Clifford Pirch sweeps U.S. Open on Lake Mead from start to finish

Teaser image:

Thanks to Dan O’Sullivan of Anglers Press Media for keeping us caught up on all the action this week as the U.S. Open bass tournament played out on Lake Mead!

2014 WON Bass U.S. Open Champion Clifford Pirch – photo by Dan O’Sullivan

Las Vegas, Nev. – September 10, 2014 – It took landing a haymaker blow in the opening round, then dodging opponents punches for him to do it, but Clifford Pirch today claimed his third WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open victory. The win joins him with Mike Folkestad and Aaron martens as the only individuals to have won the West’s most prestigious bass fishing event a trio of times.

 

“I’m speechless right now, especially after being so close the last two years,” said the Payson, Ariz. pro. “I really didn’t think that I had produced enough weight to hold on, but it feels great to pull through, and I’m especially blessed to have been so fortunate to win this event three times; I’m completely humbled right now.”

 

Pirch opened the event by landing a giant uppercut to the field when he weighed in a 15.49-pound limit that gave him almost a four pound lead after the first day. He decided to play it safe in the second round and stayed closer to the Calville Bay takeoff area trying to conserve equipment and avoid disappointment by making a big gamble. That move resulted in a 7.80-pound limit that left the door open to competitors to overtake him. However, he entered the final day with a two-pound lead.

 

He decided to make a sizeable run to the back of the Overton Arm to target dirty runoff and debris that had resulted from upstream monsoons and flash floods. It was an area that he had saved for the final day, and it took a while for his bite to develop, but he connected with fish that had moved downstream and caught more than 25 keepers en route to an 8.19-pound limit that left him nervous.

 

But, one by one, his competitors faltered, and when the last two anglers who had the best shot to defeat him reported in with no fish; Pirch had won the 2014 WON Bass Nitro Bots / Mercury U.S. Open with a total weight of 31.26 pounds. The victory earned him a brand new Nitro Z8 / Mercury prize package valued at $37,000 and $50,000 cash.

 

Pirch reported using three different techniques to claim victory. He reported dropshotting a Pirch’s Purple Roboworm on a Phenix M1 Drop Shot rod and culling out all but one of his early limit with a shad colored crankbait thrown on a Phenix X13 Cranking rod late in the afternoon on the first day. He returned to dropshotting again during the slick calm conditions of the second day, then turned to pitching his signature 1/2-ounce Clifford Pirch Outdoors Flippin’ jigs to hardwood cover in the dirty water on the final day with a Phenix Super Flipper rod. He alternated between black and blue and Clay Bank Orange colors tipped with soft plastic craws as trailers depending on the water clarity.

 

“It was a tournament where I had to do a lot of different things to produce the right bites; I had to change with the conditions,” he said. “I really wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out today, but I’m blessed and honored to have won this event.”

 

Todd Woods of San Dimas, Calif. held steady for most of the week and produced a total weight of 28.70 pounds to finish in second place. Third place finisher Gabe Bolivar; from Ramona, Calif. actually sat on the Costa Hot Seat as the current leader for nearly half of today’s weigh-in with 28.49 before being eclipsed by Woods. Dixon, California’s Brett Leber slipped one more place, but his steady showing over the three days earned him fourth place with 26.54. Finally, the top five was rounded out by two-time U.S. Open winner John Murray, who posted nearly a 10-pound stringer to move up from 25th place with a total weight of 25.80 pounds.

 

The AAA winner was Alex Centner of Gilbert Ariz. who teamed with pro partner Bobby Lanham from Cave Creek, Ariz. to produce the largest stringer of the event; a massive 16.06-limit that also included the big fish of the day. The performance was enough to catapult him from 39th place to victory. Centner will receive more than $10,000 and a St. Croix Rods prize package valued at more than $1,000

 

By virtue of being the highest finishing pro without a sunglass sponsorship; second place finisher Woods will receive the Costa sponsorship package which includes a full wrap, jerseys, 10 pairs of Costa Sunglasses and paid entry fees into the 2015 California Open at Clear Lake as well as the 2015 WON Bass U.S. Open. The package is valued at $10,000.

 

The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open was hosted at Callville Bay Marina on the shores of Lake Mead, and the action was brought live via the Costa See What’s Out There Live event coverage at www.wonbass.com.

