Toyota Series to Host Event on Lake Toho
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Southern Division will kick off its 2021 season with a tournament next week in Kissimmee, Florida, Feb. 4-6, with the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. at Lake Toho presented by Googan Baits. Hosted by Experience Kissimmee and the Kissimmee Sports Commission, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler Tyler Woolcott of Port Orange, Florida has an intimate knowledge of Toho and the surrounding waters, finishing in 10th place when the FLW Tour hit Toho in 2019.
“Toho and Kissimmee are always going to be big hitters,” Woolcott said. “You’ll have the random shell bar or flipping bite in Cypress or Hatch, but Toho and Kissimmee are always the big guys.”
Woolcott said a winning weight depends significantly on the weather, but even in the cold, these lakes are primed to produce.
“If it sets up perfectly, I believe it could take up to 80 pounds to win,” Woolcott said. “Minimum, I think it will take 60 pounds to win. It’s starting to get really good now – when it’s cold, you can still catch big bags flipping, so even if the conditions aren’t great, I expect we’ll see good weights.”
When it comes to Florida fishing, the weather dictates the patterns in play to a degree, but there are also a handful of baits that work regardless of the conditions in the Sunshine State.
“If it’s cold, you’ll have offshore hydrilla, rattle baits and vibrating jigs in play,” Woolcott continued. “A 13 Fishing Magic Man is what I like to throw. And you’ll be able to drag a worm slow, like a 13 Fishing Big Squirm.
“If it’s warm, you’ll be able to do anything you want up shallow,” Woolcott added. “You can throw a worm, wind or flip. If the weather is right and they’re spawning, the 13 Fishing Bubble Butt is an awesome bait. It’s a Senko-style bait with an air pocket in the tail and it’s perfect for bed fishing.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. ET from Big Toho Marina in Kissimmee. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3 p.m. Attendance is limited to competing anglers and essential staff only. Fans are encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF5 Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2021 Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. Anglers who fish all three qualifiers in any of the eight divisions and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 cash, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF5 Bonus for qualified anglers. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2021 Toyota Series Championship presented by A.R.E. will be held Oct. 28-30 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Toyota Series presented by A.R.E. on the MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.