EVANS, Ga. (Bassmaster Communications) — It didn’t result in many bites, but Chase Clarke perfectly executed a big-bass pattern to win the weather-shortened St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by SEVIIN with a two-day total of 47 pounds, 7 ounces.

The 2022 Auburn University graduate caught three 6-pound or better largemouth during the tournament, two on the first day that lifted him to a daily total of 25-14 and one on the second day that anchored his 21-9 Day 2 total. Those two bags propelled him over second-place Blaine Bunney by 6 pounds.

“I caught the right ones, but they were frustrating. They were so hard to catch,” the Virginia Beach pro 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.”

With the win, Clarke is the first angler to clinch their spot in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic, given he competes in the final three tournaments in Division I. Clarke was in contention to win an Open at Leech Lake last year, but fell short with a third-place finish.

Several curveballs were thrown at the Opens competitors this week, starting with frigid temperatures and a winter storm that pushed through the area Tuesday. The snowfall from that storm forced the postponement of Day 1 scheduled for Thursday and shortened the event to two days. 

Lucas Lindsay, another Auburn graduate, finished third with a two-day total of 39-14. Lindsay landed in the middle of the pack on Day 1 with a daily total of 16-0, but rebounded on Day 2 with a 23-14 limit that was anchored by a 7-5 largemouth, the Big Bass of the Tournament. 

On the final day, Lindsay spent most of his time in the Little River, fishing brushpiles, rockpiles or trashpiles holding bass. A Z-Man Scented Jerk ShadZ or a CrushCity Mooch Minnow rigged on an Echo Bait Company jighead caught the majority of his bass.

All anglers earned points towards the Division I standings. At the conclusion of the four-event schedule, the Top 50 anglers in the division will advance to the Elite Qualifier round starting at Lake Champlain in September.

For full coverage of the final round, click here. For final results, click here.

Visit Columbia County hosted the event.