuco Canyon CA
17.61
35
Matthew Williams
Lake Havasu City AZ
3.91
17.60
36
Clayton Eslick
Gilroy CA
2.92
17.53
37
Aaron Martens
Leeds AL
17.52
38
Jess Torre
Riverside CA
17.46
39
Chris Kinley
Lake Havasu City AZ
17.38
40
Tom Leedom
Escondido CA
17.32
41
Bryan Grier
Salinas CA
17.30
42
Luke Clausen
Oakdale CA
17.16
42
John Mackey
Boulder City NV
17.16
44
Julius Mazy
Phoenix AZ
17.11
45
Tyler Rempe
Sierra Vista AZ
2.90
17.08
46
Mike Wood
Bayfield CO
2.45
17.00
47
Michael McLernon
Oceanside CA
16.93
48
Clayton Meyer
Henderson NV
3.02
16.89
49
Tai Au
Glendale AZ
2.48
16.67
50
Johnny Johnson
Lakeside AZ
16.62
50
Justin Kerr
Simi Valley CA
16.62
52
Tom Lowery
Lakeside CA
16.60
53
Tim Price
Glendale AZ
16.55
54
Guy Savidan
NORCO CA
16.50
54
Jerren Slaton
Afton TX
16.50
56
John Stewart
Peoria AZ
4.06
16.39
57
Travis Jewell
Sandy UT
16.37
58
Dan Merchant
Canyon Lake CA
3.02
16.33
59
Rusty Salewske
Alpine CA
16.30
60
Richard Garcia
Beaumont CA
16.29
61
Kevin Caruso
Glendale AZ
16.22
62
Scott Frazier
El Cajon CA
16.20
63
Todd Holverson
San Diego CA
2.85
16.16
64
John Morrow
Brea CA
16.14
65
Todd Kline
San Clemente CA
16.12
66
Kevin Wiggins
Las Vegas NV
16.10
67
Jay Guterding
Redding CA
16.04
68
Joe Uribe, Jr.
Surprise AZ
16.02
69
Mike Peterson
Valley Center CA
15.96
70
Todd Herman
Gilbert AZ
15.93
71
Matthew Luna
Santee CA
15.92
71
Dick Watson
Alta Loma CA
15.92
73
Brent Shores
Boise ID
15.87
74
Michael Phua
Chino CA
15.84
75
Bryant Smith
Castro Valley CA
15.83
76
Adam Hinkle
San Diego CA
15.79
77
Jason Hickey
Weiser ID
15.78
78
Paul Hodges
Glendale AZ
15.77
79
Cody Spetz
Menifee CA
3.24
15.62
80
Mike Brillhart
Waddell AZ
2.35
15.60
81
Keegan Graves
Meridian ID
3.95
15.59
82
Tyler Brinks
Spokane WA
15.54
82
Don Iglinski
Henderson NV
3.31
15.54
84
Patrick Touey
Nipomo CA
2.73
15.51
85
Thomas Wennerlund
Queen Creek AZ
15.50
86
James Salazar
Las Vegas NV
15.49
87
Noah Cook
Lancaster CA
15.45
88
Jeff Martineau
Phoenix AZ
15.44
89
Mark Dotterer
Phoenix AZ
15.42
90
Chris Bozarth
Henderson NV
3.34
15.38
91
Andrew Napoleon
Mesa AZ
15.28
92
Tom Ormsby
Parowan UT
15.25
93
Dylan Maxon
Phoenix AZ
15.23
94
Brett Hite
Phoenix AZ
2.35
15.17
95
Gerard Thomas
Ralston WY
2.10
15.11
96
Raymond Archer
Greeley CO
3.81
15.08
96
Tony Lain
Lake Havasu City AZ
15.08
98
Ben Byrd
Moab UT
15.07
99
Carlos Garcia
Murrieta CA
3.14
15.03
100
Jim Moynagh
Carver MN
14.95
101
Carl Limbrick, Jr.
