Tosh Wins 2018 US Open on Lake Mead

When the first day of the 2018 WON Bass U.S. Open concluded, Jason Borofka’s 13.84 pounds held little more than a half pound lead over Bub Tosh’s 13.20 pounds.  With the first day having been cancelled due to extreme winds causing unsafe conditions, the shortened event became more of a shootout with the anglers competing for two days instead of three.

The stiff winds continued into the following day, and anglers found that they had to adjust to the conditions.  As can happen during bass fishing tournaments, the conditions made a complete 180-degree turn, and the final day brought high skies, light winds with very little surface disturbance. 

While the conditions didn’t make for a typical power fishing bite, Tosh managed to ride a Double Soft Jerkbait rig in the Vegas Wash and produce enough quality bites to post an 11.74-pound limit to close out the victory in the weather shortened 2018 WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Bass Cat Boats and Mercury Marine with a two-day total weight of 24.94.

Tosh said he employed a method he learned from Lake Mead and Western bass fishing legend Pat Donoho when he was a kid.  “I talked to my dad when I came down here and he reminded me of how Pat prepared for this event, and that was to look for bait,” he said.  “I spent my whole practice period driving around and looking for clouds of baitfish; and I spent the whole tournament fishing in those few areas.”

He said he caught the primarily on a pair of Yamamoto D Shad soft jerkbaits in shad colors rigged on an 7’ medium heavy IRod AIR Series casting rod.  The key was a special swivel that he is developing for Paycheck Baits.  “The swivel helps me cast the rig without it getting me tangled, it is a very important part of the rig,” he said.  “I threw it around shallow grass and rocks in the Vegas Wash, and the current in the back of it was very important factor as well.”

Tosh takes home a 2018 Bass Cat Puma FTD powered by a Mercury 250ProXS rigged with Lowrance Electronics and MotorGuide Trolling Motor valued at $64,000 and $52,000 cash plus bonuses to bring his total earnings for the event to over $116,000.

Nick Salvucci, who has won on Lake Mead in the past, started day two in 11th place with 11.41 pounds, posted 12.89 to leap all the way to second place with 24.30; his second top five in a row.  Salvucci said that he caught his fish in the Overton Arm on bladed jigs and buzz baits.  But, he said that he was a little disappointed overall.  “I didn’t come here for another top five, I came here to win this event,” he said.  “I’m not happy with a second place finish, but I did all I could do, and this is how this sport goes.  I wish I could have done a little more, but I’ll take the finish and let it drive me for next year.”  Salvucci takes home $21,600 for his efforts.

The AAA Division was won by Oklahoma’s Matt Pangrac; who works for U.S. Open broadcast partner BASSZONE.com.  He practiced with fellow Soomer State pro Bradley Hallman, and drew Salvucci and Arizona’s Matt Shura, and thanked them all profusely.  “We all meshed really well and got into a rhythm,” he said.  “I had a great time, and learned a lot.  This is a great event, and because of my Pro partners and my boss Mark Jeffreys who allowed me the time to fish it, I was able to do something I would have never imagined; I can’t believe I won the U.S. Open.”  Pangrac earned $10,600 for his tournament.

Complete final standings can be found below.

-Dan O’Sullivan

2018 WON Bass U.S. Open Final Pro Standings

Place

Name

Hometown

Big Fish

Total

1

Steve Tosh, Jr.

