A Clean Slate
Lefebre recaps the first event of the Tour Season
The 2015 season opener of the Walmart FLW Tour wasn’t at Okeechobee, as in recent years, but at Lake Toho in central Florida. I was excited about the change, and even more pumped to start a fresh new season after blowing my motor on day one of the first event last year. Unfortunately, I once again started the Tour season off with a rough finish in Florida, but at least I got some valuable points this time. I placed 87th.
There isn’t much to talk about in the practice department, as I didn’t actually fish much. I used a loaner boat for this event because I was a little late ordering my new Ranger Z520, and I had some issues that cost me a ton of valuable practice time. I bet I order my 2016 boat extra early. What do you think?
I have to thank all the people who helped me get through this first event, including my new friend, Ron, who graciously allowed me to use his boat.
I was excited to fish one area in particular, but when I got there it was occupied by Stacey King, who stacked 28 pounds on day one. I caught three 5-pounders on three casts there in practice on a gold Rapala Rattlin Rap. I found one other little area that held some fish and a ton of potential, but I couldn’t get the bigger bites I needed. Around me, guide boats were pulling in 6- to 9-pound bass regularly, and it really made me sick. My day-one co-angler caught 15 1/2 pounds and had the bites to weigh, at the very least, 25 pounds. He sat in fourth place after day one. I had a fish of about 7 pounds eat a Rapala X-Rap Prop early in the morning of day two, but it pulled off, and that was my only $10,000 bite, so to speak. Almost all the fish I weighed in the two days I fished came on the prop bait, with my two biggest coming on a junebug Yamamoto Swimming Senko.
It just wasn’t meant to be this time. The weather changed every day, and the guys who were catching fish consistently had to change with it. In most cases, these Florida tournaments come down to a big bite or two, and that’s the only thing I don’t care for when I fish there – a lot can depend on dumb luck. Just walking to my van Friday evening, I talked to three different guys who said they caught a 7- or 8-pounder at the very last minute … ugh!
As always, typical Florida baits ruled on Toho, including Little Dipper-style swimbaits and Senkos, and in the standard colors too: junebug, black and blue, and the green pumpkin/watermelon shades. I was fishing an open-water basin behind the outer edge of the grass, but fish were caught literally everywhere, from way up shallow in the thickest stuff, out on open-water shell beds, from offshore brush piles and everywhere in between.
In starting the new season, I’m very honored to add three new partners for 2015, which are 13 Fishing, TH-Marine and Quigley 4×4 Vans. I had my new rods and reels shipped to Florida and got them all spooled up and ready to go on Saturday before practice started. I got to whack a bunch of fish during the week, and I’m very excited about the quality of tackle that 13 Fishing produces. I started out with the company's ice-fishing gear last winter, which totally took over the ice world in a short time, so I was extremely anxious to put the bass gear to the test … it’s everything I had heard and a whole lot more.
TH-Marine makes a lot of things I’ve come to depend on over the years, so teaming up with the folks there is a big deal for me. From the Atlas jack plate and Hot Foot down to my G-Force trolling motor handle – not to mention all the other “must-have” accessories – it offers some dependable equipment, and I’m happy to be on the team. TH-Marine Sales Manager Luke Dunkin is a serious musician and songwriter too, so check him out on YouTube sometime.
Finally, my newest sponsor’s product turned a lot of heads for sure. It’s a new Quigley 4×4 Van, and I can’t say enough about it. Quigley transforms vans into mean machines, and I can’t think of a better tow vehicle for a tournament angler. The storage room is nothing short of amazing. Quigley is family-owned and provides vehicles for the FBI, CIA, Whitehouse Security and now, pro bass fishing … YAY! Quigley backs an awesome warranty, great reputation and huge dealer network, so if you’re looking for something bigger than a Suburban and even less expensive, let there be no doubt that this is the deal.
Our next event is on Smith Lake in Alabama, and it’s only a couple weeks away. If the weather cooperates, I think that could be another big-weight shootout. It’s my type of fishery and at my favorite time of the year, and I need a good rebound. See you there!