Van Soles of Haines City, Fla. caught the heaviest sack in the field for the second straight day on Saturday to win the Lake Toho Bassmaster Southern Open. His final-day stringer of 21-09 gave him a 3-day total of 50-15.
Soles, who's been a dominant force on the Kissimmee Chain recently, was in 30th place after day 1 before catching fire over the final 2 days.
“I fished the southwest side of Lake Kissimmee all 3 days, focusing on matted vegetation that had floated up against buggy whips, cattails and Kissimmee grass,” he said. “The bass were really lethargic, and the bite was slower on the last day than on day 2.”
Soles pitched and punched the matted vegetation with a Gambler BB Cricket (emerald blue, black/blue flake and Bowen silver shadow). Full details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.
Here's the makeup of the final Top 12:
1. Van Soles: 50-15
2. Phillip Cury: 49-02
3. David Williams: 44-02
4. Jeff Cloud: 43-13
5. John Brazzell: 43-03
6. Joe Ventrello: 40-06
7. Garrett Rocamora: 39-01
8. Russ Lane: 37-12
9. Red Flowers: 36-04
10. Micah Silverman: 36-00
11. Jared Dial: 35-06
12. Eric Conant: 32-07