Bonita CA
3.49
14.79
102
Chad Randles
Elkhorn NE
3.14
14.77
103
Laythe Moore
Banning CA
14.73
104
Mike Powell
Lake Havasu City AZ
14.71
104
Derek Spetz
Menifee CA
14.71
106
Mitch Southern
Yucaipa CA
14.69
107
Wade Strelic
El Cajon CA
14.57
108
Cliff King
Ione CA
14.55
109
Jeremy Fasuga
Peoria AZ
14.41
110
Anthony Salazar
Pahrunp NV
14.40
111
Jamie Shaw
Coolidge AZ
14.39
112
Jay Wright
Seal Beach CA
3.83
14.22
113
Mark Rauenzahn
San Diego CA
14.21
114
Dung Van Vu
Paramount CA
2.22
14.20
115
Bobby Lanham
Cave Creek AZ
3.18
14.19
116
Jason Bradshaw
Sacramento CA
2.82
14.16
116
Mike Simon
Henderson NV
14.16
118
Tyler Bailey
Logandale NV
14.14
119
Mike Williams
Mesa AZ
14.13
120
Jonathan Schuyler
Henderson NV
14.09
121
Rodney Reed
Chelan WA
14.02
122
Pete Marino
Moreno Valley CA
14.01
123
Jordan Collom
Temecula CA
14.00
124
Mark Williams
Lake Havasu City AZ
13.98
125
David Baca
Prescott Valley AZ
13.96
126
Jim Hawkes
Apache Junction AZ
3.07
13.91
127
Jason Haley
Medford OR
13.86
128
Gabe Thomas
Tuscon AZ
13.73
129
Paul Tassie
Lake Havasu City AZ
2.38
13.70
130
John Zeolla
Oak Park CA
13.61
131
Jim Wells
New Plymouth ID
13.54
132
Douglas Jones
North Las vegas NV
13.50
133
Fred Proudfoot
Kingman AZ
2.39
13.43
134
Dustin Remy
Lake Havasu City AZ
13.40
135
Andy Manahl
Mesa AZ
13.37
136
Kevin Hugo
Canyon Lake CA
13.21
137
Vince Borges
Salida CA
13.13
138
Mike Rennie
Pioche NV
2.05
13.09
139
Andrew Upshaw
Tulsa OK
13.08
140
Morizo Shimizu
Osaka JP
2.56
13.05
141
Hobby Nelson
Peoria AZ
13.03
142
Gary Robbins
Burbank CA
12.89
143
Gary Moore
Hemet CA
12.79
144
Matt Raynor
Henderson NV
1.80
12.59
145
Ryan Yamagata
Las Vegas NV
2.09
12.57
146
Billy Hines
Vacaville CA
12.53
147
Ray Arbesu
Henderson NV
12.50
148
Vince Gennaro
Henderson NV
12.47
149
Jim Elliott
Redding CA
12.41
150
Kyle Richins
Washington UT
12.22
151
Tim Rath
Lake Havasu City AZ
12.18
152
Justin Patti
Phoenix AZ
12.14
153
Vern Ridgway
Chandler AZ
11.94
154
Daniel Devries
Page AZ
11.93
155
Sheldon Collings
Grove OK
11.90
156
Miles Howe
San Juan Capistrano CA
11.83
157
Kazuki Kodama
Tokyo Japan
11.78
158
Eddie Lero
Bryan TX
11.77
159
Ryan Chambers
Chandler AZ
11.72
159
Steve Molinari
Waddell AZ
11.72
161
Jimmy Reese
Ukiah CA
11.64
162
Keith Diffey
Elk Grove CA
11.62
163
Louis Fernandes
Santa Maria CA
11.58
164
Jim McLaughlin
Bakersfield CA
11.56
165
Garrett Howard
Riverside CA
11.54
165
Miles Peshlakai
Las Vegas NV
11.54
167
Jordon Erekson
Apache Junction AZ
2.84
11.50
168
Brian Tressen
Corona CA
11.48
169
Jeff Van Nimwegen
Menifee CA
11.46
170
Shane Spinning
Canyon Lake CA
11.42
171
Russ Barger
Boise ID
11.36
172
Mike Walsh
El Cajon CA
11.35
172
Benjamin Green
Pasadena CA
11.35
174
Steve Gibson
Las Vegas NV
11.28
175
Onelio J. Silva
Las Vegas NV
11.21
176
Stephen Tauriello
Las Vegas CA
2.17
11.10
177
Shane Edgar
Glendale AZ
10.91
178
Ken Whalen
Lompoc CA
10.89
179
Clifford Pirch
Payson AZ
10.81
180
Murray White
Glendale AZ
10.73
181
James Broughton
Henderson NV
10.69
182
Nathan Foreman
Queen Creek AZ
10.65
183
Brent James
St George UT
10.61
184
Steve Lund
Glendale AZ
10.54
185
Danny Clark
San Tan Valley AZ
10.48
186
Shaun Bailey
Lake Havasu City AZ
10.37
187
Gary Freeman
Sun City AZ
10.29
188
Kirk McKinney
Phoenix AZ
10.08
188
Trait Zaldain
Fort Worth TX
3.56
10.08
190
Tim Klinger
Boulder City NV
9.82
191
Justin Ramsay
Peoria AZ
9.78
192
Tom Nokes
Riverton UT
9.77
193
Jiggs Benn
Myrtle Creek OR
9.73
194
Ellison Hubbard
LAS VEGAS NV
9.70
195
Ron Hammett
La Mesa CA
9.57
196
Scott Davis
Preston ID
9.35
197
Rod Wynn
Inglewood CA
9.15
198
Jason Swim
Peoria AZ
9.02
199
John Basmadjian
Fullerton CA
8.81
200
Robert Sedillo, Jr.
