Staff Picks: Lake Toho
Tournament site
The FLW Tour is returning to Lake Tohopekaliga, commonly known as Lake Toho, for the first time since 1998. By most accounts, the lake has changed considerably since then. Last year, officials scraped dead vegetation off the lake bottom, eliminating many of the locals’ old secret honey holes. However, the shallow lake – the site of Dean Rojas’ world-record five-bass catch in 2001 – still holds some mighty big Florida bass. With the weather leaning toward prime spawning conditions, look for the sight-fishermen to play big roles during the tournament. On the other hand, if the water stays cool during the week and the fish don’t move up, look for pros fishing secondary patterns to do well. Also a factor: The anglers will be able to lock down to Kissimmee, Hatchineha and Cypress lakes, which have more grass than Toho and will make the flippers feel right at home.
Hot picks
The staff likes Florida rookie Bobby Lane as well as the world-record holder himself, Dean Rojas, as their top picks. Each of them earned four votes apiece. Coming in behind them with three votes each are Aaron Martens, Clark Wendlandt and David Walker.
_____________________________________
Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop No. 2
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee, Fla.
Feb. 9-12
Patrick Baker
Editor
FLWOutdoors.com
Record: 1-0
Points: 790 |
 |
|
VS. |
 |
Gary Mortenson
Editor
FLWOutdoors.com
Record: 1-0
Points: 757 |
|
| 1) CLARK WENDLANDT .Current forecasts are calling for temps in the 70s when the FLW Tour returns to Lake Toho, and sight-fishing could be the pattern of choice, depending on water clarity, while Florida bass are in the prespawn mode. This sound’s like a recipe for success in Mr. Clean Shoes’ kitchen. |
| 2) SHINICHI FUKAE .In 2004 Shin fished first-time waters like a born trailblazer. In the aftermath of last year’s hurricanes, Toho will seem foreign even to locals. Advantage, Fukae. |
| 3) DEAN ROJAS .Even if Toho is turbid post-hurricanes, I bet Rojas, a sight-fishing master, will spot enough big bass in the shallows to crack the top 10. He’s also got the momentum of a third-place finish last month on another Florida fishery. |
| 4) RANDY BLAUKAT .I just have a good feeling about Blaukat’s chances on the tour’s No. 2 stop of the season. And since this is a gut pick, I may as well grasp at the straws of numerology: Blaukat was the No. 2 finisher the last time the tour descended on Toho. |
| 5) DAVID WALKER .If sight-fishing is out, my money’s on Walker to flip his way into the top five like he did recently during the BASS event on Toho. |
|
|
| 1) DEAN ROJAS .Let’s see. Rojas set the world record with a one-day stringer weighing 45 pounds, 2 ounces on Lake Toho in 2001. In that same tournament, Rojas also set the four-day tournament record with 108 pounds, 12 ounces of largemouth bass. You heard correctly, 108 pounds. In short, a no-brainer. |
| 2) BILLY BOWEN JR .I’m playing it safe and stacking the deck with the Florida crew. For my money, Bowen is fishing as well as any of the elite anglers from the Sunshine State. |
| 3) SCOTT MARTIN .Roland’s son has emerged from his father’s shadow and quietly forged his own reputation as one of the nation’s top pros. Martin, a native of Clewiston, Fla., is more dedicated to his fishing career now than he’s ever been before. The results over the past few years on the FLW Tour prove it. |
| 4) TERRY SEGRAVES .If I’m going to stay true to my hometown-water theory, I cannot in good conscience leave Segraves off of this list. Segraves is definitely a little bit of a gamble here, but it’s also safe to assume that the Kissimmee native knows Lake Toho as well as anyone. |
| 5) CLARK WENDLANDT .There’s just no way Clean Shoes isn’t going to mount a stellar comeback after a disappointing opener on Lake Okeechobee. For the better part of six years, Wendlandt has been one of the most consistent anglers on the FLW Tour. The law of averages suggests that he’s due for a massive rebound at Toho. I’m banking on it. |
|
Rob Newell
Contributing editor
FLW Outdoors
Record: 1-0
Points: 758 |
 |
|
VS. |
 |
Jeff Schroeder
Editor
FLWOutdoors.com
Record: 0-1
Points: 674 |
|
|
|
|
| 1) DAVID WALKER .Unless you’re Greg Hackney, it’s tough to hit stride on both the FLW and BASS tours at the same time, so this pick could haunt me. But, while Walker finished second at the BASS Toho event a couple weeks ago, he has a definite bead on Florida fishing. He finally nails the mark in the FLW’s return to central Florida. |
| 2) BOBBY LANE .Don’t know much about this FLW rookie except his superb performances so far this year in his home state. I’m getting in the fast lane as long as it goes through Florida. |
| 3) STEVE KENNEDY .A tight flipper, he does well at big-fish lakes and catches heavy sacks in the clutch at those lakes. Given the right conditions, do they get any bigger than at Toho? |
| 4) LUKE CLAUSEN .The new Aaron Martens? That remains to be seen, but, like Martens, Clausen has top-30 potential at any lake. A half-million dollars says that he’s the new star of the West. |
| 5) DEAN ROJAS .Thanks to his world record here, Rojas and Toho have become so synonymous that he should change his name to Dean Tojas. That’s all fine and dandy, but he really earned this pick by virtue of his strong showing at Okeechobee. Tough to ignore right now. |
|
Chris Eubanks
Editor
FLW Outdoors
Record: 0-1
Points: 670 |
 |
|
VS. |
 |
Keith Lebowitz
Co-host
“FLW Outdoors” on FSN
Record: 0-1
Points: 577 |
|
| 1) BOBBY LANE .I’ll ride Lane until he lets me down. He performed as I expected in his tour debut a couple weeks ago at Okeechobee and now fishes this event on his home lake. With the hunger to prove himself this year, the skills to perform at a high level and extensive knowledge of Toho, he should do well. |
| 2) TAKAHIRO OMORI .The man’s on fire in BASS, and he’s due for a big finish on the FLW Tour. I think it’s time, especially after winning last week on Toho. |
| 3) DAVID DUDLEY .Seems like a safe pick. |
| 4) AARON MARTENS .Martens has had some success on Toho and is a threat to catch bass in a bathtub. |
| 5) CLARK WENDLANDT .Could be a sight-fishing tournament. Need I say more? |
|
|
| 1) DAVID WALKER .Tough not to pick the guy since he’s dominated Florida for years. Had a great showing two weeks ago in BASS, and he’s so due it’s sick. |
| 2) DEAN ROJAS .Sorry, Dean, you’ll have to get your first FLW win at another event. Although it’s difficult to list him as runner-up at any event on Toho, he’s the Dan Marino of the NFL and the Charles Barkley of the NBA until he wins the big one on the FLW circuit. Not bad company, though. |
| 3) BOBBY LANE .Turns out he’s not a fluke. The dude can whack `em any day on any body of water, and this is his home lake. With the top-10 run he’s on, Lane is proving that he belongs among the elite anglers right now. Serious angler of the year candidate if he turns in another top 10. |
| 4) AARON MARTENS .This is a hunch pick. Aaron had a third-place finish here way back in 2001 and, coming off a strong end to his 2004 season, he’s looking to get it rolling again. Toho is the kickoff. |
| 5) ALTON JONES .Alton has long been considered one of the best anglers in the world, yet he seems to be overlooked time after time. History shows that he rebounds strong after major slip-ups, and his 126th place at the Big O qualifies as such. |
|
Links:
Pro Picks
Play the FLW Outdoors Fantasy Fishing Challenge