Flippin’ seems to be the deal right now in the Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain. Not sure how leader Todd Auten managed 22 pounds, 10 ounces (on only 4 fish!) but others spoke of not only a flippin’ bite, but a s-l-o-w bite.

Darrell Pons, in the Top 10 with 16-3, said he yo-yoed his lure in the mat 10-to-20 times in order to tempt each light bite from a cold Florida bass.

Others weren’t as forthcoming with details but enough of them made reference to ‘mats’ and ‘flippin” that the picture has developed quite clearly.

Of course, there’s always more than one way to skin a cat and one angler did mention that he caught his fish on a Strike King Shadalicious swimbait.

Winds will make sightfishing tough, even if fish will sit tight to beds in water temps that have dipped into the 50’s.

But the lakes, including Toho, are full of big bass and any of the guys who didn’t totally shoot themselves in the foot today have a real chance tomorrow.

If the weather man is right, winds will continue from the north and increase slightly as temperatures continue to drop a tad more tomorrow ahed of a mild warm up and west winds during Saturday’s final round when the top 12 pros and co-anglers will weigh-in at Bass Pro Shop’s Orlando location.

 

Your top 5 pros are:

Todd Auten – 22-10

Kotaro Kiriyama – 19-2

Garrett Rocamora – 18-11

John Kremer – 17-14

Matthew Henry – 17-12

 

The top 5 co-anglers (3-fish limit):

Bryan Jones – 16-8

Marlon Crowder – 13-2

Frank Kruk – 11-4

Fred Rigdon – 10-5

Timothy Burton – 9-13