Modesto CA

3.91

24.94

2

Nick Salvucci

Paso Robles CA

4.05

24.30

3

Jason Borofka

Salinas CA

3.79

22.68

4

Kurt Dove

Del Rio TX

22.08

5

Scott Helleson

Whittier CA

3.22

21.37

6

Kevin Short

Mayflower AR

4.14

21.14

7

Todd Woods

Los Angeles CA

2.73

20.91

8

Chase Colby

Heber City UT

20.27

9

Kevin Finley

Phoenix AZ

3.13

20.21

10

Randy Blaukat

Joplin MO

3.74

20.05

11

Bill O’Shinn

Bakersfield CA

19.68

12

Michael Crowther

Page AZ

19.67

13

Bill Brown

Grand Junction CO

3.96

19.66

14

Steve Kennedy

Auburn AL

19.63

15

Matt Stefan

Junction City WI

3.41

19.58

16

Kona Borja

Henderson NV

3.60

19.40

16

Chris Zaldain

San Jose CA

2.82

19.40

18

Ricky Shabazz

La Mesa CA

3.22

19.35

19

Bradley Hallman

Norman OK

19.33

20

Tommy Jonovich

Phoenix AZ

3.65

19.31

21

Greg Miser

La Mesa CA

19.24

22

David Kemper

Tempe AZ

18.95

23

Matt Shura

Gilbert AZ

18.47

24

Roy Hawk

Lake Havasu City AZ

3.25

18.40

25

Sean Coffey

Mesa AZ

3.04

18.17

26

Randy Estrada, M.D.

Corona CA

3.32

18.15

27

Justin Hanold

Poway CA

17.98

28

Shannon Abbott

Oceanside CA

3.70

17.88

29

Doug Gaskill

Las Vegas NV

17.80

30

Ken Mah

Elk Grove CA

2.95

17.75

31

Scooter Griffith

Mesa AZ

17.74

31

Rich Vincent

Wildomar CA

2.40

17.74

33

Joe Patz

Surprise AZ

17.69

34

Kyle Grover

Trabuco Canyon CA

17.61

35

Matthew Williams

Lake Havasu City AZ

3.91

17.60

36

Clayton Eslick

Gilroy CA

2.92

17.53

37

Aaron Martens

Leeds AL

17.52

38

Jess Torre

Riverside CA

17.46

39

Chris Kinley

Lake Havasu City AZ

17.38

40

Tom Leedom

Escondido CA

17.32

41

Bryan Grier

Salinas CA

17.30

42

Luke Clausen

Oakdale CA

17.16

42

John Mackey

Boulder City NV

17.16

44

Julius Mazy

Phoenix AZ

17.11

45

Tyler Rempe

Sierra Vista AZ

2.90

17.08

46

Mike Wood

Bayfield CO

2.45

17.00

47

Michael McLernon

Oceanside CA

16.93

48

Clayton Meyer

Henderson NV

3.02

16.89

49

Tai Au

Glendale AZ

2.48

16.67

50

Johnny Johnson

Lakeside AZ

16.62

50

Justin Kerr

Simi Valley CA

16.62

52

Tom Lowery

Lakeside CA

16.60

53

Tim Price

Glendale AZ

16.55

54

Guy Savidan

NORCO CA

16.50

54

Jerren Slaton

Afton TX

16.50

56

John Stewart

Peoria AZ

4.06

16.39

57

Travis Jewell

Sandy UT

16.37

58

Dan Merchant

Canyon Lake CA

3.02

16.33

59

Rusty Salewske

Alpine CA

16.30

60

Richard Garcia

Beaumont CA

16.29

61

Kevin Caruso

Glendale AZ

16.22

62

Scott Frazier

El Cajon CA

16.20

63

Todd Holverson

San Diego CA

2.85

16.16

64

John Morrow

Brea CA

16.14

65

Todd Kline

San Clemente CA

16.12

66

Kevin Wiggins

Las Vegas NV

16.10

67

Jay Guterding

Redding CA

16.04

68

Joe Uribe, Jr.

