The month of June marks the official start of summer with the summer solstice on June 21st. As the bass transition to their summertime haunts, anglers across the state are having to make the transition as well. As the weather heats up, so do water temperatures. This can sometimes lead to a drop in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, resulting in sporadic fish kills.
This recently happened at Lake Weir in Marion County as DO levels dropped. Fortunately, in this case, the bass weren’t affected. Mike Davis and Dennis Hernandez proved that at the Eaton’s Beach Team Tournament Trail presented by Fitzgerald Rods. Davis and Hernandez weighed a 14.31-pound bag to win the second of three scheduled open events. The duo anchored their bag with the event’s Big Bass, a 5.99-pound kicker. Allen Whitt and Robby Peralta weighed 9.33 pounds of largemouth to finish in second place, followed by Clifford Dawson and Matt Spencer. Dawson and Spencer weighed a 7.92-pound bag to finish the day in third place. The next Eaton’s Beach Team Tournament Open is scheduled for July 11th.~
Bobby Wooten topped the Camp Mack One Man field at Lake Kissimmee on May 2nd. Wooten won the event by loading the boat with a 22.50-pound limit. His bag was anchored by a 9.50-pound lunker, earning Wooten the Big Bass award as well. Wayne Yohn finished in second place, weighing a 16.30-pound bag. James Pearson weighed 15.85 pounds of Kissimmee Chain bass to finish in third place. The Camp Mack One Man Open is held the first Saturday of each month through October.~
The Florida Trails Bassmasters spent two days competing on Lake Okeechobee during the ‘Okeechobee Crawl’ May 2nd and 3rd. Jim Topmiller bested the field of anglers as he weighed 26.09 pounds over two days of competition. Randy Montoney finished in second place by weighing 21.67 pounds for the weekend. Phil Cammarata ended the weekend in third place, weighing 20.10 pounds. David Bates weighed a 5.27-pounder on day one to earn the big fish pot for the weekend. The next event for the Florida Trails Bassmasters is the ‘East Lake Showdown’ on June 6th. The event will launch from St. Cloud Lakefront Park at East Lake Toho.~
Dean Harcourt topped the boater division of the RAM Weekend Bass Series at the Harris Chain of Lakes on May 2nd. Harcourt, who won a Weekend Bass Series event last season, weighed an 18.27-pound, five-bass limit to top the 65-boat field. To accomplish that feat, Harcourt boated a 6.80-pound kicker, which would also earn him the day’s Big Bass award. Jeremy Smith, who leads the points race after three events, weighed a 16.25-pound, five-bass limit to finish the day in second place. Neil Davis finished in third place, weighing a 15.37-pound, five-bass limit.
The co-angler division had 58 anglers competing from the back deck. Tomas Gomez finished at the top of the pack, weighing a 12.49-pound, three-bass limit. Gomez anchored his winning bag with a 7.36-pound kicker. Normally, a kicker that size would earn the honor of biggest bass, but Bob Kosanke’s 7.37-pounder edged Gomez of that prize. That fish also helped Kosanke to a second place finish, weighing 8.69 pounds with two bass. Dan Fay rounded out the Top 3, weighing an 8.41-pound, three-bass limit. The next event for RAM Weekend Bass Series anglers will be held at the Harris Chain of Lakes on June 6th.~
Johnny Key and Justin Bennet took top honors at the Xtreme Bass Series: Rodman Divisional event on May 2nd. Key and Bennett weighed a 20.01-pound, five-bass limit, anchoring their bag with the day’s Big Bass, a 7.11-pound kicker. Brandon and Jesse Williams took the runner up spot with a five-bass limit weighing 18.88 pounds. Mike Jackson and Fred George finished in third place as they weighed a 17.98-pound, five bass limit. The next event for the Rodman Divison of the Xtreme Bass Series is scheduled for June 6th.~
The Tampa Pro Bass team tournament trail season came to a close on May 3rd, as 32 teams launched from Southport Park at Lake Toho. Matthew Chase and Glenn Cale set a 26.58-pound, five-bass limit on the scales to win the final qualifying event of the season. Their efforts were assisted by the day’s Big Bass, a 9.69-pound beast. Darrell Cranor and Bill Fugate weighed a solid 20.22-pound, five-bass limit to finish in second place. Brian Mason and Bob Stringer had quite the year, finishing in first place three tournaments in a row, along with three other Top 5 finishes. The duo rightfully won the points title for the Team of the Year race. Anglers who finished the season in the Top 30 in points, or fished six of eight tournaments throughout the season, will be eligible to compete in the trail’s end f season classic this weekend at Lake Okeechobee. Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and resort will place host to the event June 6th and 7th.~
The Toho Marine Elite One Man Tour launched from Camp Mack at Lake Kissimmee on May 9th for the fourth stop of the season. Lane Crosson smashed an almost 30-pound bag to top the 43 angler field. Crosson’s 29.60-pound, five-bass limit was anchored by a 9.30-pound giant, also earning Crosson the Big Bass prize. Charlie Harrellson weighed a 25.35-pound, five bass limit to earn a runner-up finish. James ‘JW’ Watkins finished in third place, weighing a 22.70-pound, five-bass limit. The Toho Marine Elite One Man Tour launches from Buzzard Beach on the Harris Chain of Lakes on June 13th.~
The Bay Area Bassmasters also launched from Camp Mack on May 9th, as 38 teams looked to better their standings in the Team of the Year race, and attempt to bring home a win. Jeff Baker and Darren Betts, who won the previous month’s event at Lake Itsokpoga, inked their second victory of the season. Baker and Betts boated a 26.14-pound, five-bass limit to earn the victory. The team had the help of the Big Bass of the tournament, a 10.17-pound monster. Justin and Jeff Richards finished the event in second place, weighing a 20.80-pound, five-bass limit. Casey Gonzalez and Eugene Terkoski finished in third place, weighing an 18.78-pound, five-bass limit. The club’s next event is scheduled for June 13th at Lake Tarpon.~
The Winter Haven Lunker Lovers spent two days at Camp Lester on the Kissimmee Chain, May 15th and 16th. Ron Dunham took the victory for the weekend, boating 39.11 pounds over two days, beating out 26 other anglers. Allen Prince finished in second place, weighing 31.11 pounds for the weekend. Barry Eddie finished in third place with a 27.65-pound, two-day total. Ron Oechsner was awarded the Big Bass prize for the 7.82-pound kicker he caught during the multi-day event. Anglers of the Winter Haven Lunker Lovers will compete at Lake Istokpoga on June 14th for their next event of the season.~
