Payson Roundup

Clifford Pirch fished his way to the championship of the 2010 Won Bass U.S. Open on Lake Mead. The victory marked the second time Pirch has won the U.S. Open crown — the other victory was in 2007.

Local pro Clifford Pirch fished his way to the championship of the 2010 Won Bass U.S. Open on Lake Mead.

The victory marked the second time Pirch has won the U.S. Open crown — the other victory was in 2007.

During the 2010 tournament, which was contested July 19 through July 21, Pirch weighed in a 15-fish limit of 31.44 pounds, with a big fish of 3.23 pounds.

In 2007, he won with a catch of 29.81 pounds.

Pirch began the third and final day of the 2010 tournament in eighth place about 2.5 pounds behind then-leader Bink Desario.

His come-from-behind victory was due to a last day 10.90-pound catch that narrowly propelled him to the top, edging out runner-up Dick Watson whose catch totaled 30.98 pounds.

Pirch told Lake Mead media he “junk fished” using worms, topwaters, crank baits, spinnerbaits, jigs and Texas rigs mostly on the lake’s lower basin.

With two U.S. Open wins and a victory in the Western FLW Series, Pirch is now one of the west’s most successful professional anglers.

Pirch is a member of the FLW National Guard team and is set to participate in the Forrest Wood Cup to be held Aug. 5 to Aug. 8 on Lake Lanier near Atlanta, Ga.

There, he will be one of the 78 qualifying pros to compete in what is known as the country’s most prestigious and lucrative bass tournament partly because of the $500,000-plus payout, the national television coverage and presence of the nation’s top fishing pros.