Surprise AZ

16.02

69

Mike Peterson

Valley Center CA

15.96

70

Todd Herman

Gilbert AZ

15.93

71

Matthew Luna

Santee CA

15.92

71

Dick Watson

Alta Loma CA

15.92

73

Brent Shores

Boise ID

15.87

74

Michael Phua

Chino CA

15.84

75

Bryant Smith

Castro Valley CA

15.83

76

Adam Hinkle

San Diego CA

15.79

77

Jason Hickey

Weiser ID

15.78

78

Paul Hodges

Glendale AZ

15.77

79

Cody Spetz

Menifee CA

3.24

15.62

80

Mike Brillhart

Waddell AZ

2.35

15.60

81

Keegan Graves

Meridian ID

3.95

15.59

82

Tyler Brinks

Spokane WA

15.54

82

Don Iglinski

Henderson NV

3.31

15.54

84

Patrick Touey

Nipomo CA

2.73

15.51

85

Thomas Wennerlund

Queen Creek AZ

15.50

86

James Salazar

Las Vegas NV

15.49

87

Noah Cook

Lancaster CA

15.45

88

Jeff Martineau

Phoenix AZ

15.44

89

Mark Dotterer

Phoenix AZ

15.42

90

Chris Bozarth

Henderson NV

3.34

15.38

91

Andrew Napoleon

Mesa AZ

15.28

92

Tom Ormsby

Parowan UT

15.25

93

Dylan Maxon

Phoenix AZ

15.23

94

Brett Hite

Phoenix AZ

2.35

15.17

95

Gerard Thomas

Ralston WY

2.10

15.11

96

Raymond Archer

Greeley CO

3.81

15.08

96

Tony Lain

Lake Havasu City AZ

15.08

98

Ben Byrd

Moab UT

15.07

99

Carlos Garcia

Murrieta CA

3.14

15.03

100

Jim Moynagh

Carver MN

14.95

101

Carl Limbrick, Jr.

