Lake Sammamish, WA – March 29, 2025 – The American Bass Washington West Tournament kicked off its 2025 season with an electrifying Day 1 showdown at Lake Sammamish on March 29. Nestled just east of Seattle, this renowned bass fishery set the stage for a competitive field of seven teams, with the top performers delivering standout catches and tactical brilliance to launch the season in style.
Top 5 Teams Shine on Day 1
The leaderboard showcased tight competition, with the top five teams separating themselves through skill and strategy. Here’s how they stacked up:
- Kelly Gaines and Alex Engelhardt seized first place with a five-fish limit weighing 22.14 pounds, earning 100 points. Their haul included a 5.12-pound big fish—the second heaviest of the day—propelling them to the top spot.
- Brian Walker and Frankie Vangelder claimed second with 19.10 pounds across five fish, earning 99 points. Their 5.13-pound big fish edged out the competition by a mere one-hundredth of an ounce, securing them the tournament’s big bass honors.
- Greg Johnson and John Cooper took third with 19.02 pounds from five fish, earning 98 points. Their 5.00-pound big fish, paired with three option points, kept them in contention.
- Nick Quinn and Matthew Sanford landed fourth with 17.40 pounds across five fish, earning 97 points. While they didn’t snag any bonuses, their consistent performance solidified their top-tier standing.
- Adam Gablehouse and Tony Lafranco rounded out the top five with 16.11 pounds from five fish, earning 96 points. Their 4.40-pound big fish anchored a strong Day 1 showing.
Lake Sammamish: A Bass Fishing Gem
Spanning 4,897 acres with an average depth of 58 feet and a maximum of 105 feet, Lake Sammamish is a jewel in Washington’s bass fishing crown. Its crystal-clear waters support thriving populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass, with diverse habitats like flats, docks, and deeper channels offering anglers endless opportunities. Spring marks a prime season as bass shift from winter haunts to pre-spawn staging areas, often holding in 10-30 feet of water early before migrating shallower as the day warms. With water temperatures around 50 degrees during the tournament, conditions were ripe for active fish—and the anglers capitalized.
Alex Engelhardt’s Path to Victory
First-place finisher Alex Engelhardt revealed the tactics that clinched the win for his team. “The morning started calm and cloudy, but by midday, the wind picked up, and the sun broke through. Water temp was right around 50 degrees,” he said. “We targeted deeper water early, chasing smallmouth, and it paid off—by 9:30 a.m., we had about 19 pounds in the boat. Once we locked in a solid smallmouth bag, we switched gears to largemouth, fishing shallower flats and docks. The fish were scattered, but we dialed in. Most of mine came on a jig—it’s my go-to bait this time of year.”
Engelhardt’s adaptability and confidence in his jig proved decisive, blending deep-water precision with shallow-water finesse to build a winning limit.
Tournament Stats Signal a Strong Season Ahead
Day 1 saw 28 fish weighed for a total of 101.11 pounds, with a flawless 100% catch-and-release rate—a testament to the fishery’s health and angler stewardship. The average fish weighed 3.61 pounds, while the average team haul hit 14.44 pounds, with five of the seven teams posting full five-fish limits. These robust numbers highlight Lake Sammamish’s status as a top-tier bass destination and set an exciting tone for the American Bass Washington West series.
As the 2025 season progresses, Lake Sammamish has raised the bar, promising more thrilling battles and big catches. With anglers already showcasing their A-game, the stage is set for a standout year on the water.