Phoenix, Ariz. pro Justin Patti caught a three-day total of 36.30 on Lake Mead to claim the 2017 WON Bass U.S. Open title, narrowly beating Elite Series pro Brett Hite by less than a pound as well as the rest of the star-studded bass fishing tournament field. Patti led the historic event all three days on the strength of his ability to play the conditions and get fish to react in a single stretch of underwater grass.
For his win, Patti took home a Bass Cat Puma FTD and Mercury 250 ProXS valued at $63,000 plus $50,000 in cash and additional bonuses bring his total to more than $120,000.
Patti fished a single stretch of grass up the Overton Arm with a Chatterbait and a Phenix Jig with an Arizona Custom Lures Craw trailer to lead wire-to-wire. He caught fish early on the Chatterbait and then culled up throughout the day getting reaction bites by snapping the jig out of the grass later in the day.
Hite also fished his signature Z-Man Evergreen Jack Hammer Chatterbait with a Yamamoto Zako trailer in the Overton arm finishing second this year after finishing third last year. The eternal optimist hopes that next year finds him one place higher again in the standings.
For full details on the tournament, the competitors, the full standings and more photos and coverage, visit wonbass.com.
