LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Despite a biting cold front and shivering temperatures, the leaderboard at the inaugural Won Bass Winter Open is heating up. 

As 74 boats churned the waters of the Konocti Vista Casino bay on Thursday, several local favorites and regional heavyweights secured dominant positions on the day one leaderboard.

The inaugural event faced a true winter test as a cold front gripped the region. Anglers faced morning temperatures dipped to 36 degrees with a biting wind chill. Water temperatures hovered between 49 and 50 degrees in the early hours.

As water temperatures rise gradually throughout the day, anglers with later weigh-in times may find a distinct advantage as the bite improves in the sun. 

The action continues Friday as anglers try to maintain their momentum, and will the rising afternoon temperatures flip the leaderboard?

The competition was fierce on day one, with the top four teams all cracking the prestigious 30-pound barrier.

• First Place: Mark Cobey (Woodland) and Jake Etcheverry (Hughson) set the pace with a massive 34.40-pound bag. 
• Second Place: Garrett Ellenson (Nine Mile Falls, Washington) and Cody Bandini (Stockton) remain within striking distance with 32.08 pounds.
• Third Place: Phillip Makin (Novato) and Troy Diatte (Salinas) secured their spot with 31.67 pounds. 
• Fourth Place: Vince Hayes (Chico) and Dennis Saiki (Torrance) rounded out the top tier with 30.97 pounds.

Local anglers are making a significant showing on their home turf. Nathan Phillips of Cobb Mountain currently sits in fifth place with 29.65 pounds.

Right on his heels is Upper Lake professional John Pearl, who holds sixth place with 29.39 pounds. 

Pearl also claimed the "Big Fish" spotlight for the pro division on day one, landing a spectacular 9.63-pound kicker. 

In the amateur division, Damon Motley from Orange County leads the big fish category with an impressive 8.79-pounder.

The day two weigh-in begins on Friday afternoon, starting at 3:20 p.m. in the Konocti Vista Casino Parking lot.

Editor’s note: A previous version of this story reported Dylan Yaquinto is from Rocklin. He is, in fact, from Lake County, California.

Craig Nelson is a former professional golfer who fell in love with tournament bass fishing 20 years ago. He found Lake County after fishing an FLW Stren Series event and never left. He’s the back-to-back winner of the Konocti Classic and runner up in the inaugural WON Bass Clear Lake Open.