KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A late-day adjustment yielded the deal-sealing catch for Eli Scrogginsand Drew Berling of the Park Hills Athletic Club, who topped the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Kissimmee Chain with a five-bass limit of 24 pounds, 5 ounces.
Making the trip from Kentucky, the winners fished the south end of Lake Toho and the canal linking Toho to Lake Cypress. Scroggins, a senior, said Toho produced the majority of their fish.
An approaching cold front that brought big midday winds influenced the anglers’ focus.
“We fished deep hydrilla and grass piles in 8-10 feet,” Scroggins said. “Since we had a cold front, I figured that the fish had either spawned before the front, or they decided not to spawn yet and they pushed back out. So, we went out to the deep water and found our bigger fish there.”
The only exception was the team’s heaviest bass — a 6-13 that bit at 2:30 p.m.
“We ended up catching a 6-pounder right around noon that made us feel pretty confident, but we knew we needed one more big bite,” Scroggins said. “The wind started getting pretty rough out where we were fishing on the main lake, so we ran to the canal to get out of the wind and find some shallow grass close to deep water where the fish could move up and down as they wanted to.
“We fished in there a while and ended up getting her to bite.”
Berling, a junior, said the winning game plan was one that combined search tactics with targeted presentations.
“Eli was on the front fishing finesse baits, while I was on the back covering water with moving baits,” he said.
Berling’s reaction bait lineup included ChatterBaits, crankbaits and jerkbaits. Scroggins committed his time to a wacky/neko presentations with a custom 5-inch stick worm in green pumpkin.
“You had to find fish on the bottom,” Scroggins said. “The fish that were floating wouldn’t eat it. You had to find them near grass piles where they felt safe and ready to ambush. It was usually better if there were one or two others with the fish I was targeting.”
The winners got their day off to a fast start with a limit by 8:45. Berling noted that maintaining effective boat positioning was critical, but their efforts paid off with about 25 keeper size fish.
“We were culling 3-pounders by the end of the day,” Berling said. “The mental part was the biggest challenge. When that wind picked up, it got cold and staying on them was a big factor.”
Scroggins said the victory, which qualifies him and Berling for the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series National Championship, came as a pleasant surprise.
“I couldn’t be more happy about it,” Scroggins said. “I came down here expecting just to try to qualify (for the Nationals) and I didn’t fully expect to win the tournament against a bunch of local hammers.
“We put in the hard work for the past few days. We put in the time to find the right fish and it paid off.”
Kieran Stephenson and Grady Stanley of the Triangle Bass Club placed second with 22-14.
Jack Sebring and Mason Turner of the Highlands County Anglers Club finished third with 20-8.
Bobby Lane III of Mulberry, Fla., won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award with his 10-6.
Experience Kissimmee, Florida hosted this event.
