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Brett Hite Takes Lead on Day2 at U.S. Open

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Brett Hite with a Pair of Lake Mead Good Ones from Day Two at the 2013 U.S. Open – photo by Dan O’Sullivan

Las Vegas, Nev. – September 10, 2013 – When it comes to winning bass fishing tournaments, having a level of consistency is recommended. To win a WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open; consistency is almost mandatory.

In an event that is frequently billed as one of the toughest bass fishing events in the world, the angler who is able to produce consistent limits full of two-pound bass is one who will be rewarded.   That game plan stands in contradiction to those anglers who throw caution to the wind and look for one big fish then try to fill in around it; especially on Lake Mead in the summer.

Such was the case on day two of the U.S. Open of Bass Fishing on Lake Mead, as a group of anglers began to separate themselves from the field by producing steady limits.

Carrying the mantle of consistency the most was Phoenix, Ariz. pro Brett Hite; a veteran of many U.S. Opens and an FLW Tour Champion, produced a 10.25-pound limit today to bring his total weight to 21.06 pounds to take the lead on day two.  In search of his first WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury

Rusty Brown, shown here with Day Two AAA Andrew Martin, is in Second place – photo by Dan O’Sullivan

U.S. Open title, Hite holds a .62-pound lead over Tustin, Calif. pro Rusty Brown who produced a limit weighing 10.17 pounds today to bring his total to 20.44 pounds, and second place.

Joe Uribe Jr., of Lake Forest, Calif. was the exception to the consistency rule today. He upgraded his day one weight by nearly three pounds with an 11.46-pound limit that brought him from 18th place to third with a total of 20.39 pounds. Their efforts, along with the close proximity of weights throughout the rest in the top five and beyond set up what is sure to be an exciting final day tomorrow.

Hite said that he strategized himself for consistency. “You really have to try and produce limits that are going to give you the chance to win a tournament here at Lake Mead, and those are consistent limits,” said Hite. “I try to get a couple of those better bites in the morning and then fill it in with keepers as the days go on. I had three fish today that were excellent quality and two that were solid keepers.”

Hite also said that he feels like he can continue his search for consistency, and hopes to have a little increase tomorrow. “I feel like I am doing something that will help me catch fish behind others, and I’m getting the right bites,” said Hite. “That being said, I’d love to catch 12 pounds tomorrow and feel great about my chances.”

Brown also planned on trying to be steady. “I felt like if I could catch 10 pounds a day I would be in position to win,” he said. “I was able to move around a little bit more yesterday, but had to slow down and work the areas a little slower today, and feel like if I stay with my strengths tomorrow I’ll have a good chance.”

Uribe said that he figured out something that helped him increase his position on day two. “I really

Joe Uribe Jr. Moved into Third place by catching the Day’s Heaviest Stringer  – photo by Dan O’Sullivan

slowed down today and fished on the bottom,” he said. “I practiced with a reaction bait, but the fish haven’t moved up in these cloudy conditions, so I put a spinning rod in my hands and stayed with that all day; in fact, I need to go to the tackle store and buy some more worms because I’m running really low after today.”

The AAA leader Scott Palumbo, also from Phoenix, Ariz. proved that the consistency game worked by taking part in producing a 10.17-pound limit today to move from sixth place to the lead with 20.98 pounds. He holds a scant half-pound lead over Robert Jeannotte from Henderson, Nev. who upped his total to 20.47 pounds, and finished in second place for the second day in a row.

The full fields of both the Pro and the AAA anglers will compete on Wednesday for the chance to be crowned the 2013 WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open Champion.

Complete Standings are below.

The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open takeoff will continue tomorrow at Callville Bay Marina beginning at 5:45AM, with weigh-in starting at 2:00PM. Following the event’s conclusion tomorrow, a champion will be crowned at Boulder Station Casino the final evening of the event.

The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury Marine U.S. Open See What’s Out There Live Webcasts presented by Costa Sunglasses will continue following tournament take off with hourly updates at 8:00AM, 9:00AM, 10:00AM and 11:00AM each day, followed by weigh-in coverage beginning at 2:00PM and finally a 6:30PM post game show; all show times are Pacific Standard Time. .

