Brian Carpenter of Bethel Island weighed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, 3 ounces Saturday to edge the competition at the EverStart Series Western Division event at Russo’s Marina in Oakley. Carpenter’s three-day total of 15 bass weighed 67 pounds, 6 ounces, earning him the $30,420 first-place prize.

“I’ve followed the tide all week,” said Carpenter. “I had a pretty good pattern I would follow, putting on close to 60 miles a day. I would follow the tide in and hit a bunch of spots, and then follow it back out and hit some more spots. Then I go flipping in the afternoon. It’s worked out solid for me, and I’m able to hit over 30 different spots a day doing it.

“The cold, rainy weather really had an effect on the fishing today, though,” Carpenter added. “I caught at least 25 fish the first two days, but I only caught 15 today. The wind was blowing around 25 miles per hour, and it was brutal. I couldn’t get to some of my spots today.”

Other East County natives who finished in the top 10:

Second place: Phillip Dutra, Antioch – 15 bass, 67 pounds, 5 ounces – $10,430.

Fourth place: Charley Almassey, Oakley – 15 bass, 63 pounds, 10 ounces – $7,822.

Sixth place: Salvador Herrera, Discovery Bay – 15 bass, 57 pounds, 10 ounces – $6,084.

Complete results can be found at www.flwoutdoors.com.

– Contributed by Joe Opager