Perfect conditions greet anglers for Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship

A big field will compete at the championship. Photo by Rob Matsuura.

February 21, 2023 • Rob Newell • Abu Garcia College Fishing

Gorgeous Florida weather welcomed anglers for the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship at Lake Toho this morning. In all, 196 of the top college teams from around the nation took to the waters of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes to compete for the College Fishing National Championship title. From the looks of things, fishing should be fantastic for the three-day championship event. This event is presented by Lowrance.

Last week, Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One showed what the Kissimmee Chain is famous for, with plenty of big five-bass limits weighed throughout the event. Over the course of the week, there were 22 limits over 20 pounds weighed in, including Mark Davis’ massive 34-10 haul and Chris Lane’s final-day winning rally of 26-1.

The College Fishing National Championship anglers are well aware it’s going to take some big catches to compete for the victory.

Chris Lane bagged 26-1 on the final day of the Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at the Kissimmee Chain – a testament to how much the fishery is showing out to start the year.

About the fishery

Though this historic Florida tournament venue is often referred to as Lake Toho, it’s actually the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes that runs down through Central Florida and includes – from north to south – Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho), Cypress, Hatchineha and Kissimmee. All the lakes are typical Florida fisheries – round or oblong and filled with vegetation. However, these lakes have something that sets them apart from hundreds of other “salad bowls” in Florida: the Kissimmee River connects them all, providing a healthy flow through the system.

Even though it’s called a river, it’s more like a canal that connects all four lakes. Toho is the first in the chain at about 20,000 acres, then Lake Cypress at 5,000 acres, followed by Hatchineha at 6,500 acres and ending at Lake Kissimmee at 30,000 acres. From the top end of Toho to the bottom end of Kissimmee is about a 37-mile journey, encompassing roughly 63,000 acres of bass-rich waters.

Leaving Toho to access Cypress, Hatchineha and Kissimmee requires going through a small lock that eats up the clock. The lock can only handle about 12 to 14 boats at a time with a turnaround time of about 15 minutes. Still, since Kissimmee was clearly the dominant player in the Bass Pro Tour event, there’s a good chance the lock line will be long.

Current conditions

Weather and water conditions are perfect right now on the Kissimmee Chain. Water temperatures have stabilized in the lower to mid-70s and there are no pesky cold fronts headed this way any time soon. Forecasts call for lows in the 60s and highs in the mid-80s, with plenty of sunshine on tap.

The only factor that could hinder the college teams is wind, which is predicted to blow 10 to 15 MPH out of the west, which is more than enough to ruin the water color on eastern banks. There should still be plenty of clean, stable water to fish on the west sides of the lakes.

There have already been several bass spawns on the chain so far this year, so postspawn bass should be a big player this week. During BPT Stage One, a shad-spawn bite materialized for a couple of the warmer mornings, which might be money again this week.

Soft plastics will likely do most of the heavy lifting on Day 1 of the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship.

Tactics in play

Pitching soft-plastic stick baits to pads and reeds was a dominant tactic in the Bass Pro Tour event, and chances are, that technique will continue to produce this week as well. However, with more postspawn tactics likely in the mix, topwaters for fry-guarders and for open-water schooling fish will be the thrill for some.

The Kissimmee Chain also features current running down the Kissimmee River, and postspawn bass like current because it brings the food to them. Also, in the modern era of tournament fishing, forward-facing sonar can never be counted out. Those who like to beam will have an opportunity to do so in the deeper offshore waters of Toho.

Critical factors

Locking: The locks are always a factor at the Kissimmee Chain, but in this event, it will be more critical than ever. With word out that Kissimmee is the better lake right now – and with nearly 200 boats in the event – the lock lines will be long. Teams with early boat numbers will get first pick of the best areas on Kissimmee while those who have late numbers will likely be forced to fish Toho a couple of hours before getting their turn at the lock. The time it takes to lock will be a key factor in decision-making.
Fishing Pressure: Florida lakes get a lot of pressure this time of year. When catches like those in the Bass Pro Tour get publicized, it only tempts more anglers to get in on the action. Plus, the weather is sunny and warm, adding to the allure of the chain.
Team Effort: Unlike most professional events where pros fish by themselves or with co-anglers, the College Fishing National Championship is a team event, with both anglers working together. The team dynamic plays a critical role in success in College Fishing. Teams that work together flawlessly will have the upper hand in terms of strategy and efficiency.

Dock Talk

Much of the dock talk among the collegiate anglers is what the BPT pros laid down last week. The local Florida Gateway College duo of Seth Slanker and Jackson Swisher of nearby Lake City, Florida, believes the College Fishing National Championship is going to see more the same this week.

“Since Saturday, the water has warmed up even more and conditions have been stable,” Slanker said. “I think we’re going to see some big catches like the Bass Pro Tour had last week. I’m guessing the leaders after Day 1 will have over 25 pounds, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see a team crack the 30-pound mark. The fishing is good and it’s going to be a high-weight tournament.”

Slanker also believes there will be more postspawn patterns available to college anglers.

“The Bass Pro Tour was here about mid-spawn, and there are certainly still fish to be caught that way,” he added. “But I think there will be more fish moving back out to the main-lake grass beds this week. Either way, there’ll be big fish caught here.”

Along with bragging rights, winners of the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship will earn spots in the 2023 Toyota Series Championship, plus a boat and cash for their respective programs.

What’s on the line

There’s a lot at stake at the College Fishing National Championship. Both members of the winning team and the runner-up team will advance to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship where they will compete as pros. The highest finisher among those four college anglers in the Toyota Series Championship will earn a spot in REDCREST 2024.

In addition, the winners will receive a Phoenix 518 Pro with a Mercury outboard, plus $10,000 for their club. The runner-up team will receive also receive a Phoenix 518 Pro with a Mercury outboard for their club.

The third-place team will get berths into the Toyota Series Championship as co-anglers, plus $4,000 for their club. Fourth will receive $3,000 for their club and fifth will get $2,000. Sixth through 10th will all receive $1,000.