Bryan Ritchie (left) and Andy Buss with winning catch.Andy Buss (North Liberty) and Bryan Ritchie (Middlebury) caught four bass weighing 9.38 pounds to win the R&B Circuit Open on the St. Joseph River in Elkhart last week.

Bryan Ritchie (left) and Andy Buss with winning catch.

The tournament was previously scheduled for Lake Manitou but had to be moved to the river because the lake was still iced over.

Due to new, state-imposed river size limit restrictions, the tournament was fished with a four-fish bag limit and 15-inch size limit.

The winners’ catch included a 3.56-pound largemouth that won them the Money Mouth Baits Big Bass award. The big fish was fooled by a Lucky Craft Pointer 100, but all other fish were caught on ½- ounce Silver Buddy blade baits between 12-15 feet of water. Wood was prevalent where all fish were caught.

Trevor Paulus (Osceola) and Jason Horvath (South Bend) were second with 6.83 pounds caught in 12-15 feet of water on homemade blade baits.

Kevin Fletcher (Elkhart) and Greg Mangus (Fremont) brought the only other limit that weighed 6.82 pounds. They used Poor Boy's Erie Darters and grubs to fool their fish.

The R & B Bass Circuit classic season opener will be April 20 at Webster Lake. Visit www.randbbasscircuit.com for more information.