KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The later flights benefited from Florida’s typical afternoon warm-up bite, but Emmanuel College’s Scooter Ligon Jr. and Logan Fisher got it done early to lead Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Kissimmee Chain of Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops.
On a day that saw six teams break the 20-pound mark, Ligon and Fisher sacked up 25-15 and head into Day 2 with nearly a 3-pound lead.
“We left in the third flight and once we got to our spot, it took us about 10 minutes to find them,” said Fisher, a senior business major. “We caught them for about an hour and a half to two hours straight. We caught about 10 and then we laid off them.
“We tried to sit there until about 12 and then, when all the boats that were close to us made their way out of the area, we moved out and looked around for something that might help us tomorrow.”
Ligon, a senior majoring in business administration with a minor in mathematics, said he and Fisher secured a limit at 8 a.m. and had their day’s weight at 10. Time management was important to their day’s fast start and that meant remaining in Lake Toho, where the tournament is based.
“We practiced in Lake Kissimmee the first day we were here and just couldn’t get anything going, so we decided to spend the next two days practicing in Toho,” Ligon said. “We felt like we could be more consistent there.”
The leaders were understandably guarded with their details, but Ligon said they caught their fish around sparse hydrilla in 10 feet.
“We caught them all off one hole today,” he said. “There were a few boats around us, but they seemed to be either deeper or shallower than we were.
“Clean water, I would say, was the biggest thing (for our spot).”
As Fisher noted, he and Ligon mixed up their presentations, but one bait produced all of their bites.
“The key was hitting the fish on the head,” Ligon said. “It seems like the ones that wanted it would come eat it rather quickly.”
Ligon went on to say that he and Fisher kept one another focused on the task at hand. For the most part, their day unfolded as they had expected.
“The most memorable thing was how perfect it all went,” Fisher said. “We lost two fish that would have helped us, but no complaints.”
Looking ahead to the final day of competion, Fisher said he and his partner plan on repeating what worked for Day 1. They’ll have a later flight on Day 2, so they’re hopeful their spot will be available when they arrive.
“I sure hope we can get on our spot,” Fisher said. “We have other spots, but where we caught them today is a pretty special place.”
Brice Hudler and Roy Crush IV of Texas A&M University are in second place with 23-0
Ben Burns and Grant Pursifull of Stephen F. Austin State University are in third with 21-11.
Hudler and Crush lead the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings with an 8-14.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at Lakefront Park – Big Lake Toho Marina. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.
Follow along with all of the action from the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Kissimmee Chain of Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops on Bassmaster.com.
Experience Kissimmee, Florida is hosting these events.
