Mangus/Fletcher win R&B opener at 6 Span Frigid temperatures greeted participants in the R&B Bass Circuit Open on the St. Joseph River at 6 Span Access last weekend.

Air temperatures were as low as 15 degrees during the tournament, which had to be moved from Lake Wawasee to the river because of ice issues on the lake.

Despite the winter-like weather, Greg Mangus (Fremont) and Kevin Fletcher (Elkhart) managed four smallmouth weighing 10.40 pounds, including the tournament's biggest fish, 3.64 pounds. They used green pumpkin and brown jigs with matching pork trailers to catch fish sitting in 5 feet of water.

Steve Kline (Albion) and Mark Farver (Goshen) crawled ¼-ounce jigs in the main river to catch five smallmouth weighing 9.26 pounds and finish second. Most fish bit as the jig came over rock or wood.

Jason Lahr (South Bend) and Ira McDonald (Elkhart) landed three fish on a 3/8-ounce Strike King KVD jerkbait and another on a Rapala Shadow Rap to finish third with 9.14 pounds. All fish were caught in water 3- to 8-feet deep on the upstream side of a point.

The event helped raise money for the upcoming R & B Bass Circuit season, which paid out $28,000 in 2014. The official season opener is April 26 at Lake Wawasee. Information can be found at www.randbbasscircuit.com.