 

The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury Marine U.S. Open Live Webcast was presented by Costa Sunglasses, the event was also brought to you by Nitro Boats, Mercury Outboards, Costa Sunglasses, Bass Pro Shops, Bridgford Foods, Daiwa, Seaguar, Plano Molding, Cousins Tackle, YoZuri, Pro Mar, Eagle Claw TroKar, Lowrance, St.Croix Rods, Frabill, Okuma, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Reactor, Zip Baits, Big Hammer, Fishing for Adoption, Global Fish Mounts, A&M Graphics, Savage Gear and Storm

 

2014 U.S. Open Final Standings – Pro Division   

Place

Name

Hometown

Weight

Penalty

Big Fish

Total

1

Clifford Pirch

Payson AZ

31.26

 

6.49

31.26

2

Todd Woods

San Dimas CA

28.7

 

2.86

28.7

3

Gabe Bolivar

Ramona CA

28.46

 

2.52

28.46

4

Brett Allen Leber

Dixon CA

26.54

 

4.03

26.54

5

John Murray

Phoenix AZ

25.8

 

3.72

25.8

6

Tony Lain

Menifee CA

25.33

 

2.22

25.33

7

Scott Davis

Preston ID

25.45

0.2

 

25.25

8

Joe Uribe, Jr.

Surprise AZ

24.67

 

2.7

24.67

9

Pete Marino

Moreno Valley CA

25.06

0.4

2.44

24.66

10

Luke Clausen

 

24.59

 

 

24.59

11

Randy Blaukat

Joplin MO

24.54

 

3

24.54

12

Chris Bozarth

Henderson NV

24.33

0.2

2.82

24.13

13

Wade Strelic

El Cajon CA

23.84

 

2

23.84

14

Bill O’Shinn

Bakersfield CA

23.96

0.2

3.47

23.76

15

Scott Canterbury

 

23.72

 

2.83

23.72

16

Johnny Johnson

Lakeside AZ

23.45

 

 

23.45

17

Bobby Lanham

Cave Creek AZ

23.33

 

5.1

23.33

18

Chris Studinger

San Marcos CA

23.24

 

2.29

23.24

19

Bill Brown

Grand Junction CO

23.06

 

3.16

23.06

20

Jesse Slaton

Klamath Falls OR

22.7

 

 

22.7

21

Brent James

St George UT

22.45

 

3.7

22.45

22

Jay Yelas

Carvallis OR

22.42

 

2.92

22.42

23

Jimmy Reese

Ukiah CA

22.32

 

2

22.32

24

Chris Kinley

Lake Havasue City AZ

22.29

 

3.79

22.29

25

Robert Lee

Altaville CA

22.17

 

 

22.17

26

Donnie Scroggins

Kingman AZ

22.2

0.2

3.12

22

27

Paul Hodges

Glendale AZ

22.09

0.2

 

21.89

28

Kevin Stewart

Elk Grove CA

21.8

 

 

21.8

29

Jim Jared

Dolan Springs AZ

21.65

 

3.49

21.65

30

Todd Herman

Gilbert AZ

21.24

 

2.24

21.24

31

Jim Moynagh

Carver MN

21.2

 

2.26

21.2

32

Zack Holwerda

Phoenix AZ

21.02

 

4.47

21.02

33

Joseph Raftery

Las Vegas NV

20.92

 

2.52

20.92

34

John Mackey

Boulder City NV

21.04

0.2

 

20.84

35

Jon Griffith

Mesa AZ

20.81

 

 

20.81

36

Gary Dobyns

Live Oak CA

20.76

 

 

20.76

37

Zachary Elrite

San Jose CA

20.95

0.4

3.33

20.55

38

Cody Compton

Palisade CO

20.5

 

3.8

20.5

39

Philip Roesener

Parowan UT

20.22

 

4.16

20.22

40

Brent Becker

Henderson NV

19.9

 

 

19.9

41

Tommy Jonovich

Phoenix AZ

19.87

 

 

19.87

42

Douglas Minor

Riverside CA

19.86

 

 

19.86

43

Tom Leedom

Escondido CA

19.84

 

 

19.84

44

Keith Beever

Mission Viejo CA

19.98

0.2

 