Bonita CA

3.49

14.79

102

Chad Randles

Elkhorn NE

3.14

14.77

103

Laythe Moore

Banning CA

14.73

104

Mike Powell

Lake Havasu City AZ

14.71

104

Derek Spetz

Menifee CA

14.71

106

Mitch Southern

Yucaipa CA

14.69

107

Wade Strelic

El Cajon CA

14.57

108

Cliff King

Ione CA

14.55

109

Jeremy Fasuga

Peoria AZ

14.41

110

Anthony Salazar

Pahrunp NV

14.40

111

Jamie Shaw

Coolidge AZ

14.39

112

Jay Wright

Seal Beach CA

3.83

14.22

113

Mark Rauenzahn

San Diego CA

14.21

114

Dung Van Vu

Paramount CA

2.22

14.20

115

Bobby Lanham

Cave Creek AZ

3.18

14.19

116

Jason Bradshaw

Sacramento CA

2.82

14.16

116

Mike Simon

Henderson NV

14.16

118

Tyler Bailey

Logandale NV

14.14

119

Mike Williams

Mesa AZ

14.13

120

Jonathan Schuyler

Henderson NV

14.09

121

Rodney Reed

Chelan WA

14.02

122

Pete Marino

Moreno Valley CA

14.01

123

Jordan Collom

Temecula CA

14.00

124

Mark Williams

Lake Havasu City AZ

13.98

125

David Baca

Prescott Valley AZ

13.96

126

Jim Hawkes

Apache Junction AZ

3.07

13.91

127

Jason Haley

Medford OR

13.86

128

Gabe Thomas

Tuscon AZ

13.73

129

Paul Tassie

Lake Havasu City AZ

2.38

13.70

130

John Zeolla

Oak Park CA

13.61

131

Jim Wells

New Plymouth ID

13.54

132

Douglas Jones

North Las vegas NV

13.50

133

Fred Proudfoot

Kingman AZ

2.39

13.43

134

Dustin Remy

Lake Havasu City AZ

13.40

135

Andy Manahl

Mesa AZ

13.37

136

Kevin Hugo

Canyon Lake CA

13.21

137

Vince Borges

Salida CA

13.13

138

Mike Rennie

Pioche NV

2.05

13.09

139

Andrew Upshaw

Tulsa OK

13.08

140

Morizo Shimizu

Osaka JP

2.56

13.05

141

Hobby Nelson

Peoria AZ

13.03

142

Gary Robbins

Burbank CA

12.89

143

Gary Moore

Hemet CA

12.79

144

Matt Raynor

Henderson NV

1.80

12.59

145

Ryan Yamagata

Las Vegas NV

2.09

12.57

146

Billy Hines

Vacaville CA

12.53

147

Ray Arbesu

Henderson NV

12.50

148

Vince Gennaro

Henderson NV

12.47

149

Jim Elliott

Redding CA

12.41

150

Kyle Richins

Washington UT

12.22

151

Tim Rath

Lake Havasu City AZ

12.18

152

Justin Patti

Phoenix AZ

12.14

153

Vern Ridgway

Chandler AZ

11.94

154

Daniel Devries

Page AZ

11.93

155

Sheldon Collings

Grove OK

11.90

156

Miles Howe

San Juan Capistrano CA

11.83

157

Kazuki Kodama

Tokyo Japan

11.78

158

Eddie Lero

Bryan TX

11.77

159

Ryan Chambers

Chandler AZ

11.72

159

Steve Molinari

Waddell AZ

11.72

161

Jimmy Reese

Ukiah CA

11.64

162

Keith Diffey

Elk Grove CA

11.62

163

Louis Fernandes

Santa Maria CA

11.58

164

Jim McLaughlin

Bakersfield CA

11.56

165

Garrett Howard

Riverside CA

11.54

165

Miles Peshlakai

Las Vegas NV

11.54

167

Jordon Erekson

Apache Junction AZ

2.84

11.50

168

Brian Tressen

Corona CA

11.48

169

Jeff Van Nimwegen

Menifee CA

11.46

170

Shane Spinning

Canyon Lake CA

11.42

171

Russ Barger

Boise ID

11.36

172

Mike Walsh

El Cajon CA

11.35

172

Benjamin Green

Pasadena CA

11.35

174

Steve Gibson

Las Vegas NV

11.28

175

Onelio J. Silva

Las Vegas NV

11.21

176

Stephen Tauriello

Las Vegas CA

2.17

11.10

177

Shane Edgar

Glendale AZ

10.91

178

Ken Whalen

Lompoc CA

10.89

179

Clifford Pirch

Payson AZ

10.81

180

Murray White

Glendale AZ

10.73

181

James Broughton

Henderson NV

10.69

182

Nathan Foreman

Queen Creek AZ

10.65

183

Brent James

St George UT

10.61

184

Steve Lund

Glendale AZ

10.54

185

Danny Clark

San Tan Valley AZ

10.48

186

Shaun Bailey

Lake Havasu City AZ

10.37

187

Gary Freeman

Sun City AZ

10.29

188

Kirk McKinney

Phoenix AZ

10.08

188

Trait Zaldain

Fort Worth TX

3.56

10.08

190

Tim Klinger

Boulder City NV

9.82

191

Justin Ramsay

Peoria AZ

9.78

192

Tom Nokes

Riverton UT

9.77

193

Jiggs Benn

Myrtle Creek OR

9.73

194

Ellison Hubbard

LAS VEGAS NV

9.70

195

Ron Hammett

La Mesa CA

9.57

196

Scott Davis

Preston ID

9.35

197

Rod Wynn

Inglewood CA

9.15

198

Jason Swim

Peoria AZ

9.02

199

John Basmadjian

Fullerton CA

8.81

200

Robert Sedillo, Jr.

