Posted February 28th, 2008 9:35pm CST

20th Place.......12-03 Pounds

Story by Dru Smith - Photos by Dan O'Sullivan

Kissimmee, FL -- Kissimmee, Fla. - The Wal Mart FLW Tour kicked off the season this Thursday morning deep in the heart of Florida. Lake Tohopekaliga, Toho to friends, welcomed the nearly 200 FLW pros with unseasonably cold conditions. 

Predictions for this event went from optimistic to guarded as the pros went through their practice routines. The bass are primarily in a post-spawn mode and with the water temperatures falling, and the bite is tough. The BASS ZONE interviewed several pros prior to Thursday’s launch and they all predicted a tough tournament. 

Expected weights of 12 to 15 pounds were set as a benchmark for the top 10. Only those anglers in the top ten positions will fish on the final two days.

Thursday dawned as predicted with temperatures hovering around the 40 degree mark. As reports came in from The BASS ZONE on the water team, it was evident that the bite was tough. Tules, grass mats and lily pads were the targets of choice. Fishing fans might remember that Luke Clausen won the 2006 Bassmaster Classic dragging a worm along the base of these lily pads, but that was a couple of weeks earlier and under different conditions. Rest assured though, with $100,000.00 on the line, no grass mat will go un-punched and no pad unturned.

As the competitors crossed the stage each angler echoed the same sentiments, “It was tough.” A cold front combined with post spawn conditions left all anglers wanting as they pulled their boats into the launch site at Kissimmee Lakefront Park.

FLW initiated their Fantasy Fishing league and with $7.3 million on the line, fans are eagerly awaiting the outcome of each tournament. As stated earlier, Luke Clausen had to be on many peoples watch list. He did not disappoint posting an early lead with 5 fish that totaled 14-07. J. T. Kenney, a popular pick, struggled on day one and boated just four fish with a weight of 6-09.

A sleeper of sorts at this tournament, but an angler who has tasted success on Lake Toho, Ron Shuffield took the number one spot midway through the weigh-in with a limit of bass totaling 17-07. Ron’s stay atop the leader board was short lived however. Arizona pro, Brett Hite brought a crowd pleasing bag of 22 pounds, 6 ounces. Brett was a late entrant to the Lake Toho event and is making the most of his chance.

Florida angler Randy Hadden brought the Snicker’s Big Bass to the scales on Thursday. His 11-09 behemoth anchored a four fish sack of 15-09.

Top Ten

1. Brett Hite 22-06
2. Shad Schenk 21-13
3. Robert Sherry 21-12
4. Andy Morgan 18-04
5. Carl Svebek, III 17-10
6. Ron Shuffield 17-07
7. Monte Knight 17-00
8. Shinichi Fukae 16-05
9. Randy Hadden 15-09
10. Robert Pearson 14-14

Less than half the field caught a limit and several pros failed to bring a fish to the scales. Friday’s weights will determine the final ten anglers. With 14-14 being tenth place after day one, the projected cut line will be around 29 pounds, and weights will be zeroed after the top ten contestants are determined.

Hite On Top at Toho
Brett Hite will carry a small lead into Friday’s deciding round. The Phoenix, Ariz. angler is in just his second year on The FLW Tour and can almost double his career earning with a win in Florida.

Traveling all the way down to Kissimmee, Brett was not able to elude the other competitors. “There are several boats in the area, but I am doing something a little different. I’m getting a reaction bite from both the pre-spawn and post-spawn fish.”

Brett referred to the area he is fishing as a “Salad Bowl.” “It has a little bit of everything there. Both areas are identical as to depth and vegetation,” he said.

Back Home for Sherry
Illinois pro, Robert Sherry, fresh off his 135th place finish at Lake Okeechobee in the FLW Series, posted the third best weight Thursday on Toho. His 21-pound,13-ounce limit put him less than a pound out of first and in great shape to make his first tour cut.

“Yeah, it feels good to be in this position,” Bob said reacting to his third place finish. “I’ll continue to fish hard and see what happens.”

Bob lived in Florida for 18 years and is very familiar with this body of water, but he struggled in practice. “I went to some of the areas I know best and didn’t find the fish like I thought I would. I decide to change up a few things and it worked better today.”

Sherry put to six pound bass in the boat before locking through to Lake Cypress. His baits of choice on Thursday were a spinnerbait, rattle trap and Berkley Power Worm. “If I can put 12 pounds in the boat early tomorrow, I won’t go lock through,” he said. “Hopefully, I can catch a decent limit early and try to expand on what I am doing.”

Svebek Looking To Go Deep Into the Weekend
Arkansas angler, Carl Svebek, III has nearly $500,000 in career earnings with the FLW, but has yet to notch his first victory on the FLW Tour. He put himself in the right position on Thursday with 17 pounds, 10 ounces.

“I’m catching a lot of fish and was fortunate today to get the right size,” he said. “I really had to force myself to slow down and be patient.” Carl caught 15 keepers on day one focusing on just two areas. After struggling on the first two days of practice, Carl changed tactics and it paid off. 

“I felt good about the places I was fishing, but I couldn’t get the quality bites I was hoping for. I decide to move out deeper and that is when I found the better fish.”

Carl is staying in Lake Toho. In fact he is not moving far at all. “I probably didn’t burn five gallons of gas today,” he said. “I’ll go back to same areas on Friday and try to catch another solid limit.”

When asked about the weight needed to make the finals, Carl responded, “I probably only need about 12 pounds to make the cut, but I’m going to catch as much as I can just to be sure.”

To those that have followed Ron’s career will not be surprised to find out he is slowly dragging a worm. He caught 12 to 15 keepers and feels confident about the next few days. “It is painstakingly slow. I am barely moving at all.”

Ron has several high finishes on this body of water including a 3rd at the ’06 Classic. He believes that if the water warms the bite could get even better. “I’ve got one major spot, but I have a few other areas. The key is finding the fish. Once you find them, you can catch them.”

Slow is Key for Pearson
Robert Pearson held the enviable position of tenth after Thursday’s first round. The Virginia angler is looking to hold onto a top ten spot for the first time in his career. Drawing out at boat 107, Robert stopped in Toho before making the run to Kissimmee.

I went to one spot and caught a few fish then headed down there (Kissimmee),” he said. I finished out my limit and then came back up here. I was able to cull a few times once I got back to Toho.”

Robert believes the majority of the fish are post-spawn but he is seeing some fishing moving up. “The fish coming up are real skittish, but I think I can catch them tomorrow,” Robert revealed. “I’m fishing very slowly; I have two areas and I will hit each one twice. I have to be real patient.”

The BASS ZONE’s on location coverage of the 2008 FLW Tour opener at Lake Toho continues on Friday. Log in to our Live Chat and for more information, exclusive photos and videos with the leaders… Stay Tuned, Because It’s All About Being There!

Day One Top 50