The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury Marine U.S. Open presented by Costa Sunglasses Webcasts can be accessed by visiting www.wonbass.com, or directly at the event page of the 2013 The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury Marine U.S. Open See What’s Out There page presented by Costa Sunglasses

The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury Marine U.S. Open Live Webcast is presented by Costa Sunglasses, the event is also brought to you by Nitro Boats, Mercury Outboards, Costa Sunglasses, Bass Pro Shops, Adoption Awareness, Big Hammer, Bridgford Foods, Cousins Tackle, Daiwa, Frog Toggs, Fuji, Global Fish Mounts, Lobina Lures, Lowrance, Mustang Survival, Optimum Baits, Plano Molding, Pro Boats, Pro Mar, Seaguar, Snug Top, SPRO, St.Croix Rods, Star Tron, YoZuri and Zip Baits

2013 WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open
Day One Pro Standings

Place Name Hometown Weight Penalty Big Fish Total
1 Brett Hite Phoenix AZ 21.06 3.04 21.06
2 Rusty Brown Tustin CA 20.44 3.92 20.44
3 Joe Uribe, Jr. Lake Forest CA 20.59 0.2 3.47 20.39
4 Tommy Jonovich Phoenix AZ 20.38 0.2 20.18
5 Todd Herman Gilbert AZ 19.42 4.49 19.42
6 Jamie Cyphers Cedar City UT 19.12 3.14 19.12
7 Gary Dobyns Yuba City CA 18.61 2.52 18.61
8 John Murray Phoenix AZ 18.51 3.32 18.51
9 Chris Bozarth Henderson NV 18.27 2.82 18.27
10 Devin McDonald Las Vegas NV 18.13 3.04 18.13
11 Randy Blaukat Joplin MO 18.11 4.11 18.11
12 Morizo Shimizu Osaka JP 17.7 3.16 17.7
13 Ben Byrd Moab UT 17.66 17.66
14 Aaron Leon Henderson NV 17.57 0.4 17.17
15 Patrick Whitaker Gilbert AZ 17.16 17.16
16 Ray Arbesu Henderson NV 17.27 0.2 3.1 17.07
17 Paul Hodges Glendale AZ 16.84 16.84
18 Aaron Martens Leeds AL 16.62 16.62
19 Shaun Bailey Lake Havasu City AZ 16.74 0.2 3.73 16.54
20 Claude Sims Boerne TX 16.74 0.2 16.54
21 Todd Woods San Dimas CA 16.54 2.59 16.54
22 Johnny Johnson Lakeside AZ 16.52 16.52
23 Phillip Dutra Antioch CA 16.29 3.15 16.29
24 Bill Brown Grand Junction CO 16.19 16.19
25 Randy Cnota Tucson AZ 16.27 0.2 16.07
26 Justin Hanold Poway CA 15.97 15.97
27 Matt Shura Gilbert AZ 15.9 15.9
28 Randy Estrada, M.D. Corona CA 15.89 15.89
29 Kenichi Tanaka Minamikawachigun 15.87 2.7 15.87
30 Shawn Lee Arroyo Grande CA 15.83 3.32 15.83
31 Josh Rhodes Lakeside CA 15.64 3.87 15.64
