Central Florida Bass Anglers

We had all been hearing about the big stringers that were being caught on Harris. 29 pounds, 31 pounds, ect. Most of these giant bags were being brought in by local hot sticks and it was usually the same guys. But I still have never been able to figure out where those guys go. We fish Harris every year and I fish several other events up there every year and have done pretty well. But I still have never been able to figure out where those guys go. I’ve watched them go through the Dora canal and I know where the Clear canal and the Golf course canal are. And I’ve fished them and caught a few. But where do those guys get the big weights? Mike and Tyler know. They went there Saturday morning after the fog lifted ( well, sort of lifted). Mike Tucker/Tyler Lovelace traveled a long way last year and threw 28+ on the scales and they made the run again. This time they returned with 21.18 lb, including a 7.5, and won our second tournament of the year in grand fashion. They fished in an area the Mike described as “ the South Beauclaire Canal”. It’s about a 50 minute run from Buzzard Beach. See if you can find it on the map. It was a different location than where they had the 28+ but with the same outcome. They mostly flipped junebug soft plastics in 2-3 ft. of water and didn’t have a ton of bites but they had the right ones. Mike also said he lost a huge fish that would have been bigger than the 7.5 that they brought in. Nice win , guys!! Reid Watkins fished with John Bloom and they were on fish all day. They found the fish Friday in Lake Harris, along the north bank and gave the bass a 1-2 punch. Reid pitched junebug Senkos, (go figure) and landed the tournament’s biggest bass, a 9.38 beauty. We thought the fish was smaller because it was a bit skinny but it was a nice one. That fish would have been a lot heavier with eggs. John tossed a rattletrap in front of the boat and nailed several keepers. He said he worked the bait along the little points of Kissimmee grass and also over the patches of eel grass. They took 2nd place with 18.73. Good Job! Mario Mazzonetto/Rob Wilson caught a nice bag in last year’s event and since they didn’t have time to practice, they started with the same pattern. Rob said that a 3/8 oz spinnerbait worked along the lily pad stems would trigger a reaction bite. He noted that contact with the plant was the key. Several other boats from the 8 tournaments being held Saturday were in their area but Rob/Mario out fished them. They stayed on Eustis and worked pad fields on both the North and South shorelines. Their limit weighed in at 14.55 and they collected 3rd place cash. The last money place was occupied by Fay Rowles/ Paul Frauenhoffer. These guys didn’t travel far and settled in on one of the canals off the Dora canal. This is an area that I had fished in practice and in hindsight should have gone back. Fay caught a nice one in the first 10 minutes of fishing and the team managed a 4 fish bag weighing 12.76. They caught their fish throwing Texas rigged worms and spinnerbaits. Nice average fish! The Angler of the Year race shifted a bit. Tyler/Mike are in 1st with 380. Jimmy Anderson/ Bill Anderson ( where has Bill been?) 2nd with 370. Chip Dover/John Ricketson are in 3rd with 360. Steve & Dennis Galassi have 350 and are in 4th. Mike & Steve Warner are in 5th with 345. NOTES: Only 6 limits…Man was it foggy, I hope everyone was OK with the start. If there hadn’t been 99 other tournaments on the Chain, we probably would have waited a bit longer……9.38 lber for Reid, a good start for big fish of the year…….Encourage new teams to join, even if you have to recruit them from other clubs……Lake Monroe preview..former CFBA members Mike Laws /Ron Hicks caught 25+ with a 9 to win the Fishers of Men , 75 boat event on Monroe recently….Mike said the lake was shallow and the fish were too……..nothing new with that news… See ya’ at the river!