Daniel Lanier was not disappointed by the fishing on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. He’s in a very small minority. With a total weight of 27 pounds, 11 ounces he leads the Bassmaster Southern Open.

Lanier says he caught his best fish early this morning on topwater lures.

He anchored his sack with a 9 pound, 11 ounce beauty. His lead is 9 pounds 4 ounces. Big fish make all the difference.

Johnny Pitman of Alabama leads all co-asnglers with a 3-fish limit that weighed a whopping 19 pounds, 1 ounce. That weight would put him in 2nd on the pro side, and pros get to weigh 5 fish. Pitman owns big bas honors over the entire field (pro or co-angler) with a 10-4.

Yours truly fished with Danny White and I can attest that the fish were feeding up this morning. As the climbed and clouds blew away the bite changed. Little fish could be caught but the type of bass you come to lake Toho for are tough to figure out right now.

I tried to target big fish with a Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Jig. It has produced big ones before but today it only tempted a 14-incher.

The morning air wasn’t unbearably cold today. Forecast calls for 42 degrees at blast off tomorrow. We likely won’t make it up to 70 for a high. The smart money is on the flippin’ bite.

Sight fishing was mostly off, though a few anglers boxed a bedding bass or two. Wind, muddied water and cooler temps are mostly to blame for that.

Small fish will chase skinny dippers in open water near cover. Most of these are bucks guarding fry. That’s a fun way to fish, but it won’t win you any money on these lakes most years.

Guys who have figured something out aren’t talking much right now with two tournament days left. So stay tuned for continuing coverage on anglersChannel.com.