32 Gary Pinholster Lake Havasu City AZ 15.79 0.2 15.59
33 John Mackey Boulder City NV 15.58 15.58
34 Kyle Grover Trabuco Canyon CA 15.77 0.2 15.57
35 Gary Freeman Las Vegas NV 15.35 15.35
36 Rick Mason Glendale AZ 15.23 2.3 15.23
37 Dorne Soto Henderson NV 15.18 15.18
38 Kevin Norling San Diego CA 15.1 15.1
39 Ed Arledge Valley Center CA 15.09 15.09
40 Byron Velvick Del Rio TX 15.07 15.07
41 Brett Allen Leber Dixon CA 15.01 15.01
42 John Perkins Lake Havasu City AZ 14.94 2.91 14.94
43 Clifford Pirch Payson AZ 15.24 0.4 14.84
44 Garrett Howard Riverside CA 15.03 0.4 14.63
45 Steve Gibson Las Vegas NV 14.54 3.06 14.54
46 Sean Stafford Fairfield CA 14.57 0.2 14.37
47 Dave Wendrich Elko NV 14.36 14.36
48 Derek Yamamoto Boulder City CO 14.35 14.35
49 David Valdivia Norwalk CA 14.55 0.2 14.35
50 Gary Boyd Reseda CA 14.23 2.42 14.23
51 Michael Phua Chino CA 14.16 14.16
52 Vu Au Tucson AZ 14.34 0.2 14.14
53 Michael Caruso Peoria AZ 14.13 5.08 14.13
54 Jamie Shaw Coolidge AZ 14.1 14.1
55 Roy Hawk Lake Havasu City AZ 14.09 3.23 14.09
56 Justin Kerr Lake Havasu City AZ 14.03 2.88 14.03
57 Andy Manahl Mesa AZ 14.01 14.01
58 Ken Whalen Lompoc CA 14.01 14.01
59 Marco Valdez Mesa AZ 13.91 13.91
60 Klayton Belden El Cajon CA 13.87 13.87
61 Ken Phillips Antioch CA 13.87 13.87
62 Ricky Shabazz Rialto CA 13.86 13.86
63 Neil Flores Menifee CA 13.84 13.84
64 Kevin Wiggins Las Vegas NV 13.63 13.63
65 Stephen Pike Las Vegas NV 13.5 13.5
66 Matt Massey Golden CO 13.42 13.42
67 John Weisfuss Oxnard CA 13.39 13.39
68 Raymond Archer Greeley CO 13.32 13.32
69 Garrett Lorenzen Escondido CA 13.26 2.7 13.26
70 Bobby Lanham Cave Creek AZ 13.24 13.24
71 Clayton Meyer Henderson NV 13.05 3.12 13.05
72 Rich Tauber Camarillo CA 12.88 12.88
73 Trey Campbell Gardena CA 12.84 12.84
74 David Peltier Acton CA 12.81 12.81
75 John Morrow Brea CA 12.64 12.64
76 Ed Shaver Lake Havasu City AZ 12.5 12.5
77 Craig Miller Las Vegas NV 12.35 12.35
78 Joseph Raftery Las Vegas NV 12.27 12.27
79 Guy Savidan Yorba Linda CA 12.15 2.68 12.15
80 Gerald Kimzey Willcox AZ 12.13 2.83 12.13
81 Scott Wingo San Diego CA 12.12 3.35 12.12
82 Kevin Caruso Glendale AZ 11.9 3.2 11.9
83 Keith Beever Aliso Viejo CA 11.77 11.77
84 Jiggs Benn Myrtle Creek OR 11.66 11.66
85 Melvin Williams Chula Vista CA 11.63 11.63
86 Max Bauer La Mesa CA 11.38 11.38
