Noy Vilaysane and AAA Ryan Furno crush records with 41.76-pound day 1 at the California Open

Crushing. That’s the only way to describe what Pro Division angler Noy Vilasayne and his AAA Ryan Furno did in lapping the field on Day 1 of the WON BASS California Open with an astounding 41.76-pound limit.

Vilaysane’s Big Fish weighed 11.74 pounds, but every fish in his combined limit was a chunk. Consider, the per fish average was over 8 pounds!

Tournament Director Billy Egan said the Vilaysane-Furno limit was the largest he’s weighed in the ten years he’s run tournaments for WON BASS.

Terry McKnight, fish reporter for the Lake County Record Bee said he’s covered and run tournaments at Clear Lake since 1986 and never seen the like and opined that Vilaysane’s 41.76 pounds could be a single day lake tournament record.

McKnight said Vilaysane told him he caught his fish in deep water while using swimbaits. He further said Vilaysane said he couldn’t believe it when he hooked into his 11.74-pound Big Fish.

Pro Sean Wayman and AAA Nick Klein sit in second with 27.30 pounds, normally an outstanding Clear Lake day, but one that was overshadowed on Day 1. Wayman’s limit was backstopped by a 9.01-pound Big Fish, good for third Pro Big Fish on the day.

Pro Mike Iloski and AAA Kevin Quach are in third after Day 1 with 26.91 pounds. Iloski scored second Pro Big Fish with his 10.24-pound largemouth. That’s two fish over 10 pounds on Day 1 if you’re counting. Clear Lake gives up the goods.

AAA Big Fish of the day went to Justin Taylor Bolen (09.80 pounds), Kevin Quach (7.11 pounds), and Aaron Riggs.

Competitors fished under bluebird skies and the forecast high winds never materialized in the northern portion of the lake, but some who fished south of The Narrows said it was windy.