Chino CA
8.48
201
Cy Floyd
Spokane WA
8.26
202
Greg Espinoza
Henderson NV
2.52
8.09
203
Jeff Hudson
Las Vegas NV
7.98
204
Matt Massey
Littleton CO
7.85
205
Trace Myers
Santaquin CA
7.80
206
Eddie Rodriguez
Lakewood CO
7.67
207
Aaron Britt
Yuba City CA
7.32
208
Patrick Whitaker
Gilbert AZ
7.17
209
David Davis
Big Piney WY
7.13
210
Sam Rosefsky
Morris IL
7.04
211
Mike Crothers
Chandler AZ
6.87
212
Kenneth Cates
Suncity West AZ
6.85
213
Zack Holwerda
Maricopa AZ
6.72
214
Greg Garcia
Cibola AZ
6.49
215
Elliott Holsbo
Lakeside CA
6.36
216
Joey Letsinger
Wilton CA
6.06
217
George Kramer
Lake Elsinore CA
5.83
218
Dusty Kahler
Paso Robles CA
4.94
219
Allen Clark
Florence AZ
4.43
220
Delaney Dwyer
Scottsdale AZ
3.80
221
Kyle Coppinger
Pheonix AZ
3.30
222
Brett Leber
Dixon CA
2.68
223
Robert Ostercamp
Chandler AZ
2.20
224
Ed Webb
Stanwood WA
1.31
2018 WON Bass U.S. Open Final AAA Standings
Place
Name
Hometown
Big Fish
Total
1
Matt Pangrac
Broken Arrow OK
3.50
21.78
2
Scott Robertson
Norco CA
4.30
21.16
3
Larry White
Sun City AZ
2.72
21.00
4
Kelly Burns
Avondale AZ
1.82
20.99
5
Steve Pectol
Las Vegas NV
3.12
20.61
6
David Peltier
Henderson NV
2.79
20.14
7
William McAninch
CARSON CA
20.12
8
Bobby Hamner
Phenix AZ
3.30
20.11
9
Rick Cofield
Las Vegas NV
2.87
19.85
10
Wade Goodwin
Wilson CA
19.57
11
Mike McCrossen
Bakersfield CA
1.95
19.37
12
Shawn Carnahan
Gilbert AZ
2.86
19.26
13
Brian Eslick
Gilroy CA
3.77
19.12
14
Ryan Borba
Atascadero CA
3.37
19.09
15
Byron Steed
Downey ID
18.87
16
Randy Droll
Apache Junction AZ
5.23
18.81
17
Jake Back
Mesa AZ
4.26
18.73
18
Todd Anderson
Surprise AZ
18.52
19
Chuck Kavros
Grass Valley CA
18.45
20
Shawn Cooley
Qual Valley CA
2.02
18.40
21
Cole Wright
Alpine CA
2.87
18.30
22
David Swendseid
Bend OR
2.79
18.15
23
Nathan Cummings
Peoria AZ
18.05
24
Randall Bruce
Las Vegas NV
3.09
17.91
25
Jordan Schwartzkopf
Peoria AZ
2.35
17.81
26
Tony Neal
Australia
17.78
27
Preston Smith
Cave Creek AZ
17.69
28
Coy Mott
Fruitland ID
17.68
29
Zach Holt
Las Vegas NV
17.63
29
John Tubbs
Oxnard CA
17.63
31
Brian Senter
Tucson AZ
17.56
32
Gabriel Jones
Henderson NV
2.61
17.49
33
Russell Leise
Beaverton OR
2.86
17.47
34
Sam Piacenza
Las Vegas NV
17.45
35
Hermie Romero
Las Vegas NV
2.85
17.40
36
Keith Gunsauls
El Cajon CA
17.32
37
Brett Posladek
Valley Center CA
2.16
17.27
38
Terry Stark
Georgetown TX
2.51
17.23
39
Hector Gracia
Poway CA
2.30
17.19
40
James Ochs
Scottsdale AZ
17.17
40
Michael Powell
Fort Mohave AZ
2.00
17.17
42
Tom Karavites
Payson AZ
17.13
43
Rusty Rath
Page AZ
17.12
44
Kevin Gross
Claremont CA
17.11
45
Kevin McBean
Shafter CA
17.09
46
Mike Gowey
Snowflake AZ
17.06
47
Glenn Wyatt
Fremont CA
17.02
48
Rachel Uribe
Long Beach CA
16.91
49
Michael Renteria
El Mirage AZ
16.87
50
Brian P. Day
Rancho SM CA
2.51
16.84
50
Thomas D. White, Jr.
Costa Mesa CA
16.84
52
Josh Kimmel
Colorado Springs CO
16.77
53
Patrick McLaren
Las Vegas NV
2.79
16.72
53
Brian Reaves
Covina CA
16.72
55
