The Space Coast Bass Finatics came to West Lake Toho and the results were great as two club records were surpassed and the size of the big bass for the year was increased. The low water conditions, two other tournaments on the same lake and no safe access past the end of the canal into Lake Cypress, did not stop the twenty-one teams from making the best of the day. The best day for the club had been September 27, 2015 at Miami-Garcia with 18 boats and 34 anglers who weighed-in 88 bass for 234.51 pounds. The new mark is set with 21 boats with 39 anglers weighing in 94 bass for 261.52 pounds and included 18 limits with two bass over eight pounds. The only thing wrong with this day was the five dead bass weighed in and the lack of wind most of the day causing the temperature to reach into the 90'. Most of the members arrived before sunrise except for the ones who lost track of time or were sick or had surgery and everyone launched without problems except Bill Groseclose who fell off his boat in the parking lot and Alan Elder who fell off his boat in the lake at the dock. All in all it was a good start to the day even without the customary donuts and pies.
First place was taken by Mike Calloway and William Flood with 19.93 pounds, their second win this year, and included a nice six pounder to round out their limit which averaged four pounds per fish. Slow rolling yum dingers and speed worms thru the hydrilla and eel grass proved a successful strategy throughout the day.
Tim Iler took a close second place without much help from his partner Larry Cruce, I heard, with 19.05 pounds which was their fourth time in the top three this year. Tim Iler landed a Toho Toad for big bass of the tournament with some help from Larry and in the process raised the club big bass for the year to a new level at 8.80 pounds They reported using their usual jerk baits but caught the big bass on a speed worm. Good job Tim.
Mike Neal and Brian Wical rounded out the top three with a limit weighing 18.36 pounds which was anchored by a nice 6.78 pounder. Dragging a 10 inch worm thru eel grass and hydrilla and throwing a chatter bait was their best bait for the day.
The small creel for the tournament goes to Brian Chapman who fished out of his 14' john boat by himself. The prize included some nice gifts from Bitters Bait and Tackle and a special prize added by President Dwayne.
Other notable catches of the day included a 8.41 pounder turned in by Rick and Joe Jenkins and a 7.22 pounder by Buddy Perry and Preston Humphries.
Lake Conditions:
air temp...........71' to 94'
water temp.......81' to 90'
wind ................5-10mph dropping to 0
barometer.........falling
water color........algae bloom green to some clear
The next tournament will be at Lake Kissimmee and we will be using the Overstreet launch ramp on the 25th of June. See you there!
