In the days leading up to the 2016 Florida State Team Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, the buzz about some of the top teams the state of Florida has to offer coming together for an all-star like event was high. With the famed Lake Toho and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes as the playing field, it truly was anyone’s event to win.
The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is known for producing giant stringers of bass, and routinely dishes out weights in the mid and upper 20’s, (touring pro Dean Rojas set the B.A.S.S. record for a one day, five-bass stringer of 45-02 back in 2001 on Lake Toho).
Various organizations from around the state registered with the FSTC to send their Top 4 teams to compete for a new Blazer 595 Pro Elite powered by a 200 HP Mercury Pro XS, a chance to compete for the state title, and an opportunity to earn the $1,000.00 Boca Bearings Club Cash Award.
Charlie Harrelson and Logan Murphy qualified through, and represented the Toho Marine Elite One Man Trail. They teamed up to weigh a 27.79-pound, five-bass limit on day one to lead the 74 team field, setting the bar with a more than four pound lead over Trevor Fitzgerald and Jason Guynn, who finished the day in second place.
Many teams made a big run at the title on day two, including Bobby Wooten and Chad Stewart from the Kissimmee Bass Series. But, even with weighing in the largest bag on day two with a 24.80-pound, five-bass limit, it still wasn’t enough to overtake Harrelson and Murphy.
Chad Stewart and Bobby Wooten with their day two limit
The day one leaders weighed a 21.08-pound, five-bass limit on day two to become the first ever Florida State Team Champions, taking home the Blazer/Mercury grand prize valued at $40,000.00. Their two-day total of 48.87 pounds also helped secure the $1,000.00 Boca Bearings Club Cash award that was presented to Joe Clements and the Toho Marine Elite One Man Trail. Clements stated he would be donating that money to the Help Our Heroes Bass Fishing Tournament, benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project.
Harrelson and Murphy locked out of Toho both days to catch their tournament winning limits, which included an 8.02-pound TrophyCatch that anchored their day one bag.
“We caught them on pads, mostly,” stated Harrelson. He also noted that their bait of choice throughout the tournament was a speed worm.
“Everybody out there on the water today and yesterday were super respectful, including the guys that saw us out there the first day,” added Murphy.
Throughout the event, there were many TrophyCatch quality bass weighed in, including three bass over the 9-pound mark on day one. Dickie Gillespie’s 9.94-pound lunker earned the Big Bass award on day one. Fred George secured the award on day two with his 8.50-pound TrophyCatch.
For more information on the Florida State Team Championship, and how your organization can get involved, visit www.fishFSTC.com.
