| 

Hite Hammers ‘Em

Category: Tournament

 Feb 6th, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Feb 6th, 2014 at 12:00 AM

While most of the USA is frozen solid, the lucky anglers fishing the FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee out of Clewiston, Florida enjoyed 80 degree weather and a day filled with plenty of bass, despite a fog delay.

Many Lake Okeechobee limits were weighed today, but Ranger Boats pro Brett Hite was the bomb-diggity on Day 1. Hite brought in a limit weighing 34 pounds 15 ounces. Minn Kota pro Greg Bohannan bagged 27 pounds 2 ounces to grab the second spot. St. Croix pro Ryan Chandler who popped a limit weighing 26 pounds 1 ounce sits in third.

	Brett Hite with an Okeechobee piggy (Joel Shangle)

Rounding out the Top 5 are Evinrude pro Randall Tharp weighing 23 pounds 13 ounces and in fifth is Strike King Lures pro Keith Amerson with 23 pounds 1 ounce.

Hite Hesitant.

“Yeah, I had a good day,” said Hite. “I was a little hesitant this morning due to the fog delay. I’ve won an event before in Florida. That was at Lake Toho. It fishes similar to Okeechobee. Even with the fog delay they bit just fine. I want to keep this going tomorrow.”

Bohannan had one slip.

“The Good Lord blessed me today,” said Bohannan. “I only lost one fish today. It went really well for me. I think this is the best bass fishery in the country. I have a peanut butter Pop Tart wrap this year. I think the bass like peanut butter.”

Tharp’s knowledge paid off.

“I didn’t fish that much this winter,” said Tharp. “I spent most of my winter on a plane heading to seminars. A lot of time up north where it’s a lot colder than here. I know a lot about this lake. Hopefully I get to fish three more days and see what happens.”

Amerson fished hard.

“I really fished hard today,” said Amerson. “I threw Strike King lures around and caught ’em.”

Amerson anchored his limit with a 10 pound 6 ounce beast.