Rich Howes caught four bass that weighed a combined 9-10 on Sunday to win a 5-hour fish-off against Daniel Lanier Jr. and claim the crown at the Kissimmee Chain Bassmaster Southern Open.
Lanier caught just a single keeper for 3-10 in the fish-off after the anglers had been deadlocked at the top of the day-3 standings with 47-02 totals.
Howes and Lanier adopted different strategies in the fish-off. Howes elected to lock through from the launch site on Lake Tohopekaliga and run to his most productive area on Lake Kissimmee. It would put him on more productive water, but the long run would consume a lot of time.
“I thought I had a chance when I got near the launch area and realized that Danny had spent all day on Toho,” Howes said. “I know how tough the fishing has been there, and I thought my bag might be enough.”
Howes, who'll gain a berth in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic provided he fishes the other two Southern Opens, flipped and pitched a Gambler BB Cricket and John Bitter’s Bitter Bug with a 1 1/2-ounce tungsten weight. Full details of his winning pattern will be published soon.
