In a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 WON BASS Winter Open, Garrett Ellenson from Nine Mile Falls, Washington, claimed victory at Clear Lake after a remarkable final day. Having maintained a strong presence in second place throughout the competition, Ellenson's strategic approach paid off handsomely as he captured the championship title with a total weight of 98.37 pounds over three days.
Ellenson positioned himself well from the outset, starting strong on Day 1 with five bass weighing in at 32.08 pounds, just trailing Day 1 leader Mark Cobey by about two pounds. He continued to hold onto second place on the second day with a total of 33.76 pounds, setting the stage for a competitive finale.
As the competition progressed into the final day, Ellenson found himself in a tight race, trailing new leader Vance Hayes by less than two pounds. However, the leaderboard shifted significantly on the final day, with Phillip Makin momentarily taking the lead before Ellenson made his bid for the title.
To secure the win, Ellenson needed 26.55 pounds on the last day. He exceeded that necessity, producing a weight of 32.53 pounds, which included an 8.98-pound bass that proved crucial to his victory. "I just focused on executing my plan throughout the tournament," said Ellenson, expressing his satisfaction with the outcome.
The competition was notably intense, with the lead changing hands multiple times as anglers weighed in. Mason McAbee initially held the lead with the largest bag of the tournament at 37.73 pounds but lost ground to Joe Uribe Jr., who staged an impressive comeback. Uribe Jr. had a rocky start, finishing Day 1 in 26th place with a mere 14.63 pounds. However, he stunned the crowd by shooting up to 7th place on Day 2 with a hefty 36.79-pound bag, culminating his performance in the final day with a substantial 37.08-pound catch, including a significant 9.71-pound kicker. "I dug myself in a hole on Day 1, and I feel truly blessed to have had back-to-back phenomenal days," said Uribe Jr., reflecting on his journey throughout the competition.
After Uribe Jr.'s strong finish, Phillip Makin found himself surpassing the weight necessary to rise to the top before Ellenson finalized his catch. The excitement in the weigh-in area was palpable, with anglers anxiously waiting to see if Ellenson could capture the championship. Ultimately, he rose to the occasion and secured his place in WON BASS history.
Garrett Ellenson's triumph was not only marked by his catch but also came with impressive prizes, including a new Ranger Z518 boat powered by a 150-horsepower Mercury ProXS outboard, valued at $55,000, along with $3,000 for his win and an additional $500 for the Big Bass on the final day.
This year's WON BASS Winter Open at Clear Lake is characterized by intense competition and resilience, as encapsulated by the performances of standout anglers like Ellenson and Uribe Jr. Looking ahead, the next event on the horizon is the Clear Lake Open, scheduled for April 16-18, which promises to continue the tradition of exhilarating bass fishing contests. As the bass fishing community anticipates this upcoming competition, the memory of the Winter Open will certainly linger, celebrating anglers who overcome challenges and push for victory on the water.
