LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Longtime fishing partners, Justin Kerr and John Weisfuss topped the Wild West Bass Trail (WWBT) 62 team leaderboard with a winning tournament total of 23.22 at the Visit Henderson Lake Mead Open this weekend.
Kerr, currently a Lake Havasu City, Ariz. transplant, met Weisfuss, traveling from Westlake in Southern California to team up for the competition. Their competitive fishing history dates back more than 20 years to their high school days.
Their combined efforts earned the pair a $7,000 payday and included contingency dollars from Power-Pole and Lowrance.
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MEAD’S MOODY
Although Lake Mead can be a giving fall fishery, this particular weekend, it was stingy.
Bucking the average 100-degree air temps of September, tournament days were unseasonably low, spiking only into the low 80’s. Lake temps were registered in the mid-70’s.
“The bags didn’t really show what the lake could do,” remarked Kerr. “Mead will really pick up in a month or so.”
Kerr recalled the only day-to-change in conditions was a slight breeze that was somewhat cooler on the last day.
“The breeze would come and go, which made for a very nice fishing experience for Mead in the late summer,” he said. “It would started flowing from the south in the morning and then switched to the north in the afternoon.”
LURES AND LOCATIONS
A practice strategy that focused on baitfish and vegetation was the key to their win.
“I fished the week before in a bunch of different areas, looking for the spots with the most baitfish and grass, explained Kerr. “I was fishing around schools of shad in the main lake – fishing sticks and trees and grass.”
The team targeted their catches with reaction baits and soft plastics. Kerr reported equal parts of each landed their weigh fish.
“We used crankbaits, topwater and Rat-L-Traps all in shad colors,” he revealed. “We caught ‘em good on a Flat Force Ever Green crankbait.
“As for the plastics, they were purple-colored Roboworms on a dropshot. We fished all of them kind of fast. We kept moving pretty quick. When the bite slowed down on reaction, we fished around with the plastics.”
Kerr reported a run of 15 to 20 spots within a five-mile area on the main lake. Their productive depth was a range of 6- to 8-feet.
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MOVING UP
As the scales closed on Day One, the team sat in 2nd place with 11.07, less than a pound behind the leaders Scott Frasier and Todd Curry with 11.92.
“I was a little upset about Day One, because we didn’t capitalize on a couple of them that we had the opportunity with,” Kerr commented. “Especially because, we started in the same exact spot as the leaders. I was there first and I went right. They pulled up after me and because I was on the right, they had to go left. But, then I watched them stop and catch their big fish – almost a four pounder. That’s kind of how it works out sometimes – especially on Lake Mead.”
Kerr claimed the difference-maker in the event was his partner’s catch of the big one on Day Two.
“We were in the right place at the right time,” said Kerr. “It was a little luck this time. He got a three-pounder and that was what really changed things and set us over the edge. You need a big fish when it is really tough like it was – to separate yourself from the others, so it came at the right time.”
APPRECIATION AND GROWTH
Kerr was appreciative for the WWBT appearance in his home areas.
“I would hope we can continue to build the support for the events out here,” said Kerr. “There are at least 150 guys that should be out fishing. Look at the Pro/Am numbers, we’ve got the fishermen and we have WWBT here giving us the opportunity.”
The WWBT Director of Operations, Jeremy DeHart, also weighed in on the event at Mead.
"We would like to offer a special thanks to the listed WWBT sponsors, our partnership with the City of Henderson and the Fiesta Hotel and Casino,” DeHart said. “Our relationship with these sponsors continues to grow. Because of this and the surrounding community of anglers, we will have the WWBT Arizona Team Championship at Lake Mead in 2020. It is important for us and the angling community to continue to support these companies and areas for larger opportunities and events in the future.”
REST OF THE BEST | PRO
2nd 20.05 Raynor/Raynor $3,100, including contingency from Lowrance and Big Fish payout
3rd 19.74 Frasier/Curry, including Big Fish payout
4th 19.49 Griffith/Mackenzie$1,200
5th 19.15 Steckle/Steckel $800
Full WWBT Lake Mead Results
Next for the Wild West Bassers is the California Team Championship on Clear Lake
The WWBT debuted in 2016. The trail includes a Pro/Am circuit and two Teams circuits – one based in California and the other in Arizona.
A special thanks to all the WWBT sponsors – A&M Graphics, Ben Green Insurance, City of Henderson, Dobyns Rods, Fiesta Henderson Hotel and Casino, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, General Tire, Genesis Graphics, Las Vegas Bass Pro Shops, Lowrance Electronics, Lucas Oil, Mercury Motors, P-Line, Power-Pole, Protect the Harvest, Ranger Boats, Super Clean, Top This Premier Accessory Outfitters, Vets 4 Hunting and Fishing.
For more information visit WildWestBassTrail.com and follow WWBT at Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram.
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