Photo: Chad Foster holds up two 8+ pounders from his win on Istokpoga earlier this year.
Lake Okeechobee is the top bucket list lake for many anglers throughout the country. Fortunately for anglers fishing the Toho Marine Elite One Man trail, it’s a frequent stop. 32 anglers launched from Scott Driver Park on Saturday, August 23rd in hopes of finding the monster bass the Big ‘O’ is known for.
Chad Foster has been no stranger to 1st place finishes this season. With 3 wins prior to this event, he came into the Okeechobee tournament leading the Angler of the Year point’s race. In much the same fashion as his first win this year, Foster brought in a 5 bass limit totaling 20.98-lbs. He notched his 4th victory of the season, and secured the Angler of the Year title. A 9.34-lb. monster anchored his limit for the day, which also won Foster the event’s Big Bass award. Foster won a total of $1,330.00 for his victory.
Kazuki Kitajima shows off a few fish from his 2nd place limit.
Kazuki Kitajima finished in 2nd place for the event, weighing a 19.86-lb., 5 bass limit. He won $510.00 thanks in part to the 7.92-lb. Okeechobee chunk that anchored his bag.
Terry Bloom finished in 3rd place. His 17.22-lb, 5 bass limit won $255.00 for the day’s efforts.
Norris Newhouse took the 4th spot on the leaderboard with a 16.06-lb, 5 bass limit. Anchoring his bag was an 8.24-lb. Okeechobee lunker. That fish took 2nd Big Bass honors, and helped Newhouse win a total of $325.00 for both awards.
2014 B.A.S.S. Southern Open winner Van Soles finished in 5th place for the event. Soles’ 13.98-lb., 5 bass limit helped him to a $100.00 check.
Kyle Monti rounded out the Top 6, catching a 13.78-lb., 5 bass limit. Monti took home a new rod for his catch.
Foster Dominated Elite One Man Field
With his 4th win of the season, Chad Foster also won the Angler of the Year title. Throughout the year, Foster only finished 1 tournament outside of the Top 10. He started the season with a 3rd place finish on Lake Toho, weighing a 13.59-lb., 5 bass limit.
His first win of the season came from Lake Okeechobee, where he caught an astonishing 27.42-lbs. At that event, he took over the points lead and never looked back.
Foster would win back-to-back events, finishing on top yet again at the Harris Chain event in March. There, he broke the 20-lb. barrier with a 20.19-lb., 5 bass limit.
At the Kissimmee event, he finished in 6th place, weighing a 19.25-lb., 5 bass limit.
At Lake Istokpoga, Foster bested the Elite One Man field yet again when he caught an 18.42-lb., 3 bass limit.
At the Harris Chain event in June, he would finish in 8th place, catching 11.37-lbs.
His lowest finish came from the July event on the Kissimmee chain, where he finished in 18th place, only catching 5.50-lbs.
It’s safe to say that Foster will be a favorite to win the Elite One Man Classic, scheduled for November 7-8 on Lake Toho. More information on this event can be found in the Event Calendar.
