Chase Clarke Wins Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill
EVANS, Ga. — Chase Clarke showcased a winning strategy in the weather-shortened St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir, presented by SEVIIN, with a two-day total of 47 pounds, 7 ounces. This victory secured his spot in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic, provided he competes in the final three tournaments of Division I.
The 2022 Auburn University graduate achieved his win by targeting larger largemouth bass, catching three over 6 pounds during the event. His efforts on Day 1 yielded a 25-14 limit, followed by a 21-9 bag on Day 2. These results gave him a 6-pound lead over second-place angler Blaine Bunney.
“I caught the right ones, but they were frustrating. They were so hard to catch,” Clarke said. “I figured I would only catch 10 or 11 bass a day, and I figured if I did that, I would have a good bag. Both days I happened to catch 6-pounders. I couldn’t have drawn it up any better.”
Clarke reflected on his win with gratitude, comparing it to a missed opportunity four tournaments ago at Leech Lake, where he finished third. “This is a win of a lifetime and one I will never forget. I will always cherish this.”
Overcoming Challenges at Clarks Hill
The tournament faced unique challenges, starting with frigid temperatures and a winter storm earlier in the week. Snowfall forced the postponement of Day 1 and reduced the event to two days. Despite these conditions, Clarke’s strategy of targeting ditches and brushpiles paid off.
Each morning, Clarke fished ditches on the Georgia side of the lake, transitioning to brushpiles on the South Carolina side in the afternoons. His success came from focusing on depths of 35 feet or less, where he located largemouth bass associated with blueback herring.
“They would push up way shallow in the backs of the ditches in the mornings, and then in the afternoons I was catching them in brushpiles,” Clarke said. “It didn’t matter how deep the brushpile was, it just mattered where it was. And the brush had to have blueback herring around it.”
Clarke used a Greenfish Tackle Bad Little Shad jighead paired with a Fluke-style bait, adjusting jighead sizes but consistently using a 3/0 hook to secure his catches.
Key Moments in the Tournament
While Clarke didn’t initially expect to win, he identified a significant group of largemouth during practice, including a “magic brushpile” that played a pivotal role.
“I caught a 6-pounder out of it the first day of practice, and I could see there were four more in there,” Clarke said. Returning on Day 1, he caught another after 30 minutes, leaving three fish. Although the bass were gone the next morning, a well-timed cast to feeding fish in a ditch resulted in a crucial 6-2 largemouth that anchored his Day 2 bag.
A defining moment came mid-morning on Day 2 when Clarke landed a 5-10 largemouth that secured his victory. “If it is your time to win, things happen that don’t happen every day,” he said.
Strong Performances from the Field
Blaine Bunney finished second with a two-day total of 41-4 in his first Bassmaster Open. He relied on a Spro RkCrawler crankbait and a Queen Tackle Tungsten jighead with a Yum Houdini Shad to target bass on a rocky point in 17 feet of water. A creek channel adjacent to the point provided optimal conditions for his presentations.
“We had no wind this morning. I mean, it was absolute glass, and that had everything screwed up,” Bunney noted.
Lucas Lindsay, another Auburn graduate, placed third with a total of 39-14. Lindsay’s Day 2 efforts, including a 23-14 limit anchored by the tournament’s Big Bass at 7-5, propelled him up the leaderboard. He focused on brushpiles, rockpiles, and trashpiles in the Little River, utilizing a Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ and a CrushCity Mooch Minnow rigged on an Echo Bait Company jighead.
Division I Standings and Beyond
Anglers earned valuable points towards the Division I standings, with the top 50 advancing to the Elite Qualifier round at Lake Champlain in September. Visit Columbia County proudly hosted the event, adding to the excitement of the shortened but fiercely competitive tournament.
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
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About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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