1989 Picking up the pieces of the former U.S. Bass, WON BASS staged the Western Outdoors Open. Larry Ward, a dentist from Blythe, California managed a three-day weight of 37.89 pounds to outdistance a field of 142 pro anglers and beat out second place contender Mike Folkestad and rising star Jay Yelas and received $50,000 cash, a Ranger 373 boat and Yamaha ProV 150 hp motor.
1990 After finishing in eighth place in the 1989 Open, 25-year old angler Byron Velvick from Westminster, CA. Velvick fished a combination of plastic worms and crankbaits in the lower basin, including the Vegas Wash area, to produce a three-day weight totaling 29.64 pounds to beat out local favorite Pat Donoho. Velvick was awarded $25,000 cash and a Ranger 363V bass boat powered by a Yamaha motor.
1993 After a two-year hiatus, Western Outdoors brought back the big event under the original name of U.S. Open, which was won by Vegas dealer and local Lake Mead fisherman Pat Donoho. He topp topped the field of 182 pro anglers with 6- fish limits on all three days for a total weight of 39.67 pounds to take home the $50,000 cash prize. Fishing buddy Bobby Ellis offered to pay the AAA entry fees for the upcoming season for all of the AAA anglers who partnered with Donoho at the U.S. Open.
1994 This Open was the first tournament win for 26- year old Kevin Wiggins of Lancaster, California. His three-day total of 34.82 pounds were enough to edge out the hard charging young pro Aaron Martens by 1.90 pounds and claim the $50,000 top prize.
1995 Page, Arizona resident and lure make Gary Yamamoto vaulted to prominence as he used a 1-ounce leadhead with a smoke silver-skirted Yamamoto Hula Grub to pull in 31.22 pounds of fish over the course of three days, including 4.56 and 4.58 pound bass. He took home $50,000 cash top prize and another $25,000 in boat an big fish prizes.
1996 A gamble paid off for 1996 U.S. Open champion Bryon Velvick. Going into the final day 4.13 pounds behind first and second day leader John Murray, Velvick rallied the final day, posting a 6-fish limit weighing 13.87 pounds to capture the $50,000 top prize.
1997 The 1997 U.S. Open was all John Murray, though. “It was finally my turn I guess,” noted Murray at the awards ceremony. Murray was propelled to the winner’s circle on the back of three days worth of 6-fish limits, which produced an aggregate weight of 40.92 pounds. This weight was enough to beat out Gary Yamamoto by just over a pound.
1998 In what would turn out to be one of the largest winning margins in the history of the U.S. Open, Marcus Clouse of Henderson, NV rode his three-day weight of 43.09 pounds to victory at the 1998 U.S. Open, beating past U.S. Open champion and second place finisher Mike Folkestad by more than 9 pounds!
1999 The 1999 U.S. Open would turn out to be the closest contest in the history of the event with a mere 4/100th’s of a pound deciding the winner. In the end however, John Murray of Phoenix, Arizona was able to edge out second place finisher Dean Farrell of Glendale, AZ by that razor thin margin! In doing so, Murray joined Rick Clunn and Byron Velvick in the very select group of 2- time U.S. Open winners.
2000 At age 35, Dave Gliebe left a steady paycheck as an engineer and draftsman with the California Division of Highways to pursue a career in bass fishing. 22 years later, Gliebe captured one of the biggest titles in his bass fishing career, the 2000 U.S. Open. Gliebe bested the field of 161 pro anglers to set a new winnings mark for the U.S. Open with $131,000.
July 2011 _ SILVER EAGLES 57