Cliff Pirch captures 2007 U.S. Open with 29.81 pounds
LAS VEGAS--Clifford Pirch wavered slightly on the final day but he had enough to earn his first U.S. Open title, finishing with 29.81 pounds, taking the $150,000 top prize which included $70,000 in cash, a Ford F150 pickup plus a Ranger Z21 bass boat, with Mercury 225 Pro XS outboard.
"We left the door a little bit open," said Pirch as he weighed in during the early flights. While he caught many of his fish on topwater, he found himself relying on a variety of methods to catch his total weight, plus his Wednesday sack of 8.14 pounds.
"I had 12 rods on my deck," he said of the final day as he fished with AAA partner Chuck Harney of San Diego.
Still, his closest competitors could not close the gap as temperatures rose to 107 degrees on a windless day.
Shaun Bailey of Lake Havasu City posted 9.07 pounds on Wednesday and finished with 25.95 pounds. He used a topwater bait most of the week, but relied on plastic worms and a spinnerbait to complete his catch.
Jamie Cyphers of Cedar City, Utah slipped from second to third place after weighing 7.13 pounds on the final day for a total of 25.64 pounds. He fished a topwater bait all three days as well, but was obviously affected by the weather.
"I'm so glad you only have this tournament once a year in the summer," he said. Still he confirmed, "It's a blast."
Mitch Southern of San Bernardino, California held on to his fourth place spot gained Tuesday with an 11.11-pound sack. He came into day with 8.16 pounds, topped by a 2.69-pound smallmouth that came on a drop-shot worm and finished with 25.59 pounds.
In fifth place it was Justin Kerr of Simi Valley, Calif. who weighed 9.75 pounds today and finished with a total of 25.45 pounds.
Taking the AAA division was Kenneth Cobb of Orange, Calif. who finished with 26.10 pounds. He helped his own cause by catching a 5.66-pound largemouth, the biggest of the tournament. That fish alone earned him a TYM tractor valued at $16,000.
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