If you watched our own Vance McCullough preview the first BASS Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain that kicks off today, you heard him mention the statement, some will be lucky and some will be good. With the weather in Florida being colder than normal and now starting a slow warming trend, one would think the fishing should be getting better. For some it is but for others it’s still a guessing game.
The forecast for today, Day 1 of the event is calling for 90% chance of rain. So how does an angler factor in being on the backside of a full moon, a slight warming trend in Florida, but now rain, rain and more rain to kick off day 1 of the first major BASS event of the year? Well, we asked FLW Cup Champ Brad Knight for his take on practice and what his plan of attack will be as Day 1 blasts off this morning.
“My practice has been hot and cold, literally. It started off cold and it got warmer each day, both the bite and the weather.” Said Knight. Looking to find fish in concentrated areas Knight told us he “found a few key areas where the bigger females are living, its just a matter of getting them to bite.”
Knights bait selection this week is pretty simple, “With the water warming up and when the sun is out I am relying on a one two punch of a Strike King Swim Jig and then also a Strike King Rage Toad. Those fish are moving in and out from under those mats and the moving baits are really triggering some bigger bites.”
With the conditions rainy and cloudy for day 1, Knights approach is back to what he used to start the year off with a top 35 finish in the Costa Series event two weeks ago on Okeechobee, “I’ve got my Strike King Rodent set up on my Lew’s Flipping stick and and I’ll punch til’ I can make em’ bite.”
As Vance mentioned in his video, its going to come down to the wire in this one, and with an early season Bassmaster Classic berth on the line,
“If you ain’t first…. you’re last.”
Stay tuned for more coverage throughout the day on the BASS Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Check out Bassmaster.com for the Live weigh-in at 3pm EST.
Photo Credit: Brad Knight Fishing Facebook Page
