Lake Toho covers approximately 18,810 acres, but Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., needed only a sliver to bag a limit of 28 pounds, 10 ounces and lead Day 1 of the Bassmaster Southern Open at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Florida.
Cifuentes’ bag, which ranks in the Top 15 single-day weights in Bassmaster Opens history, gives him a lead of 6-11 over Cole Sands of Calhoun, Tenn., who caught 21-15.
Describing a blistering start to his day, Cifuentes anchored his bag with a 9-05 that leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings. That fish bit around 8 a.m. and shortly thereafter Cifuentes had his leading weight.
“It was first thing this morning, and I was done at 8:15,” he said. “After I got my limit, I left the spot. I tried to get my co-angler his limit, so I spent the rest of the day flipping.”
Noting that he threw Berkley reaction baits, Cifuentes attributed his success to finding a magical spot in Lake Toho where a large group of big bass were ready to eat. Targeting offshore grass outside spawning areas, he located what he believes is the kind of hard sand spot that prespawn bass favor.
“I had a terrible practice and I had a limited practice because I was coming from another tournament,” Cifuentes said. “In the last two hours of my practice day, I just drifted through this area and several fish were trying to eat my bait. I shook it out of two fish’s mouths on one cast – they were all trying to eat it.
“It was just one of those places you dream about. It was literally the size of my boat. I pulled up today and it was a one-cast deal. It was just by the grace of God.”
Cifuentes said his spot was in 8 feet of water. The bass were likely parking on an attractive area where they could feed up while awaiting the next full moon phase to trigger their spawning movement.
Cifuentes is hopeful that leaving his fish early will allow him a similar opportunity on Day 2.
“These fish are pretty far offshore, so I don’t think they’re going anywhere,” he said. “I don’t know if there will be any more coming to me, but they’re just hanging out there. It’s just a typical prespawn, Toho spot.
“So many times, these tournaments are one-cast deals and that’s how they’re won. Those are the kind of places you hope to find.”
Here's a look at the initial Top 10:
1. Joey Cifuentes: 28-10
2. Cole Sands: 21-15
3. Cole Drummond: 17-09
4. Kenta Kimura: 17-08
5. Lonnie Cochran: 16-07
6. Zach Goutremout: 16-02
7. Ronald Young: 16-01
8. John Soukup: 15-14
9. Keith Poche: 15-09
10. Zack Birge: 15-05
– B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
