The West Volusia Bass Anglers spent two days on Lake Istokpoga to kick off their 2015/2016 season, where 20 teams set out from Henderson’s Fish Camp, April 18th and 19th, with a clean slate for the season. The typically gracious Lake Istokpoga had many teams scratching their heads, as the majority of the field struggled to find the solid fish the lake typically yields in the month of April.
Doug Chance and Danny Stringer were the only team to top the 20-pound mark on day one. The team set the bar at 21.60 pounds, as they anchored their five bass limit with an 8.40-pound lunker, the largest of the day. Larry Maltby and Larry Petty found themselves in second place at the conclusion of day one. The 2014/2015 Team of the Year anchored their 16.21-pound limit with an 8.21-pound lunker. Gary Thompson and Buddy Cohrs finished the day in third place, weighing a 15.91-pound total. Chris Chavez and Clyde Webb sat in fourth place with an even 15.00 pounds. Glenn Paulson rounded out the Top 5 for the day with 14.10 pounds.
The winds changed on day two, and filled the sails of Chris Chavez and Clyde Webb. The team that sat more than six pounds away from the lead, weighed a staggering 25.16 pounds to jump to the top of the leaderboard. Their efforts were assisted by a giant 11.48-pound ‘Poga toad, giving Chavez and Webb a 40.16-pound total for the weekend and the victory.
Doug Chance and Danny Stringer failed to boat the big bite they had on day one. The 13.05-pound bag they weighed in day two was enough to secure a second place finish with 34.65 pounds over two days. Gary Thompson and Buddy Cohrs stayed locked into third place. Their 13.58-pound bag on day two gave the team 29.49 pounds for the weekend. Larry Maltby and Larry Petty weighed 13.18 pounds on Sunday and slipped to fourth place, weighing a 29.28-pound total. John Mullis and Ernie Watson moved up the leaderboard on day two to finish in fifth place overall. Their 12.74-pound bag on Sunday gave the team a 24.05-pound total.
The West Volusia Bass Anglers meet the second tuesday of each month at the Four Towns Moose Lodge in Debary, Fla. The next scheduled tournament is set for May 16th at Lake Monroe Park.