19.78

45

Douglas Jones

North Las vegas NV

19.92

0.2

2.12

19.72

46

Shawn Lee

Arroyo Grande CA

19.91

0.2

2.93

19.71

47

Scott Helleson

Whittier CA

19.5

 

2.28

19.5

48

Garrett Howard

Riverside CA

19.65

0.2

2.66

19.45

49

Cody Spetz

Menifee CA

19.62

0.2

2.47

19.42

50

Keith Espe

Phoenix AZ

19.27

 

3.33

19.27

51

Klayton Belden

El Cajon CA

19.22

 

 

19.22

52

Neil Flores

Menifee CA

19.13

 

2.3

19.13

53

Rusty Salewske

Alpine CA

19.03

 

 

19.03

54

Andy Manahl

Mesa AZ

19.02

 

2.76

19.02

55

Adam East

San Diego CA

19.2

0.2

 

19

56

Ken Whalen

Lompoc CA

18.95

 

 

18.95

57

Mike Brillhart

Waddell AZ

19.07

0.2

2.54

18.87

58

George Kramer

Lake Elsinore CA

19.02

0.2

2.49

18.82

59

Travis Richards

Henderson NV

18.61

 

2.44

18.61

60

Gary Pinholster

Lake Havasu City AZ

18.39

 

4.84

18.39

61

Guy Savidan

Yorba Linda CA

18.35

 

 

18.35

62

Andrew Napoleon

Mesa AZ

18.51

0.2

 

18.31

62

John Weisfuss

Oxnard CA

18.71

0.4

1.92

18.31

64

Kyle Grover

Trabuco Canyon CA

18.42

0.2

2.18

18.22

65

Cody Meyer

Grass Valley CA

18.2

 

 

18.2

66

Marco Valdez

Richland WA

18.12

 

 

18.12

67

John Morrow

Brea CA

18.09

 

3.25

18.09

68

Jiggs Benn

Myrtle Creek OR

17.77

 

 

17.77

69

Mike Rennie

Pioche NV

17.93

0.2

1.91

17.73

70

Steven Bowlin

Coolidge AZ

17.73

0.2

 

17.53

71

Jay Guterding

Redding CA

17.46

 

 

17.46

71

William “Billy” Skinner

Carlsbad CA

17.66

0.2

 

17.46

73

Marco Fenelli

San Diego CA

17.16

 

2.26

17.16

74

Kody “Bucky” Leigh

Yuma AZ

17.07

 

 

17.07

75

Jeff Rutt

Winchester CA

17.01

 

 

17.01

76

Mike Folkestad

Villa Park CA

16.98

 

 

16.98

77

Don Iovino

Burbank CA

16.94

 

3.82

16.94

78

Mike Caruso

Peoria AZ

16.92

 

 

16.92

79

Shaun Bailey

Lake Havasu City AZ

16.78

 

 

16.78

80

Ed Arledge

Valley Center CA

16.73

 

 

16.73

81

Kevin Caruso

Glendale AZ

16.92

0.2

 

16.72

82

Danny Moraga

Hesperia CA

16.89

0.2

1.99

16.69

83

Peter Manfrina

Lompoc CA

16.67

 

2.62

16.67

84

Daniel Price II

San Diego CA

16.64

 

 

16.64

85

Dick Watson

Alta Loma CA

16.5

 

3.37

16.5

86

Rusty Brown

Tustin CA

16.45

 

 

16.45

87

Don Gage

Grizzly Flats CA

16.41

 

 

16.41

88

Roy Hawk

Lake Havasu City AZ

16.75

0.4

 

16.35

89

Josh Bertrand

Gilbert AZ

16.3

 

 

16.3

90

Gunnar Stanton

Boulder City NV

16.26

 

 

16.26

91

Justin Patti

Phoenix AZ

16.18

 

 

16.18

92

Jamie Shaw

Coolidge AZ

16.05

 

3.13

16.05

93

Marvin Barellano

Monterey Park CA

15.98

 

2.15

15.98

94

Dave Wendrich

Elko NV

15.88

 

 

15.88

95

Randy Estrada, M.D.

