Lake Havasu City, AZ – The Southern WON BASS Pro-AAA circuit makes its second stop of the 2007 season with the Feb 10-11th Lake Havasu Open. Staged out of the Sunset Station Hotel (formerly the Ramada Inn), this event is expected to draw a field of top notch anglers for what should be a very strong pre-spawn bite on both smallmouth and largemouth bass.
Pro anglers will be competing for a guaranteed top prize of $20,000 cash courtesy of Mercury Marine. They will also be accruing points that will be used to determine the “Southern Angler of the Year” at the close of the third and final event of the season at Lake Mead on April 14th & 15th. The “Southern Angler of the Year” will advance to the Western Classic tournament where he or she will be competing “head to head” with the Northern “Angler of the Year” for a chance to win a fully rigged Ranger 188VS boat and trailer outfitted with a Mercury OptiMax 175hp outboard, Lowrance electronics, MotorGuide trolling motor and more. This prize package is valued at $30,000. AAA Northern and Southern Anglers of the Year will be going head to head as well, competing to win a Mercury OptiMax 175hp outboard, Lowrance electronics, MotorGuide trolling motor.
In addition to the regular cash payouts on both the Pro and AAA side, Pro anglers can win an additional $3,000 in Ranger Cup cash if they are a registered Ranger Cup participant and win the Lake Havasu Open. $1,500 will be up for grabs to the highest finishing Ranger Cup Pro should a non-Ranger Cup angler finish first. Bret Gouvea took home $3,000 in Ranger Cup monies for his recent victory at the WON BASS Lake Shasta Open in January.
MotorGuide will also be providing a $500 contingency award should the winner possess a MotorGuide trolling motor on their tournament winning rig.
Anglers will also accrue points to be used for year end points races such as the $10,000 Daiwa Cup for the Pros and the Mercury Cup which will give the AAA champion a new 150hp OptiMax motor.
WON BASS last visited Lake Havasu to kick off the new season in November of 2006. Scott Brownlie of Apple Valley, CA brought a two-day weight of 26.11 pounds to take home $23,500 in cash. Quinton Roark of Sierra Vista, AZ took big fish honors with a 7.70 pound largemouth. Look for a similar weights to take the top honors at this event.
WON BASS uses a shared weight format that encourages cooperation between both anglers on the boat. The Pro angler retains control of the boat and determines fishing locations and techniques while the AAA angler contributes to the overall catch. Anglers share the 5 fish limit weight for each day. Pro and AAA anglers change partners each day of competition.
Entry fees remain at $500 for pro anglers and $225 for AAA fishermen with $2,300 worth of daily Big Bass awards included in your entry fees. Other options such as a $50 big stringer and $100 high roller option are also available for those who chose to enter. Deadline to enter for the Lake Havasu event is noon on Tuesday, Feb 6th, 2007.
WON BASS is one of the west’s oldest and most respected tournament organizations, serving west coast fishermen for the past 20 years. WON BASS event sponsors include Mercury Marine, Ranger Boats, El Cajon Ford, Plano tackle boxes, General Tires, Cabela’s, TYM Tractors, Quantum Rods & Reels, Cheetah Energy Drinks, Rat-L-Trap lures, Phillips Pink Stuff, BSX Fish Activators, The Trolling Motor Doctor, Lowrance, MotorGuide, Seguar, Costa Del Mar, Daiwa Rods & Reels, Owner Hooks, Yo-Zuri, Jackall Lures, Markey’s Spinnerbaits, and SOSpenders.
For tournament rules, sponsor information and entry forms, please log on to the official WON BASS website at www.wonbass.com or you may also register over the phone by calling Bonnie at (949) 366-0030 ext 38. Room reservations can be made at the Sunset Inn by calling (928) 855-1111. Be sure to mention WON BASS to get your special room rates.
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