Hollister's Grier wins MLF pro crown

CLEARLAKE >> Bryan Grier of Hollister won the pro division of the Toyota Series/ Major League Fishing proam held last week on Clear Lake.

Based out of Redbud Park in Clearlake, the tournament opened Thursday and wrapped up Saturday. Grier caught five-fish limits each day to finish with 58 pounds, 5 ounces and win the first prize of $25,129. The top 10 finishers on the pro side included many of the top fishermen in the nation and all of them brought 50-plus pounds to the weigh scale.

Joshua Adams of Cloverdale came in second with 55-12 ($9,738), Kyle Grover of Rancho Santa Margarita was third with 54-9 ($7,539), Lakeport's Daniel Andrusaitis was fourth with 53-2 ($6,282), and Scott Mackenzie of Hercules was fifth with 52-14 ($5,654).

Rounding out the top 10 pro finishers were Ronald Lorenzo of Princeton with 52-13 ($5,206), Jordan Collom of Canyon Lake with 5112 ($4,398), Patrick Touey of Santa Maria with 51-11 ($4,269), David Valdivia of Norwalk with 51-5 ($3,141) and Justin Kerr of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, with 50-1 ($2,513).

Besides Andrusaitis of Lakeport in fourth place, other top Lake County finishers were Gary Collins of Upper Lake, 23rd with 45-11; John Pearl of Upper Lake with 44-13; Paul Bailey of Kelseyville, 26th with 30-15; and Mark Crutcher of Lakeport, 29th with 3014. The top 19 pros finished in the money.

Joshua Glenn of Temecula caught the big fish on the pro side at 7 pounds, 13 ounces.

Amateurs

Blaine Christensen of San Jose edged out Jose Juarez Jr. of Kelseyville by one ounce to win the amateur division. Christensen's 15 fished weighed during the tournament totaled 49-15 while Juarez Jr. had 49-14 for his 15 fish. Christensen took home the top prize of $33,650, which included a new bass boat, to $3,261 for Juarez Jr.

George Fedor of Yucaipa came in third with 45-1 ($2,609), David Zavvar of Concord was fourth with 4414 ($2,283), and Jonathan Green of San Pablo placed fifth with 44-8 ($1,957).

Other Lake County fishermen besides Juarez Jr. finishing in the money (top 19) were Lakeport's Jeff Stewart, who was 14th with 39-11 ($652), and Omar Juarez Gomora, 18th with 36-11 ($522).