Morgenthaler on Toho

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After having several boats share the area he was fishing on the first two days of competition, Chad Morgenthaler had it all to himself on Championship Saturday.
After having several boats share the area he was fishing on the first two days of competition, Chad Morgenthaler had it all to himself on Championship Saturday.
Despite less than par weather on the first two days of fishing, Saturday morning was a Chamber of Commerce kind of day on Lake Toho.
Despite less than par weather on the first two days of fishing, Saturday morning was a Chamber of Commerce kind of day on Lake Toho.
Morgenthaler started the morning down three pounds to tournament leader Wesley Strader.
Morgenthaler started the morning down three pounds to tournament leader Wesley Strader.
The only other boat we saw running for over an hour was this pair of duck hunters.
The only other boat we saw running for over an hour was this pair of duck hunters.
Morgenthaler went into the final day last year trailing by nearly nine pounds…
Morgenthaler went into the final day last year trailing by nearly nine pounds…
…so he was confident he could still win.
…so he was confident he could still win.
He felt he had a plan to make the winning charge, and it was with a flipping stick in his hand.
He felt he had a plan to make the winning charge, and it was with a flipping stick in his hand.
And he put it to use early on the final day, manhandling his first fish…
And he put it to use early on the final day, manhandling his first fish…
…from the heavy cover he was fishing.
…from the heavy cover he was fishing.
After leaning heavily on that first bass, he lowered it with expertise…
After leaning heavily on that first bass, he lowered it with expertise…
…safely into the boat.
…safely into the boat.
This was the kind of fish he was hoping would bite…
This was the kind of fish he was hoping would bite…
…and that was worth a high five from his co-angler Tomas Gomez.
…and that was worth a high five from his co-angler Tomas Gomez.
And also put a smile on Morgenthaler’s face.
And also put a smile on Morgenthaler’s face.
He was pumped up at the early start he had gotten on the final day…
He was pumped up at the early start he had gotten on the final day…
…and moved to the back of the boat to secure the fish in the live well.
…and moved to the back of the boat to secure the fish in the live well.
But his momentum took a bit of a hit when he lost his next fish.
But his momentum took a bit of a hit when he lost his next fish.
Morgenthaler went back to work, grinding his way through the heavy cover in the area he was fishing.
Morgenthaler went back to work, grinding his way through the heavy cover in the area he was fishing.
After longer than he probably wanted to wait, finally another bite.
After longer than he probably wanted to wait, finally another bite.
Another good keeper…
Another good keeper…
…came out of a mat he had flipped a bait into.
…came out of a mat he had flipped a bait into.
Another quality fish…
Another quality fish…
…but the bites were coming too far apart to satisfy Morgenthaler.
…but the bites were coming too far apart to satisfy Morgenthaler.
However every fish is a small victory…
However every fish is a small victory…
…and put a smile on his face.
…and put a smile on his face.
He expanded on the area he had fixed the first two days…
He expanded on the area he had fixed the first two days…
…before pulling to trolling motor to make his first move.
…before pulling to trolling motor to make his first move.
He finds the next waypoint on his electronics…
He finds the next waypoint on his electronics…
…and didn’t move far before dropping the trolling motor again.
…and didn’t move far before dropping the trolling motor again.
But he didn’t stay long, saying he had made the decision to make the run…
But he didn’t stay long, saying he had made the decision to make the run…
…south, and finish his day on Kissimmee.
…south, and finish his day on Kissimmee.