LAKEPORT, Calif. – April 11, 2025 – The waters of Clear Lake witnessed a historic moment as pro angler John Pearl captured the title at the 2025 WON Bass Clear Lake Open, tallying a stunning three-day weight of 102.81 pounds. This achievement not only secured him the win but also established a new record for the event, leaving competitors in awe of his skill.
Pearl, a renowned figure in the angling community and a well-known guide on Clear Lake, took the lead during the second day of the tournament with a weight of 67.31 pounds. On the final day, he added 35.50 pounds to his total, solidifying his position at the top.
In recognition of his exceptional performance, Pearl was awarded a comprehensive prize package exceeding $72,000. "I’m absolutely excited about this," said Pearl. "Today was a long, stressful day." He elaborated on his gripping final hours, reflecting on an intense moment where he needed just one more quality catch to secure his victory. "I had 34 pounds in the livewell at about 3:00 and I told my AAA that we needed one more seven-pounder; I caught a 6.85 moments later and culled up to this final weight – then I just took a slow ride to Library Park to protect my fish."
Pearl's winning strategy hinged on precise fishing techniques, utilizing his Forward Facing Sonar to locate bait balls at depths ranging from 25 to 30 feet in the mid-lake area around Konocti. To entice the fish, he used a Bass Union Jighead paired with Sakamata Shads in Golden Shiner and Reservoir Shad colors. "Most of my fish came deep, except for my two biggest on the final two days," he noted. "I caught my biggest one today blind casting the Sakamata Shad under a dock, and my biggest yesterday came on a GCJ Customs 13-inch glide bait. Those fish were crucial to my finish obviously, but I caught most of them on my deep stuff. I am thrilled to be standing here in front of my wife, family and friends with this trophy."
On the gear side of things, Pearl utilized a 6’10” Douglas Outdoors X Matrix 6103XF spinning rod along with a 2500 size Shimano Sustain spinning reel. His line setup featured 10-pound-test Power Pro Super Slick 8 braid and an 8-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon leader, proving effective in his impressive undertaking.
Finishing in second place was Nathan Phillips from Cobb, California, a seasoned competitor who previously claimed victory at the same event in 2023. Phillips weighed in at 101.33 pounds, starting the final day in second place with 65.12 pounds before adding a 36.21-pound limit to his total. This strong finish earned him a commendable $13,400 prize.
Phillips employed a shifting strategy throughout the tournament, initially targeting sunning fish along long stretches of docks in the Rattlesnake arm but pivoted to deeper fishing as conditions changed. "I was fishing the Highway 20 side around Kona Tayee for suspended fish in 8 to 15 feet of water," he stated, detailing his approach with various jighead sizes paired with a 5-inch ZMan Jerk Shad in Electric Shad color. The adaptability in his strategy underscored the challenges and unpredictabilities of the tournament.
As the event wrapped up, the excitement and competitiveness among the anglers were palpable. With Pearl's record-setting performance and Phillips’ strong showing, the 2025 WON Bass Clear Lake Open concluded with remarkable displays of skill and strategy from the participants, setting the stage for what could be a thrilling future in competitive fishing at Clear Lake.