Chino CA

8.48

201

Cy Floyd

Spokane WA

8.26

202

Greg Espinoza

Henderson NV

2.52

8.09

203

Jeff Hudson

Las Vegas NV

7.98

204

Matt Massey

Littleton CO

7.85

205

Trace Myers

Santaquin CA

7.80

206

Eddie Rodriguez

Lakewood CO

7.67

207

Aaron Britt

Yuba City CA

7.32

208

Patrick Whitaker

Gilbert AZ

7.17

209

David Davis

Big Piney WY

7.13

210

Sam Rosefsky

Morris IL

7.04

211

Mike Crothers

Chandler AZ

6.87

212

Kenneth Cates

Suncity West AZ

6.85

213

Zack Holwerda

Maricopa AZ

6.72

214

Greg Garcia

Cibola AZ

6.49

215

Elliott Holsbo

Lakeside CA

6.36

216

Joey Letsinger

Wilton CA

6.06

217

George Kramer

Lake Elsinore CA

5.83

218

Dusty Kahler

Paso Robles CA

4.94

219

Allen Clark

Florence AZ

4.43

220

Delaney Dwyer

Scottsdale AZ

3.80

221

Kyle Coppinger

Pheonix AZ

3.30

222

Brett Leber

Dixon CA

2.68

223

Robert Ostercamp

Chandler AZ

2.20

224

Ed Webb

Stanwood WA

1.31

2018 WON Bass U.S. Open Final AAA Standings

Place

Name

Hometown

Big Fish

Total

1

Matt Pangrac

Broken Arrow OK

3.50

21.78

2

Scott Robertson

Norco CA

4.30

21.16

3

Larry White

Sun City AZ

2.72

21.00

4

Kelly Burns

Avondale AZ

1.82

20.99

5

Steve Pectol

Las Vegas NV

3.12

20.61

6

David Peltier

Henderson NV

2.79

20.14

7

William McAninch

CARSON CA

20.12

8

Bobby Hamner

Phenix AZ

3.30

20.11

9

Rick Cofield

Las Vegas NV

2.87

19.85

10

Wade Goodwin

Wilson CA

19.57

11

Mike McCrossen

Bakersfield CA

1.95

19.37

12

Shawn Carnahan

Gilbert AZ

2.86

19.26

13

Brian Eslick

Gilroy CA

3.77

19.12

14

Ryan Borba

Atascadero CA

3.37

19.09

15

Byron Steed

Downey ID

18.87

16

Randy Droll

Apache Junction AZ

5.23

18.81

17

Jake Back

Mesa AZ

4.26

18.73

18

Todd Anderson

Surprise AZ

18.52

19

Chuck Kavros

Grass Valley CA

18.45

20

Shawn Cooley

Qual Valley CA

2.02

18.40

21

Cole Wright

Alpine CA

2.87

18.30

22

David Swendseid

Bend OR

2.79

18.15

23

Nathan Cummings

Peoria AZ

18.05

24

Randall Bruce

Las Vegas NV

3.09

17.91

25

Jordan Schwartzkopf

Peoria AZ

2.35

17.81

26

Tony Neal

Australia

17.78

27

Preston Smith

Cave Creek AZ

17.69

28

Coy Mott

Fruitland ID

17.68

29

Zach Holt

Las Vegas NV

17.63

29

John Tubbs

Oxnard CA

17.63

31

Brian Senter

Tucson AZ

17.56

32

Gabriel Jones

Henderson NV

2.61

17.49

33

Russell Leise

Beaverton OR

2.86

17.47

34

Sam Piacenza

Las Vegas NV

17.45

35

Hermie Romero

Las Vegas NV

2.85

17.40

36

Keith Gunsauls

El Cajon CA

17.32

37

Brett Posladek

Valley Center CA

2.16

17.27

38

Terry Stark

Georgetown TX

2.51

17.23

39

Hector Gracia

Poway CA

2.30

17.19

40

James Ochs

Scottsdale AZ

17.17

40

Michael Powell

Fort Mohave AZ

2.00

17.17

42

Tom Karavites

Payson AZ

17.13

43

Rusty Rath

Page AZ

17.12

44

Kevin Gross

Claremont CA

17.11

45

Kevin McBean

Shafter CA

17.09

46

Mike Gowey

Snowflake AZ

17.06

47

Glenn Wyatt

Fremont CA

17.02

48

Rachel Uribe

Long Beach CA

16.91

49

Michael Renteria

El Mirage AZ

16.87

50

Brian P. Day

Rancho SM CA

2.51

16.84

50

Thomas D. White, Jr.

Costa Mesa CA

16.84

52

Josh Kimmel

Colorado Springs CO

16.77

53

Patrick McLaren

Las Vegas NV

2.79

16.72

53

Brian Reaves

Covina CA

16.72

55