The month of May produced heavy limits for anglers all over the state, including those who competed in divisional events of the Xtreme Bass Series. May 9th saw anglers of the Lake Rousseau and Hillsborough River divisions battle it out for the day’s bragging rights on each body of water, respectively.
R.J. Crawford and Jody Marriott walked away the victors at Lake Rousseau with a 24.33-pound, five-bass limit. The winning team also rolled sevens, as they won the Big Bass pot with a 7.77-pound kicker. Mike Davis and Dennis Hernandez anchored a 23.39-pound, five-bass limit with a 6.63-pounder to finish in second place. Scott Bullard and Tracey Hurst weighed a 23.20-pound, five-bass limit, anchored by a 6.47-pounder to finish in third.
John Catlin and Rick Prokosch took the top spot at the Hillsborough River event. Catlin and Prokosch weighed a 17.42-pound, five-bass limit to earn the win. Dickie Gillespie and Brian Divito secured a second place finish with the day’s Big Bass, a 5.67-pound kicker. Their five-bass limit weighed 15.30 pounds. Travis Caldwell and Josh Long finished in third place with a 13.43-pound, five-bass limit.
The Kissimmee Chain proved once again why it is considered one of the top bass fishing destinations in the world on May 17th. Both the Kissimmee and Toho divisions set out on the world renowned chain of lakes, and the big bass didn’t disappoint. John Myers and John Myers III smashed a 31.05-pound, five-bass limit to win the Kissimmee division event. They toted a monster 11.05-pound sow belly to the scales to anchor their winning bag, and win the Big Bass pot. Troy Olivier and David Crews weighed a monster bag themselves to finish in second place. Olivier and Crews weighed a 29.20-pound, five-bass limit, anchored by a 7.75-pound kicker. Tom Burk and Tony Bartels secured the final spot in the Top 3 with a 23.40-pound, five-bass limit. Burk and Bartels anchored their catch with a 9.35-pound lunker.
Russ Osborne and Micah Silverman topped the field at Toho. Osborne and Silverman boated a 27.44-pound, five-bass limit to win the fourth divisional event. John Jukas and Joe Johns were a pound shy, finishing in second place with a 26.44-pound, five-bass limit. Terry Friend and Matt Hinman rounded out the Top 3 with a 21.22-pound, five-bass limit, but won the Big Bass pot with an 8.98-pound TrophyCatch.
Cody Craig and Brian Desormier took home the win at the Lake Istokpoga divisional event on May 24th. The duo caught a five-bass limit totaling 24.97 pounds, which was anchored by an 8.47-pound TrophyCatch. Will Benion and Robert Rose nabbed a second place finish by weighing a solid 23.40-pound, five-bass limit. Terry Metzger and Ron Rokar locked in a Top 3 finish with a 20.25-pound, five-bass limit. Steve and Erin Zaller ended the day with only three bass, one of which was the day’s Big Bass-a 9.79-pound lunker.
Joey Wood and Lee Kitchens topped that has proved to be one of the most consistently competitive divisions for the 2015 season on May 31st, the Suwannee River division. Wood and Kitchens brought a 14.44-pound, five-bass limit to the scales to earn the top prize, edging out Chase Day and Kimrod Stephenson for the win. Day and Stephenson weighed a 14.29-pound, five-bass limit for a second place finish. B.J. Shirah and Tim Webb won the Big Bass pot with the help of a 7.73-pound toad, and rounded out the Top 3 with a 14.03-pound total.
With 9 events in each division, anglers competing in XBS events can qualify for the 2015 Championship at Lake Okeechobee, November 5-7, 2015. At this years championship, qualifying anglers will have the opportunity to fish for a brand new Blazer 595 Pro Elite, powered by a 200 HP Mercury. To qualify, anglers must fish 7 of the 9 events in one division, or 8 events total from all divisions combined. Teams who finish in the Top 4 of their division will also be invited to compete in the 2016 Florida State Team Championship, where teams of anglers from various organizations across the state, will have the opportunity to compete for another Blazer 595 Pro Elite powered by a 200 HP Mercury.
For more information, visit www.xbseries.com.