87 Trevor Young Fontana CA 11.13 11.13
88 Dick Watson Alta Loma CA 11.3 0.2 11.1
89 Gabe Bolivar Ramona CA 11 11
90 Gary Robbins Burbank CA 10.91 10.91
91 Vern Ridgway Chandler AZ 10.88 10.88
92 Vince Gennaro Henderson NV 10.87 10.87
93 Mike Folkestad Villa Park CA 10.85 2.27 10.85
94 William Ruehle Peoria AZ 10.68 10.68
95 Robert Schoessler Henderson NV 10.59 10.59
96 Wade Strelic El Cajon CA 10.56 10.56
97 Mike Lavallee Sandy UT 10.51 10.51
98 Mike Brillhart Waddell AZ 10.36 10.36
99 Jason Borofka Salinas CA 10.18 3.22 10.18
100 Stephen Patek Chula Vista CA 10.05 2.62 10.05
101 Shane Moline Kingman AZ 10.04 10.04
102 Steve Molinari Waddell AZ 10.01 10.01
103 Nick Young Ontario OR 9.96 9.96
104 Bill O’Shinn Granite Bay CA 9.93 2.83 9.93
105 Ernie Stumpf Carrollton TX 10.11 0.2 9.91
106 Jay Wright Pasadena CA 9.86 2.75 9.86
107 Neil Campbell Fallbrook CA 9.83 9.83
108 Mark Poe Coolidge AZ 9.65 9.65
109 Philip Roesener Parowan UT 9.65 2.13 9.65
110 Marvin Barellano Monterey Park CA 9.52 9.52
111 Sean Coffey Mesa AZ 9.16 9.16
112 Thomas Wennerlund Gilbert AZ 9.01 9.01
113 Jason Burchfield Las Vegas NV 9.33 0.4 8.93
114 Ron Hammett La Mesa CA 8.62 8.62
115 David Kemper Tempe AZ 8.82 0.2 8.62
116 Zachary Elrite San Jose CA 8.56 8.56
117 Brent Becker Henderson NV 8.5 8.5
118 Clay Lippincott Goodyear AZ 8.1 8.1
119 Chester Baxter Glendale AZ 7.8 7.8
120 Pete Marino Moreno Valley CA 7.65 7.65
121 Michael McFarland Corona CA 7.63 3.15 7.63
122 Ty Sandefer Escalante UT 7.6 7.6
123 Robert Jenks Diamond Bar CA 7.54 7.54
124 Chris Studinger Oceanside CA 7.64 0.2 7.44
125 Christopher Dixon Granada Hills CA 7.53 0.2 7.33
126 Tom Pryor Page AZ 7.32 7.32
127 Clyde Evans Las Vegas NV 7.12 7.12
128 John Browning Payson AZ 7.22 0.2 7.02
129 Jonathan D. Demonet Downey CA 6.87 6.87
130 George Kramer Lake Elsinore CA 6.84 6.84
131 Tony Lain Menifee CA 6.66 6.66
132 Kevin Stewart Elk Grove CA 6.47 6.47
133 Rick Clunn Ava MO 6.07 6.07
134 David Patrick San Jacinto CA 5.71 2.92 5.71
135 Keith Ferlanie Henderson NV 5.18 5.18
136 Bill Snyder Las Vegas NV 4.4 4.4
137 Cody Compton Palisade CO 4.37 4.37
138 John O’Brien Henderson NV 3.44 3.44
139 Oscar Torrado Mira Loma CA 2.91 2.91
140 Travis Richards Henderson NV 2.73 2.73
141 Paul Brockmann Lomita CA 2.11 2.11
142 Jeffery Klicka Brawley CA 2.06 2.06

