CLEWISTON, Fla. – Tough as nails on the pro side, the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division event on Lake Okeechobee was also a grinder for the co-anglers. Coming out on top, weighing a limit each of the last two days and topping it with a big bag of 13 pounds even, Kenny Garand managed to scrap together 13 bass for 27-12. For the win, the Florida angler earned a Phoenix boats package worth $33,500, plus $500. Additionally, the win also qualified Garand for the Toyota Series Championship.
Finishing second, William Lewis totaled 25-8, and Ray Ruiz also caught 25-8 and finished third by tiebreaker.
At the last minute, Bobby Lane decided to enter the event, which worked out well for him – he made the Top 25 and cashed for $3,075. Naturally, he brought along son-in-law Garand as his co-angler link, which turned out to be even better for Garand.
“I wasn’t planning on doing it, and then he needed a link,” Garand said. “So, I said, ‘Sure, I’ll do it.’ It worked out pretty good.”
“Pretty good” is quite the understatement.
“It was amazing – I didn’t expect it,” he said. “I was sitting in seventh going into the last day, and I knew I’d have to catch them pretty good. I caught 13 pounds fishing shallow like I like to do.”
To catch his fish, Garand used a Berkley Swim Jig in the Bobby Lane special color, which accounted for all his fish on Day 2 and Day 3. On Day 1, with only three fish, Garand resorted to a wacky rig.
According to Lane, Garand is now on the hook to pay for dinner for the entire family, and there are currently a lot of them in the Sunshine State – “I’m inviting everyone,” said Lane.
Top 10 co-anglers
1. Kenny Garand – 27 – 12 (13) – $34,000
2. William Lewis – 25 – 8 (7) – $5,375
3. Ray Ruiz – 25 – 8 (9) – $4,400
4. Bob Morin – 25 – 2 (12) – $3,650
5. Marlei Hunt – 23 – 3 (12) – $3,150
6. Jeff Morgan – 22 – 13 (10) – $2,650
7. Eric Stong – 20 – 7 (6) – $2,150
8. David Williams – 19 – 15 (7) – $1,925
9. Stephen Draghi – 19 – 1 (8) – $1,530
10. John Hicks – 18 – 14 (6) – $1,290