LAUGHLIN, Nev. – For the second day in a row, the conditions for the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open were hot and slick. Temperatures pushing the 100-degree mark with very little breeze meant that anglers would likely find the setup similar to the first day, when the field presented nine limits that eclipsed 20 pounds and nearly 30 that topped 18.
Defending champion Kyle Grover set the pace on Day 1 with 22.15 pounds and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bryant Smith opened his tournament with 22.14 pounds. The two pacesetters employed different approaches, with Grover covering water and Smith working over one area for most of the day.
What effect the conditions and the heavy fishing pressure would have on the anglers’ ability to get consistent bites would have to be seen. What would also be a topic of discussion was if the leaders, who were both in the first flight on the opening day, would be able to get into their areas, or did they have enough water to adjust with being in the last flight on Day 2.
The answer to those questions is that both of the top anglers would perform well, but that they would flop positions. Smith leapt into the lead by posting a 21.70-pound limit to bring his total weight to 43.84 pounds, while Grover connected with a 19.73-pound creel to fall just less than 2 pounds behind his Northern California competitor at a total weight of 41.88 pounds.
Arkansas Bass Pro Tour angler Spencer Shuffield, competing in his third U.S. Open, caught 21.25 pounds to leap from 11th place after Day 1 into third place with 40.99 pounds. Josh Bertrand, who won the 2022 U.S. Open, caught a 19.45-pound limit to bring the Arizona pro’s two-day total to 40.16 pounds, good for fourth place. Julius Mazy, who won the Lake Mead Open last month, vaulted from 29th place to 5th as the Arizona pro crushed a 22.18-pound limit, the heaviest of the event thus far, to bring his total weight to 40.03.
Bryant said he fished isolated targets using his Lowrance Active Target II and a dropshot presentation.
“I was able to keep using the program I did yesterday and catch about the same weight I did yesterday,” he said. “With the slick conditions, I decided that finesse fishing would be the best approach and I’m using my Lew’s Custom Lite reel and Alpha Angler DSR spinning rod, 6-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon and a dropshot Strike King Half Shell. It’s been my go-to smallmouth setup for a long time; I’m going with my confidence approach.”
Bryant reported catching 20 keepers on Day 2 and feels optimistic about the concluding round.
“I feel like I have enough water to have the right moves tomorrow and I have a backup plan if the winds pick up, so I’m looking forward to the final day,” he said. “I’m entering the final day in the lead of the U.S. Open and as a Western angler, winning this tournament is something I’ve dreamt of for a long time.”
Grover reported having a better overall day of fish-catching than he did on Day 1, but found his quality harder to locate.
“I probably culled three 17-pound limits today, but I was only able to bring two 4-pounders to the scales,” he said. “I did cost my partner a big one this morning – I tied a new leader on his spinning gear, and he hooked a big one and broke it off, so I tied a bad knot. It’s my fault, but that probably cost me a pound by the end of the day.”
He said he feels relaxed going into the final day, even with the possibility of repeating as champion.
“I know the pressure of going out in the lead after last year so I will go out there tomorrow with less pressure on me,” he said. “I feel pretty comfortable because I'm using both finesse- and power-fishing patterns, so whatever the wind does, I feel like I’ll be okay.”
Here's a look at the Top 10 with one day remaining:
1. Bryant Smith 43.84
2. Kyle Grover: 41.88
3. Spencer Shuffield: 40.99
4. Josh Bertrand: 40.16
5. Julius Macy: 40.03
6. Cody Steckel: 39.38
7. Levi Samz: 38.84
8. Joe Uribe Jr.: 38.73
9. Chris Zaldain: 38.39
10. Shane Edgar: 37.85