2013 WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open
Day One AAA Standings

Place Name Hometown Weight Penalty Big Fish Total
1 Scott Palumbo Phoenix AZ 20.98 3.5 20.98
2 Robert Jeannotte Henderson NV 20.47 2.61 20.47
3 Ronald Cross Pahrump NV 19.38 19.38
4 Mike Hyland Lompoc CA 19.01 19.01
5 Charles Fleisher Las Vegas NV 19 3.42 19
6 Marty Rolph Paradise CA 18.48 2.31 18.48
7 Mark Dalton Fountain Hills AZ 18.37 3.15 18.37
8 Chris Beverly Mesa AZ 18.1 18.1
9 Shannon Henry Anthem AZ 17.82 17.82
10 Duane Mierop Escondido CA 17.74 17.74
11 Gabriel Diaz Nuevo CA 17.7 0.2 3.32 17.5
12 Vince Dwan Rancho Mirage CA 17.12 2.95 17.12
13 Todd Kline San Clemente CA 17.03 17.03
14 Doug Delgado West Lake Village CA 17.19 0.2 16.99
15 Bill Wentworth Dixon CA 16.99 0.2 16.79
16 Josh Paxton Spring Creek NV 16.7 16.7
17 Michael D. Sisco Henderson NV 16.65 1.71 16.65
18 Tim Irwin LaVerne CA 16.62 16.62
19 Steven Cook Phoeniz AZ 16.46 2.26 16.46
20 Coy Nelson Las Vegas NV 16.37 2.39 16.37
21 Ken Cates LaQuinta CA 16.31 16.31
22 Merlin Nunes Vacaville CA 16.3 3.12 16.3
23 Blaine Christiansen San Francisco CA 16.28 16.28
24 Bob Nokley Las Vegas NV 16.38 0.2 16.18
25 Chris Patek Chula Vista CA 16.16 2.85 16.16
26 Mark Torrez Camarillo CA 16.1 16.1
27 Duke Ayers Flagstaff AZ 16.09 16.09
28 R J Nevarez Bonsall CA 16.02 16.02
29 Eric Hammer Peoria AZ 16.13 0.2 2.38 15.93
30 Chuck Kavros Grass Valley CA 15.87 2.2 15.87
31 Conrad Demecs Scottsdale AZ 15.74 0.2 1.83 15.54
32 Robert Nicholson Grand Terrace CA 15.53 0.2 15.33
33 Allan Ruddock Klamath Falls OR 15.24 3.03 15.24
34 Chad May Mesa AZ 15.2 15.2
35 Allen Todd Gardnerville NV 15.1 15.1
36 Michael Bidak Pheniox AZ 15 3.79 15
37 Brian Pierce Colorado Springs CO 15.2 0.2 15
38 Tracy Purtee Payson AZ 15 15
39 Liz Jones Conoga Park CA 14.95 14.95
40 Stephen Foster Tazewell TN 14.85 14.85
41 Robert Jones Clayton CA 14.78 14.78
42 David Burrows Placentia CA 14.73 3.76 14.73
43 Andrew M. Schadegg Reno NV 14.65 14.65
44 Stephen Watte Calipatria CA 14.6 14.6
45 Barry Johnson Carson City NV 14.5 14.5
46 Erik Bomstad Temecula CA 14.48 14.48
47 James Broughton Henderson NV 14.33 14.33
48 Kevin Tucker Ontario OR 14.21 14.21
49 Robert Schneider Temecula CA 14.2 14.2
50 Andrew Moreau Satatoga Springs UT 14.06 2.44 14.06
51 Darian V. Stumpf Las Vegas NV 14.04 14.04
52 Oliver Merrick Carpinteria CA 13.93 13.93
53 Layne Gray Milford UT 13.92 13.92
54 Robert Rick Adams Signal Hills CA 13.81 13.81
55 Gerard Thomas Ralston WY 13.78 13.78
56 Tim S. Wells, Sr. Clovis CA 13.6 13.6
57 Paul H. Matthews Peoria AZ 13.74 0.2 1.75 13.54
58 Geoff Peterson Huntington Beach CA 13.34 13.34
59 Stephen Lamb Lakeside CA 13.26 13.26
60 Shawn Cooke Wilcox AZ 13.23 13.23
61 Edward Smith Blythe CA 13.17 13.17
62 Jess Torre Corona CA 13.16 13.16
63 Laythe Moore Banning CA 13.1 13.1
64 David Hudson Henderson NV 13.09 13.09
65 Matthew Rivera Aliso Viejo CA 13.05 2.79 13.05
66 James Cope Las Vegas NV 13.01 13.01
67 Rob Larson Fountain Green UT 13 13
68 Randy Okubo Evanston WY 13 2.06 13
69 Dale Howard Las Vegas NV 12.88 12.88
