Reigning Forrest Wood Cup champion Brad Knight caught a 22-11 stringer on Thursday to build a lead of a little more than a pound over fellow FLW Tour pro and frequent team-tournament partner Wesley Strader at the Kissimmee Chain Bassmaster Southern Open in Florida.
Both anglers found big bass either nesting or moving up to spawn. Knight's kicker weighed a hefty 9-06.
“I had a terrible execution day because I had a chance at four or five other fish that were of that caliber or more,” Knight said. “I would have liked to have had another hour today, but I just didn’t put it all together. My fish kind of moved around and things are changing pretty rapidly for me out there.
"I am looking forward to going back out there tomorrow because I know where they are living. I figured out a few things this afternoon and hopefully I can put together another good bag. Some of the fish are pre-spawn, but they have really made a move the last day or two to spawn.”
Strader found his fish in practice when he visited an area where he did well in last year’s Southern Open.
“It is just a place where they come to spawn, and I knew these fish are dying to spawn but the weather conditions haven’t been right for them to do it,” Strader said.
He tried other spots in the morning because he believed the place he found in practice was just loaded with 2-pounders. However when he didn’t have a fish in the livewell by 11:15, he decided to make a move to the keeper-size bass.
“I just went to that area where I knew there were some smaller fish up spawning,” he said. “Those 2-pounders turned into great big ones, so I am pleased with that.”
Here's a look at the numbers for the initial Top 12:
1. Brad Knight: 22-11
2. Wesley Strader: 21-09
3. Jade Keeton: 20-00
4. Chad Morgenthaler: 19-10
5. Jason Williamson: 18-08
6. Eric Panzironi: 17-15
7. Sam George: 17-08
8. Stetson Blaylock:17-00
9. Jordan Card: 16-10
10. Rex Huff: 16-04
11. Greg Pugh: 16-02
12. Ish Monroe: 16-01
