A Gathering Of Eagles, Page 54

A Gathering Of Eagles, Page 54

The U.S. Open started under the Western Bass banner but the organization’s name soon change to U.S. Bass. The event was the first big money contest and is still the toughest test of fishing, although it almost disappeared when the organization’s big dreams led to big debts.

fighting four days of fishing and sizzling desert temps, now you had to haul that Spook 24/7 if you were going to make any money. I will never forget the almost zombie-like look on over three-quarters of the field as they walked through the hotel on the way to their boats for the fourth and final day of that

first U.S. Open. Anglers from across the coun- try who entered the first event went home and told their friends about the ultimate test. They would say, “If you can survive the U.S. Open, you can survive anything” and then add “You haven’t fished a bass tournament unless you have fished the U.S. Open.”

That type of talk is what solidified the status of the U.S. Open. To this day it re- mains the ultimate test in the sport of competitive bass fishing — and one of the most coveted titles in the sport’s history. To all who survived that first U.S. Open, I salute you.

54 SILVER EAGLES _ July 2011