LAS VEGAS, Nev. – October 10, 2026 –– As reported earlier in the day, with Tropical Storm Rachel approaching through the Southern Border carrying unsafe conditions to Lake Mead, the National Park Service made the call to pull the day three permit for the event, resulting in the cancelation of the scheduled final day of the 2026 WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury on Sunday.
That meant that Saturday’s competition would be the culminating day of the event. With the most important bass fishing tournament in the Western United States now being a two-day event, the anglers knew there would be no holding back and they would have no choice but to step on the accelerator and catch everything they could.
Mesa, Ariz. pro Sean Coffey took his place in the Ranger Boats Hot Seat midway through the final weigh-in after climbing from his second-place position from the first day. Coffey posted an 11.39-pound limit to bring his total weight to 26.22 pounds. That weight would hold strong until the final angler to come to the scales at Calville Bay Marina.
That person was none other than 2008 U.S. Open Champion Justin Kerr from Lake Havasu City, Ariz. needed 13.34 pounds to take the lead, and when the scales tipped at 13.41, Kerr had won his second WON Bass U.S. Open title and the keys to a 2026 Ranger Z520R powered by a Mercury ProXS250 valued at $90,000 and a $70,000 cash prize.
Brandon Keuhl of Peoria, Ariz. finished third in the pro division with 25.64 pounds, he was followed by Jason Borofka of Lavon, Tex. in fourth place with 23.90 pounds while fifth place went to Hermie Romero of Boulder City, Nev. with 23.78 pounds.
Kerr said that he made the run to the Overton Arm and targeted clumps of Spiny Niad grass with a pair of lures. “I caught six of my keepers on a Morning Dawn Baby Jackhammer and Bullpoint Shad as a trailer,” he said. “I caught the rest of the keepers I weighed on a jig I tied with my mentor Aaron Martens years ago. It was a handmade black and blue jig with a matching Rage Craw trailer.”
Kerr said his main stretch of grass was one he had to make multiple presentations to create strikes. “I had one really good stretch of grass that I caught quite a few of my fish from that patch, but I had to make at least 25 casts to it to get bites,” he said. “I had a good one chase my bait out today and miss my Jackhammer, I told my co-angler to throw in there quick, and our biggest fish of the day ate it.”
He said that he is thrilled to win his second U.S. Open, and that he felt the presence of two of his greatest friends and mentors throughout the event. “Having that jig be a part of things today really made me feel like Aaron was with me today,” he said. “I also felt like my friend Mike Brakebill was with me today too. Both of those guys were major influences on me, and they were on my heart today.”
Coffey, who led the second day of the 2025 U.S. Open before being overtaken said that he knew he was a fish short after he put his boat on the trailer. “I had a 1.43 in my bag and I had a strong feeling that it was going to cost me,” he said. “I didn’t lose any good fish that cost me, I just didn’t get as many bites today and I just fell short.”
He said he targeted Spiny Niad grass in the Overton Arm both days with a trio of reaction baits. His primary bait was a 1/2-ounce white and chartreuse spinnerbait with nickel and gold double willowleaf blades that he makes for himself, a self-made 1/2-ounce white bladed jig and matching trailer and a Berkley J-Walker Topwater bait. “I caught most of my fish on the spinnerbait and bladed jig, but my two biggest bites came on the topwater bait.
“I really did everything I could and am pleased with the performance despite falling short, Justin is the man and it doesn’t surprise me that he came through – congratulations to him.”
In the AAA Division, Matthew Keats of took the title with a two-day total of 24.15 pounds. He earned $8,000 cash plus a Honda Fourtrax ATV from Huntington Beach Honda. Ross Gebhardt of Sunset, Tex. finished second with 26.22 pounds. Third pace went to James Boston of Collinsville, Okla. With 21.83 pounds. Terry Peterson of West Jordan, Utah placed fourth with 21.74 and Brandon Scott of Englewood, Colo. Rounded out the top five in the AAA Division with 21.53 pounds.
The full scheduled payout will be made to the field at Sunset Station Casino in Henderson, Nev. following the day two weigh-in. The day three big bass prizes of $1,000 each for the top 10 big bass in each division will be divided evenly amongst the winners from day one and day two.
The daily livestream of the weigh-ins aired at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments . Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins occured at Calville Bay Marina
The Top 10 in each division are below, for complete standings go to: https://wonbassevents.com/pages/us-open-pairings-and-results .
2026 WON Bass U.S. Open Final Pro Standings
|
Place
|
Angler
|
Hometown
|
Fish
|
B/B
|
Day 1
|
Day 2
|
Total
|
|
1
|
Justin Kerr
|
Lake Havasu City AZ
|
10-10
|
4.03
|
12.89
|
13.41
|
26.30
|
|
2
|
Sean Coffey
|
Mesa AZ
|
10-10
|
4.27
|
14.83
|
11.39
|
26.22
|
|
3
|
Brandon Kuehl
|
Peoria AZ
|
10-10
|
6.01
|
12.63
|
13.01
|
25.64
|
|
4
|
Jason Borofka
|
Lavon TX
|
10-10
|
3.09
|
12.33
|
11.57
|
23.90
|
|
5
|
Hermie Romero
|
Boulder City NV
|
10-10
|
4.00
|
12.16
|
11.62
|
23.78
|
|
6
|
Bill Brown
|
Grand Junction CO
|
10-10
|
11.60
|
11.04
|
22.64
|
|
|
7
|
Kyle Grover
|
Rancho Santa Margarita CA
|
10-10
|
3.52
|
11.16
|
11.45
|
22.61
|
|
8
|
Kevin Hugo
|
Canyon Lake CA
|
10-10
|
4.05
|
14.90
|
7.53
|
22.43
|
|
9
|
Mike Steckel
|
Las Vegas NV
|
10-10
|
13.37
|
8.73
|
22.10
|
|
|
10
|
Julius Mazy
|
Phoenix AZ
|
10-10
|
4.61
|
8.44
|
13.59
|
22.03
|