Corona CA

15.77

 

2.31

15.77

96

Matt Shura

Gilbert AZ

15.81

0.2

 

15.61

97

John Noble

Adair Village OR

15.54

 

3.68

15.54

98

Ryan Kjellberg

Yucaipa CA

15.53

 

 

15.53

99

Kona Borja

Henderson NV

15.46

 

3.69

15.46

100

Steve Pool

Weldon CA

15.36

 

2.78

15.36

101

Vern Ridgway

Chandler AZ

15.05

 

 

15.05

102

Stephen Pike

Las Vegas NV

14.9

 

 

14.9

103

Ray Arbesu

Henderson NV

15.16

0.4

2.79

14.76

104

Ben Byrd

Moab UT

14.64

 

 

14.64

105

Devin McDonald

Las Vegas NV

14.56

0.2

2.9

14.36

106

Wade Headrick

Herriman UT

14.33

 

 

14.33

107

Raymond Archer

Greeley CO

14.28

 

 

14.28

108

Gary Freeman

Las Vegas NV

14.25

 

 

14.25

109

Claude Sims

Boerne TX

14.11

 

 

14.11

110

Jamie Cyphers

Cedar City UT

14.01

 

 

14.01

111

Michael Phua

Chino CA

14.05

0.2

 

13.85

112

Tom Lowery

Santee CA

13.75

 

2.89

13.75

113

Mark Poe

Coolidge AZ

13.72

 

 

13.72

114

Kevin Gross

Claremont CA

13.87

0.2

3.3

13.67

115

Mooseok Park

 

13.63

 

2.09

13.63

116

Michael McLernon

Oceanside CA

13.46

 

2.64

13.46

117

Jason Borofka

Salinas CA

13.21

 

 

13.21

118

Mark Rauenzahn

San Diego CA

13.2

 

5.65

13.2

118

David Kemper

Tempe AZ

13.4

0.2

 

13.2

120

Steve Molinari

Waddell AZ

13.06

0.2

 

12.86

121

Rich Tauber

Camarillo CA

12.78

 

2.14

12.78

122

Sean Coffey

Mesa AZ

12.77

 

 

12.77

122

Ricky Shabazz

Rialto CA

12.77

 

 

12.77

124

Josh Polfer

Nampa ID

12.75

 

2.72

12.75

125

Travis Jewell

Sandy UT

12.82

0.2

 

12.62

126

Rob Erautt

Yucaipa CA

12.54

 

 

12.54

127

Ron Hammett

La Mesa CA

12.31

 

 

12.31

128

Josh Rhodes

Lake Havasu City AZ

12.25

 

 

12.25

129

Jim Hawkes

Apache Junction AZ

12.43

0.2

 

12.23

130

Keith Ferlanie

Henderson NV

12.2

 

 

12.2

131

Kenichi Tanaka

Minamikawachigun

12.12

 

 

12.12

132

Chris Gosselaar

Clovis CA

12.06

 

3.72

12.06

133

Elliott Holsbo

Lakeside CA

11.99

 

 

11.99

134

Billy Hines

Vacaville CA

11.37

 

 

11.37

135

Jeffrey Scott Allen

Flagstaff AZ

11.13

 

3.78

11.13

136

Justin Hanold

Poway CA

11.32

0.2

 

11.12

137

Clayton Meyer

Henderson NV

11.07

 

 

11.07

138

Mark Lassagne

San Ramon CA

10.99

 

 

10.99

139

Oscar Torrado

Mira Loma CA

10.81

 

 

10.81

140

Murray White

Glendale AZ

10.65

 

 

10.65

141

Ernie Stumpf

Carrollton TX

10.52

 

 

10.52

142

Matt Nadeau

Grass Valley CA

10.38

 

 

10.38

143

Edward John

Tustin CA

9.75

 

 

9.75

144

Bill Griffith

Ventura CA

9.21

 

 

9.21

145

Jim Elliott

Redding CA

8.59

 

 

8.59

146

Norman Santos

Rosamond CA

8.46

 

 

8.46

147

Cody Murray

Nampa ID

8.39

 

 

8.39

148

Brian Carnahan

Flagstaff AZ

8.57

0.2

 

8.37

149

Ed Shaver

Lake Havasu City AZ

8.19

 

 

8.19

150

Tony Richards

Oceanside CA

8.13

 