70 Norman Santos Rosamond CA 12.87 12.87
71 Carl Limbrick, Jr. Bonita CA 12.79 12.79
72 Bobby Steele Goodyear AZ 12.78 12.78
73 Steve Lindner Lake Havasu City AZ 12.74 12.74
74 Steve Amata East Vale CA 12.73 12.73
75 Bill Hart Temecula CA 12.63 1.98 12.63
76 David Bebawy Chandler AZ 12.41 12.41
77 Jason Swearengin Rancho Mirage CA 12.27 12.27
78 Craig Hammett Eagle ID 12.17 12.17
79 Tracy Smart Lake Havasu City AZ 12.15 12.15
80 Dante Ray Sparks NV 12.12 12.12
81 Troy Blankenship Orange CA 12.11 12.11
82 Seth Hausman Sandy UT 12.51 0.4 12.11
83 Brad Ankrum Grand Junction CO 11.99 11.99
84 Greg Galloway Valencia CA 11.97 11.97
85 Brent Benish San Diego CA 11.93 11.93
86 Kevin Gross Claremont CA 11.91 4.46 11.91
87 Jerome Peacock Visalia CA 11.83 11.83
88 Chris Martens Leeds AL 11.74 11.74
89 Chang Won Park Palmdale CA 11.74 11.74
90 Kirk Russell Payson AZ 12 0.4 11.6
91 Tim Demecs Pheonix AZ 11.59 11.59
92 Allison Shaw La Quinta CA 11.33 0.2 11.13
93 Mike Byrum Lakewood CA 11.28 0.2 2.84 11.08
94 Dave Kiesgen Peorea AZ 11.06 2.83 11.06
95 Dave Della Sparks NV 11.14 0.2 10.94
96 Andy Sanchez Antioch CA 10.85 10.85
97 Jason Caine Las Vegas NV 11.04 0.2 10.84
98 Bill Lansford Lake Havasu City AZ 10.51 10.51
99 Bob Keck Las Vegas NV 10.48 10.48
100 Daniel Bonaccorso Concord, Sydney, NSW 10.32 2.95 10.32
101 John D. Helm Tempe AZ 10.46 0.2 10.26
102 Gabriel Jones Granite Falls NC 10.14 10.14
103 Larry Triplett Aurora CO 10.24 0.2 2.73 10.04
104 Mona Dunlap Lake Arrowhead CA 9.85 9.85
105 Paul A. Williams Lake Havasu City AZ 9.79 9.79
106 Bryan Klem San Diego CA 9.76 9.76
107 Larry Holona Las Vegas NV 9.59 9.59
108 Brian Grizzle Dahlonega GA 9.98 0.4 3.32 9.58
109 Rick Melead Yorba Linda CA 9.49 0.2 9.29
110 Dan Cranston Visalia CA 9.15 9.15
111 Eddie Lero Bryan TX 9.11 9.11
112 Yasuhiro Okada Los Angeles CA 9.07 9.07
113 Bret Nagelhout Red Rock AZ 9.23 0.2 9.03
114 Carson Sims Boerne TX 8.91 8.91
115 Butch Nessline Peoria AZ 8.84 8.84
116 Vincent Alcantara Glendale AZ 8.83 8.83
117 Glenn Kierstead Coventry CT 8.75 8.75
118 Christian Borucki Scottsdale AZ 8.35 1.85 8.35
119 Dan Zehring Gilbert AZ 8.29 8.29
120 Paul Reutlinger West Jordan UT 8.03 8.03
121 Robert Lutes Saugus CA 7.92 7.92
122 Yoki Usuki 8 0.2 7.8
123 Phillip Hudnall Huntington Beach CA 7.72 7.72
124 Brian P. Day Rncho Snta Margarita CA 7.58 7.58
125 Brant List Huntington Beach CA 7.44 7.44
126 Sonny Gibson Las Vegas NV 7.35 7.35
127 Todd Dunlap Lake Arrowhead CA 7.34 7.34
128 Chris Mason South Gate CA 7.27 7.27
129 Szu Nien Yeh Las Vegas NV 7.13 7.13
130 Dave Cunningham Hawthorne CA 6.98 6.98
131 Andrew Napoleon Mesa AZ 6.65 6.65
132 Gunnar Stanton Boulder City NV 6.46 6.46
133 Rafael Gonzalez, Jr. Las Vegas NV 6.44 6.44
134 Ralph Wells Castaic CA 6.42 6.42
135 Mike Lepori Saint Helena CA 6.26 6.26
136 Patrick McLaren Las Vegas NV 6.31 0.2 6.11
137 Zach Holt 6.1 6.1
138 Mark Rauenzahn San Diego CA 6.05 6.05
139 Julius Mazy Phoenix AZ 5.97 5.97
140 Darin Guglielmo Santa Barbara CA 3.64 3.64
141 Tom Nguyen Lawndale CA 2.13 2.13
142 Dino Uwanawich Camarillo CA 0 0