Clement clears second Clear Lake title - Major League Fishing

Clement clears second Clear Lake title

Californian dominates Co-angler Division with almost 81 pounds
Image for Clement clears second Clear Lake title
Kyle Clement of Anderson, Calif., caught 17-14 Saturday and dominated the Co-angler Division with a four-day total of 80-15. Photo by Jeff Schroeder. Angler: Kyle Clement.
April 28, 2007 • Jeff Schroeder • Archives

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Catching a four-day weight that would have nearly top-10ed in the Pro Division, Kyle Clement of Anderson, Calif., came out with guns blazing once again at Clear Lake to dominate the Co-angler Division and win the Stren Series Western Division title with a total weight of 80 pounds, 15 ounces.

This was the second Clear Lake title for Clement, who earned $5,000 and a new Ranger boat for the effort this week. He last won here in 2005.

“I had an awesome day today,” he said. “I had a great pro (winner Jared Stone), and I caught a lot of fish, probably 30 or 40.”

Truth be told, Clement had an awesome week. He caught two limits over 20 pounds – Wednesday and Friday – and his 17-14 limit Friday was his lightest of the tournament.

Still, his near-81-pound overall effort was the third-heaviest four-day total ever posted by an FLW Outdoors co-angler, and it was just under 4 pounds less than the 10th-place weight in the Pro Division at Clear Lake.

Co-angler Kyle Clement of Anderson, Calif., won his second Clear Lake Stren Series trophy in 2007.Most importantly, it was more than 4 1/2 pounds heavier than second-place co-angler Steve Ericksen’s final weight of 76 pounds, 4 ounces.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Clement said. “I came down and put some time on the water before the tournament. I was going for the win, and I got lucky.”

Clement made his own luck this week, fishing big when many others fished small. He threw a big Osprey swimbait for most of the first three days and was versatile enough to switch over to a drop-shot on Saturday when the sight-fishing conditions demanded it.

“I had a really good pro,” he said about Stone. “If I saw a good fish on a bed, he’d stop and let me fish for it.”

Co-angler Steve Ericksen of San Jose, Calif., finished second with a total weight of 76-4. He caught 21-7 Saturday.Rest of the best

Ericksen, who hails from San Jose, Calif., had the best day on the co-angler side with 21 pounds, 7 ounces. His final total of 76-4 earned him $3,836.

“I just kept a spinning rod in my hands and was finessing it with light line,” said Ericksen, who threw trick worms most of the week.

Co-angler Gary Haraguchi of Brentwood, Calif., finished third with a 76-1 total. He caught 20-9 Saturday.Gary Haraguchi of Brentwood, Calif., finished third for the co-anglers with a four-day total of 76 pounds, 1 ounce. He earned $3,117.

Co-angler Andy Scholz of Reno, Nev., finished fourth with a total of 74 pounds, 1 ounce. He collected $2,398.

Roy Desmangles Jr. of Lincoln, Calif., rounded out the top five co-anglers with a four-day total of 72 pounds, 2 ounces. He collected $1,919 for fifth place.

Rounding out the top 10 Co-angler Division finishers at Clear Lake:

6th: Zachary Holwerda of Cave Creek, Calif., 71-10, $1,822

7th: Tracy Phillips of Frankfort, Ky., 71-2, $1,727

8th: Taylor Parsons of Sutter Creek, Calif., 68-6, $1,631

9th: Bruce McCune of Anderson, Calif., 67-8, $1,534

10th: J.R. Wright of Truckee, Calif., 66-13, $1,439

All of the co-angler finalists caught five-bass limits.

Coming up

The next Stren Series event is a Central Division contest at Kentucky Lake near Benton, Ky., May 2-5.

The next Western Division tournament is the fourth and final event of the season. It will be held at the California Delta near Oakley, Calif., May 16-19.