 

8.13

151

Dylan Maxon

Phoenix AZ

7.71

 

 

7.71

152

Robert Schoessler

Henderson NV

7.64

 

 

7.64

153

Don McBride

Roosevelt AZ

7.55

0.2

 

7.35

154

Sam Rosefsky

 

7.25

 

 

7.25

155

Michael Rigney

Janesville CA

7.24

 

2.41

7.24

156

Jason Burchfield

Las Vegas NV

7.06

 

 

7.06

157

Melvin Williams

Chula Vista CA

7.01

 

 

7.01

158

Fred Krumsiek

Glendale AZ

6.58

 

 

6.58

159

Young “Bradley” Yang

 

6.38

 

3.12

6.38

160

Larry Triplett

Aurora CO

5.12

 

 

5.12

161

Neil Campbell

Mirrietta CA

4.34

 

 

4.34

162

Chris Morris

Wingman AZ

3.58

 

 

3.58

163

Steve Gibson

Las Vegas NV

3.71

0.2

 

3.51

164

Timothy Irwin

LaVerne CA

3.38

 

 

3.38

165

Bill Craig

Ivins UT

3.09

 

1.91

3.09

166

Anthony Tatzel

Kingman AZ

2.92

 

 

2.92

 

2014 U.S. Open Final Standings – AAA Division    

Place

Name

Hometown

Weight

Penalty

Big Fish

Total

1

Alex Centner

Gilbert AZ

30.64

 

 

30.64

2

Tom Nokes

Riverton UT

29.44

 

2.2

29.44

3

Dung Van Vu

Paramount CA

27.42

 

2.46

27.42

4

Dale Howard

Las Vegas NV

26.73

 

3.8

26.73

5

Chris Faehling

Pioche NV

24.72

 

5.52

24.72

6

Brandon Baker

Valencia CA

24.45

 

3.39

24.45

7

Dominic Amato

N. Las vegas NV

24.36

 

2.15

24.36

8

Chad May

Mesa AZ

24.11

0.2

 

23.91

8

Ronald Slack, Jr.

Pahrump NV

23.91

 

 

23.91

10

Bobby Steele

Goodyear AZ

23.78

 

2.29

23.78

11

Rick Grover

Trabucco Canyon CA

23.7

 

 

23.7

12

Paul Reutlinger

West Jordan UT

23.57

 

2.78

23.57

13

Charlie Ponder

Williams AZ

23.34

 

2.27

23.34

14

John Browning

Payson AZ

23.17

 

1.77

23.17

15

Jason Lazzerini

Moss Landing CA

23.33

0.2

5.01

23.13

16

Steve Lund

Glendale AZ

22.78

 

2.12

22.78

17

Dante Ray

Sparks NV

22.75

 

 

22.75

18

Carl Limbrick, Jr.

Bonita CA

23.1

0.4

2.23

22.7

19

Brian P. Day

Rncho Snta Margarita CA

22.22

 

 

22.22

20

Rafael Gonzalez

Las Vegas NV

22.1

 

 

22.1

21

Aaron Scott

El Dorado Hills CA

22.03

 

 

22.03

22

Bryan Klem

San Diego CA

21.88

 

3.18

21.88

23

Dustin Tingle

Spring Valley CA

22.07

0.2

 

21.87

24

Gene Mestas

Henderson NV

21.81

 

1.69

21.81

25

Conrad Demecs

Scottsdale AZ

21.62

 

1.59

21.62

26

Mike Guerra

Las Vegas NV

21.59

 

3.08

21.59

27

Mark Dalton

Fountain Hills AZ

21.03

 

1.99

21.03

28

Craig Hammett

Eagle ID

21.21

0.2

2.67

21.01

29

Andrew M. Schadegg

Reno NV

20.82

 

2.1

20.82

30

Chang Won Park

Palmdale CA

20.83

0.2

 

20.63

31

Joe Patz

Surprise AZ

20.6

 

1.97

20.6

32

Mona Dunlap

Cottage Grove OR

20.75

0.2

1.96

20.55

33

Darren Vieira

Martinez CA

20.45

 

2.69

20.45

34

Kenneth Cates

LaQuinta CA

20.37

 

2.65

20.37

35

Kirk Beardsley

Canyon Lake CA

20.41

0.2

 

