January 14, 2020 by Brian Stahl
Land O’ Lakes, FL- Two more divisions got their 2020 season off to a solid start on Sunday, January 12th. The Suwannee River division loaded up the river with 41 teams hoping to get an early lead in the divisional Team of the Year race. The father and son team of Joey and Logan Pate topped the field with a 12.07 pound, 5 bass limit and took the early points lead. BJ Shirha and Tim Webb finished in second place with 11.86 pounds. Joey Wood and CJ Davis rounded out the Top 3 with an 11.46 pound bag. Michael Craft had the event’s big bass with a 3.98 Suwannee River kicker.
At the same time, 16 teams took to the waters of Lake Istokpoga for the Istokpoga division’s first event of the year. DJ Green and Scott
DJ Green and Scott Bradley
Bradley weighed a 21.53 pound bag to take home first place honors. Their winning bag was anchored by a 6.55 pound Istokpoga kicker, also earning the team the big bass award. That fish helped separate them from the second place team of Troy Thorton and Craig McNabb by more than 6 pounds. Thorton and McNabb weighed a 15.34 pound bag to secure the runner up spot. Darrel Suggs and John Casaday rounded out the Top 3 with a 14.58 pound bag.
The Suwannee River division will hold their second event on Sunday, January 26th out of the Sandy Point Ramp. The Lake Istokpoga division will hold theirs on Sunday, February 9th out of Lake Istokpoga Park.
At the 2020 championship on Lake Kissimmee, hosted by Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina, and RV Resort, qualifying anglers will have the opportunity to compete for a new Blazer 595 Pro Elite powered by a 200 HP Mercury Pro XS valued at $40,000.00. To qualify, members must have competed in 7 of 9 events in any one division, or 8 events in a combination of any division. For more information visit the rules page at www.xbseries.com.