20.21

36

Liz Jones

Conoga Park CA

19.89

 

 

19.89

37

Josh Ahlvin

Peoria AZ

19.72

 

 

19.72

38

Jeff Won

Cerritos CA

19.68

 

 

19.68

39

Stephen Lamb

Lakeside CA

19.44

 

 

19.44

40

Ellison Hubbard

LAS VEGAS NV

19.38

 

1.7

19.38

41

Matt Menzel

El Cajon CA

19.29

 

 

19.29

42

Thomas Wennerlund

Gilbert AZ

19.44

0.2

1.93

19.24

43

Gary Robbins

Burbank CA

19.59

0.4

3.91

19.19

44

R J Nevarez

Bonsall CA

19.32

0.2

 

19.12

45

Joel Fleck

Menifee CA

19.09

 

 

19.09

46

David Burrows

Placentia CA

19.01

 

 

19.01

47

Rachel Uribe

 

18.95

 

2.3

18.95

48

Brant List

Huntington Beach CA

19.02

0.2

 

18.82

49

David Bebawy

Chandler AZ

18.78

 

 

18.78

50

Phillip Hudnall

Huntington Beach CA

18.62

 

 

18.62

51

David Hudson

Henderson NV

18.6

 

2.73

18.6

52

Steve Lee

Burbank WA

18.59

 

 

18.59

53

John Meltzer

San Jose CA

18.57

 

2.58

18.57

54

Michael Bidak

Scottsdale AZ

18.31

 

 

18.31

55

Miles Peshlakai

Las Vegas NV

18.3

 

 

18.3

56

Sergio Arguello

North Hollywood CA

18.21

 

 

18.21

57

Ryland Ogle

Henderson NV

18.18

 

 

18.18

57

Juan Ramirez

Cave Creek AZ

18.38

0.2

 

18.18

59

John Tubbs

Camarillo CA

18.24

0.2

 

18.04

60

Julius Mazy

Phoenix AZ

18.13

0.2

3.77

17.93

61

Eric Hammer

Peoria AZ

17.88

 

 

17.88

62

Sean Richards

Carson City NV

17.87

 

 

17.87

63

Toru Kaneko

Konan-Shi, Shiga Jap

17.83

 

1.44

17.83

64

Randy Austin

Cedar City UT

18.2

0.4

 

17.8

65

Brandon Smith

Indio CA

17.99

0.2

2.76

17.79

66

Szu Nien Yeh

Las Vegas NV

17.85

0.2

2.02

17.65

67

Richard Hoffman

Costa Mesa CA

17.58

 

2.49

17.58

68

Mike Crothers

Chandler AZ

17.57

 

 

17.57

69

Hong-Gi Chu

Las Vegas NV

17.69

0.2

 

17.49

70

Steve Lindner

Lake Havasu City AZ

17.46

 

3.12

17.46

71

Bret Nagelhout

Red Rock AZ

17.56

0.2

 

17.36

72

Jordan Erekson

Chandler AZ

17.26

 

3.19

17.26

73

Dean Sexton

Costa Mesa CA

17.24

 

 

17.24

73

Jan Prestella

Glendora CA

17.24

 

 

17.24

75

Gabriel Romero

Henderson NV

17.22

 

 

17.22

76

David Patrick

San Jacinto CA

17.21

 

2.45

17.21

77

John Stewart

Peoria AZ

17.19

 

2.03

17.19

78

Patrick McLaren

Las Vegas NV

17.13

 

 

17.13

79

Dave Della

Sparks NV

17.02

 

2.28

17.02

80

Shannon Henry

Anthem AZ

16.99

 

 

16.99

81

Darin Guglielmo

Santa Barbara CA

16.92

 

2.08

16.92

82

Todd Dunlap

Cottage Grove OR

16.9

 

 

16.9

83

Michael Spain

Goodyear AZ

16.81

 

3.44

16.81

84

Bill Lansford

Needles CA

17

0.2

 

16.8

85

Naoaki Fujimoto

Osaka,Japan

16.71

 

 

16.71

86

Ross Baker

Lake Havasu City AZ

16.62

 

2.37

16.62

86

Eric Runge

Las Vegas NV

16.82

0.2